Here's why:
* Digestion: The small intestine is where most digestion and nutrient absorption takes place.
* Waste Storage: The large intestine receives the remaining food residue. This residue, now mainly indigestible fiber and water, moves through the colon where water is reabsorbed.
* Elimination: The remaining undigested material (feces) is then stored in the rectum until it is eliminated from the body.
It's important to note that the large intestine does play a role in digesting some things, particularly fiber, through the action of bacteria. But the main function of the colon is to store undigested food until it is expelled.