What is absorption?

Absorption is the process by which digested food substances pass through the walls of the intestine into the bloodstream or lymph for transport to different parts of the body.

This process mainly takes place in the small intestine, which has specialized structures called villi and microvilli. These structures increase the surface area, allowing efficient absorption of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Once absorbed, these nutrients are carried by the blood to cells and tissues where they are used for energy, growth, and repair.

Absorption is a crucial step in nutrition because it ensures that the nutrients obtained from food become available to the body for proper functioning.