1. The food is first moistened by the saliva secreted into the oral cavity while the teeth tear the food into smaller pieces. Amylase starts to break down some carbohydrates in the food. After this, the food becomes a soft, cohesive mass and is swallowed, going to the stomach next. The stomach muscles churn and mix the food with digestive juices that have acids and enzymes, further breaking down the food. As the food is ready to leave the stomach, it is turned into a thick liquid called chyme. It then enters the small intestine where many nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fats get absorbed to the bloodstream. Then the large intestine absorbs the water from the undigested mass, turning it into solid waste. The waste then goes to the rectum and exits the anus during a bowel movement
2. The body is able to absorb the nutrients from food by breaking them down into smaller pieces and simpler pieces that are able to be absorbed by the body and transported into the bloodstream.