Hello, there! My name is Axel. I was made in order to go places humans cannot go and see things that humans can't. Today's mission is to travel through the human body to observe what happens to the food you eat. Before starting our little adventure, how about you and I shrink down to the smallest food particle? Shall we begin?

Now that we are very, very small, let's head on over to our first destination: The Mouth. As you obviously know, the mouth has teeth that chew and break down food into smaller pieces - that is called a mechanical breakdown.

A chemical breakdown, on the other hand, is when food chemically changes into a form that can be used by cells. For example, the mouth releases saliva which contains an enzyme called amylase (breaks down carbohydrates such as: bread, grain, and nuts). Enzymes are molecules that speed up the chemical reactions that take place in our bodies.

Our next destination is The Esophagus. This is a long tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus expand and contract involuntarily in a process called peristalsis. This process creates a wave-like movement that helps to carry the food to the stomach. Peristalsis is also an example of a mechanical breakdown.

The next stop is The Stomach. This organ churns which helps to mechanically break down food into even smaller pieces. Another enzyme, called pepsin, is released. Pepsin helps to chemically break down proteins such as: eggs, fish, and cheese. Here, food is also blended with other digestive juices.

Coming up next: The Small Intestine! It is surrounded by the large intestine and the only break down in this organ is a chemical breakdown. The following enzymes (molecules that speed up chemical reactions) are released from the pancreas:

~ Pancreatic Amylase - breaks down carbs

~ Pancreatic Proteases - breaks down proteins

~ Pancreatic Lipases - breaks down lipids

(which are fats such as corn, meats, and butter)

The final digestion of nutrients: food is mixed with pancreatic juices and bile. Carbs, proteins, and lipids are then absorbed into your bloodstream and used as energy for your cells.