Unit 19 Module 2: Digestive System

The Digestive System

Digestion is broken down into four steps: mechanical digestion (with our teeth), chemical digestion (with our enzymes), absorption (when we take the nutrients into our body), elimination (when we get rid of the waste).

Enzymes are chemicals in our body which make chemical reactions go faster; they are catalysts.

The digestive organ—from mouth to anus—is enormous. On average, it’s over thirty feet long!

Keeping your digestive system healthy involves several things:

Eating healthy food; making sure to get all the right nutrients and fiber.
Taking care of yourself if you contract a food-borne illness.
Drinking lots of water.

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	PTC Testing We have done some extensive experiments on taste buds: how they are categorized, what tastes they recognize, and we have even mapped their location on your tongue. But we haven’t yet mentioned this fact: not all people can taste the same flavors! So today we will check to see if you have a dominant or … Continue reading "PTC Testing"
	Testing Spit Samples Digestion starts in your mouth as soon as you start to chew. Your saliva is full of enzymes. They are a kind of chemical key that unlock chains of protein, fat, and starch molecules. Enzymes break these chains down into smaller molecules like sugars and amino acids. In this experiment, we will examine how the … Continue reading "Testing Spit Samples"
	Mapping your Tongue The tongue has an ingenious design. Receptors responsible for getting information are separate and compartmentalized. So, different areas on the tongue actually have receptors for different types of tastes. This helps us to separate and enjoy the distinct flavors. In this experiment, you will be locating the receptors for sweet, sour, salty, and bitter on … Continue reading "Mapping your Tongue"
	Tasty Tastebuds Did you know that your tongue can taste about 10,000 unique flavors? Our tongues take an organized approach to flavor classification by dividing tastes into the four basic categories of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. For this experiment, you will need a brave partner! They will be blindfolded and will be attempting to guess foods. … Continue reading "Tasty Tastebuds"
	What Happens to Food after You Put it in Your Mouth? What is happening when we feel hungry? Or when we feel thirsty? What we are feeling are hormones signaling our brain that we need food or water. Hormones play a large role in our digestion process. They help maintain homeostasis by stimulating appetite, thirst, as well as many, many other bodily functions. Digestion is the … Continue reading "What Happens to Food after You Put it in Your Mouth?"
	What Do I Eat? Eating and drinking are essential parts of our life. Part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is making sure to eat and drink the right quantities of the six essential nutrients. Those nutrients are: protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and water. Does it mean to eat all vegetables? Does it mean to eat only meat? No. … Continue reading "What Do I Eat?"

The Digestive System

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