During the process of digestion, food is broken down into which of the following?

The process of digestion is intended to break down food into its most fundamental components, which can then be absorbed and utilized by the body. Amino acids, a key building block of proteins, are produced when proteins—found in many foods—undergo enzymatic breakdown during digestion.

This breakdown occurs primarily in the stomach and continues in the small intestine, where enzymatic action splits proteins into smaller peptides and ultimately into individual amino acids. These amino acids can then be readily absorbed into the bloodstream, where they are transported to various cells for use in many biological processes, such as repairing tissues, producing hormones, and supporting immune function.

While carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins are also important components of food and participate in digestion, they are broken down into different forms. Carbohydrates are reduced to simple sugars, fats are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, and vitamins typically remain intact without being broken down during digestion. Thus, in the context of the question, the correct answer focuses specifically on the end product of protein digestion, which is amino acids.