Cell metabolism is the process by which individual cells process nutrient molecules. (en.wikipedia.org)
Once food particles break down into smaller nutrients, these chemical strains that once composed the larger nutrient molecules release energy through an oxidation process. (fitday.com)
For instance, when the level of dissolved nutrient molecules (e.g., sugar) in the cell's watery environment drops, water flows into the cell through osmosis. (sciencedaily.com)