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The food we eat changes in consistency and form as it goes through the digestive process. It starts in the mouth, where chewing breaks it into smaller pieces, and saliva softens it, forming a moist ball called a bolus. In the stomach, the food is churned and mixed with acid and enzymes, turning it into a liquid-like substance called chyme. As it moves to the small intestine, it gets broken down even further by digestive juices into tiny molecules that the body can absorb.
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The body absorbs nutrients from food mainly in the small intestine. After digestion breaks food into smaller parts like amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids, these nutrients pass through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Additionally, tiny finger-like structures called villi and microvilli increase the surface area for absorption, allowing the nutrients to be transported to the cells that need them for energy, growth, and repair.