This document discusses the nutritional requirements and digestion processes in humans and other organisms. It notes that organisms require energy and materials that are broken down and rebuilt in molecules. The main sources of nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates provide energy while proteins supply materials for biological molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth and continues through the stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas where enzymes break down nutrients into absorbable molecules. The large intestine absorbs water before waste is excreted. Digestion involves both mechanical and chemical breakdown controlled by the nervous system and hormones.