What process breaks down food into a form that can be absorbed by the body?

Digestion is the correct answer because it is the process that transforms food into smaller, absorbable components that can be utilized by the body. This process involves both mechanical and chemical breakdown of food. Mechanical digestion includes actions like chewing and grinding, which break food into smaller pieces, while chemical digestion involves enzymes and acids that further reduce these pieces into nutrients such as amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids. The end products of digestion are then absorbed in the intestines and transported to cells throughout the body for energy, growth, and repair.

Ingestion refers to the intake of food and is the first step, but it does not involve breaking down food for absorption. Excretion is the elimination of waste products from the body after digestion and absorption have occurred. Respiration is the process of acquiring energy from nutrients by converting them into usable forms through the use of oxygen, not directly related to breaking down food. Thus, digestion stands out as the specific process needed for the breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients.