NUTRITION AND HEALTH

Likeall living things, wehavethreelifeprocesses: interaction, nutrition and reporduction. We use differentbodysystemsfornutrition. In thisunityouwilllearnhowbodysystemsworktogethertoprovidethenutrients and theoxygenourbodyneeds.

1-NUTRITION

Itistheprocess of takingin food and turningitintoenergy. Foodcontainsthenutrientsweneedtolive and grow. Whenweeat, wetakethesenutrientsintoourbody and transformthemintomaterial thathelpsusgrow, repairsdamagedcells and givesusenergy.

2-DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Ourdigestivesystembreaksfooddownintosmallsubstancescallednutrients. Allourorgans and musclesneedthesenutrients. Once thedigestivesystem has extractedthenutrients, itgetsrid of waste.

2.1.ORGANS OF OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Thedigestivesystemismade up of sixorgans, they are the:

1. Mouth: foodentersourbodythroughourmouth.Herefoodisbroken up bytheteeth and mixedwithsalivabythetongue.

2. Oesophagus: a longtubebetweenourmouth and thestomach.Foodgoesdownthistubeintothestomach.

3. Stomach: itislike a bag and it secretes gastricjuice, thestomachreceivesfoodfromtheoesophagus and mixes itwiththisgastricjuice.

4. Intestine: a longtube. Itiscomposed of twoparts:

- Small intestine: itisaboutseven metres long. There are lots of bloodvessels. Nutrientspassintothebloodhere.

- Largeintestine: itisaboutone metre and a halflong. Ittakesthebadsubstancesfromourbody. Watergoesoutintothebody and thewastebecomesharder.

5. Anus: itis at theend of thelargeintestine. Faeces are eliminatedthroughtheanus.

3-THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Excretorysystemhelpsourbodytogetrid of excesswater and wasteproducts. Wecleanourblood and eliminatewastefromourbody.

3.1. ORGANS OF THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM

1. Kidneys: whenthebloodgoesthroughhere, excesswater and wasteproducts are dicreased and trasnsformedintourine.Theurinegoesintothebladder.

2. Ureters: theurinegoesdownthesetubestothebladder.

3. Bladder: theurineisstored in this bag. Whenitisfullitsends a messagetothebrain.

4. Urethra: theurineleavesthebodythroughthistube.

4-THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Circulatorysystemworksallthe time, day and night. Itis a transportsystemthattakesbloodtotheparts of thebody. Bloodis a veryimportant red liquid in ourbody. Itcarriesoxygen and nutrientstodifferentparts of thebody. Bloodgoesaroundthebody: circulation. Themainorgan of thissystemis

1. Heart: aninvoluntarymuscle. Itis a hollowmusclethatpumpsbloodaroundourbody.Itisbetweenourtwolungs.

Bloodcirculatesaroundourbodyinside

2. Bloodvessels: a networkthattakesthebloodaroundthebody: Therethreetypes:

a) Arteries: takethebloodfromourhearttotherest of thebody.

b) Veins: returntheblood back toourheart.

c) Capillaries: connecttheveins and arteries.

Bloodhas a wateryliquidcalledplasma. The plasma carriesnutrients and alsored cells,whitecells and platelets.

5-RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Allourorgans and musclesneedoxygentofunction. Bloodpicks up theoxygenourbodyneedsfromthe air intothelungs. whenwebreathe, therespiratorysystemtakesoxygen and eliminatescarbondioxide.

5.1. ORGANS OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

1. Nose: has twonostrilswithlittlehairsto stop foreignobjects. They are narrow at the back.

2. Windpipe: divides intotwotubesthatgointothelungs.Thetubes are calledthebronchi.

3. Lungs: are liketwobigsacks. They are like a sponge. They are made up of lots of little bags calledalveoli. The air goesintothealveoli.

6-HEALTH AND NUTRITION

We are whatweeat. Ourdietsneedtobehealthy and balanced. Itisnecessarytoeat a variety of foodwithdifferentnutrients: mineralsand vitamins(vegetables and fruit), carbohydrates (giveenergy), proteins (helpusgrow and havestrongbones and teeth)and fats(extra energyforwhenweneedit). Avoideatingsalty and sugaryfoods.drinklots of water.

Tohave a healthylifestyle:

a) Be active: do exercice at leastthree times a week.

b) Sleep: sleep at leastninehours a night.

c) Limitscreen time: try nottospend more thantwohours a day.

d) Protectyourbodyfrom bacteria and virusesby:

-washingyourhands and brushyourteeth.