Final answer:
Ingestion is the process of taking in food through the mouth, where mechanical and chemical digestion begins to break down the food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and used by the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ingestion is the process of taking in food through the mouth, where mechanical and chemical digestion begins to break down the food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and used by the body. Ingestion is the first step in obtaining nutrients from food.