How does respiration help brake down food?

Question

i know respiration is the release of energy

Answer 1

Very generally speaking, food that can release energy is REDUCED food. As in previous example, glucose molecule is pretty much reduced, but each carbon atom becomes fully oxidized during respiration, by overall reaction:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ---- breaking down, respiration ---> 6CO2 + 6 H2O + ENERGY (ATP)

Fats are another, even better source of energy, and they are even more reduced than sugars (basically each C is bound to 2 H in fatty acid tails).

So, respiration (comprised of three sequential pathways: glycolysis for sugars or beta-oxidation for fats, followed by the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) is the process of oxidation of (reduced) compounds that we eat.

Answer 2

Respiration is the term used to describe the "burning" of fuel in the cells to produce enregy. Most commonly cells burn glucose with oxygen and produces CO2, water, and energy which is used to convert ADP to ATP. The CO2 you breath out and the water stays in your cells. When you cell needs energy it gets it from the ATP. I could get a whole lot more detailed but that could just confuse you.