What term describes the process of assimilating food for tissue repair, growth, and normal function?

The term that describes the process of assimilating food for tissue repair, growth, and normal function is nutrition. Nutrition encompasses the entire process of consuming food, utilizing its nutrients, and making these nutrients available to the body for various physiological needs, including growth, repair, and the maintenance of normal bodily functions. It refers to the biological systems that involve intake, absorption, and utilization of nutrients.

While digestion specifically refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components that can be easily absorbed, metabolism includes the chemical processes that convert food into energy and other substances the body needs. Ingestion is simply the act of taking in food. Therefore, nutrition is a broader term that captures the overall importance of food intake and nutrient utilization regarding health and body function.