1. How does the food change in consistency and form?
The food changes in consistency and form through mechanical and chemical digestion. As food is ingested, it is chewed (mechanical digestion) and broken down by a digestive enzyme (chemical digestion) called amylase, which transforms the food into a bolus and makes it easier to swallow. The food will then move through the pharynx and travel down to the esophagus and into the stomach due to peristalsis. In the stomach, the food is met again with digestive enzymes, particularly the gastric juice, which further breaks down the food. As the food leaves the stomach, it becomes a chyme, which is a liquid that passes into the small intestine for the absorption of nutrients.
2. How could the body absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat?
Our body absorbs nutrients from the food we eat through the small intestine, particularly in the ileum, wherein the broken-down food or bolus is absorbed through the villi (inner wall of small intestines) and transported through the bloodstream, wherein these nutrients will be delivered to the rest of the body. The accessory organs like the liver and pancreas also take part in the absorption of nutrients. For instance, the liver produces bile that helps absorb fat, while the pancreas produces enzymes that help digest protein, fats, and carbohydrates.