FOODYou ARE what you

eat!

DigestionThe digestive process breaks down consumedfood into molecules/nutrients which are needed tocarry out all of the body’s essential processes such as:• Carbohydrates• Fat• Proteins• Vitamins & Minerals• Water

A healthy diet satisfies three needs:• fuel to power all of the bodies activities• raw materials needed to build the bodies

own molecules• essential nutrients that the animal can't

make for itself

Why Do We Eat?

Calories• A calorie is the unit of measure of the amount of

energy a food source contains.• Every consumer needs a given amount of energy

simply to exist from day to day and as a consumer that energy must come from the sun through consuming/eating another organism.

• The more active the organism, the more energy (in the form of calories from food) it requires.

Carbohydrates• Carbohydrates are a major source of energy in

the form of sugar.• A type of sugar called glucose is needed for

cellular respiration.

• Carbohydrates are either simple or complex.

• Simple carbohydrates are either already in the desired form (glucose) or they can easily and quickly be processed into the glucose form.

• They provide an instant energy boost.

• Complex carbohydrates require a lot of processing to get it into the glucose form.

• They provide longer lasting (sustained) energy than their simpler counterparts.

Fiber• Fiber is a complex carbohydrate found in

plants that cannot be made into sugar by the body for fuel.

• It is still an important component of the diet because it helps move food through the digestive process.

• Fiber passes through the digestive system and is eliminated.

FatFat is needed:• For energy• As a building and insulating material in various parts of

the body.• Saturated fat (from animal sources) is less desirable and

can clog up arteries.• Unsaturated fat (from plant sources) is the more

desirable and can actually help blood flow by “scrubbing” the undesirable fat and bringing it back to the liver where it can be properly disposed of.

• DNA codes for one of about 20 amino acids. Your body can make about half of those amino acids but the rest MUST come from your food!

• Collections of amino acids code for specific proteins.• Collections of proteins become tissue.• Collections of tissues become organs. • Collections of organs become BODIES!

Amino Acids

• Meat food sources contain “complete proteins” meaning all 20 amino acids are present.

• Not every vegetable has all 20, and are therefore considered to contain “incomplete proteins.”

• Vegetarians must eat a variety of plants to get all 20 amino acids.

• The average American consumes DOUBLE the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein the long-term effects of which are not fully understood.

Healthy EatingA healthy diet is:• Low in fat• Low in sugar (especially refined, simple carbs)• High in fiber• Variety of vitamins & minerals• Caloric intake should not exceed energy output! Extra calories will be stored as fat deposits!

ExerciseAt least 20 minutes of exercise per day improves:• Weight• Digestion• Respiration• Blood flow• Energy level• Overall health!

• Insulin (produced by the pancreas) is a hormone needed to convert sugar into a usable form for cellular respiration.

• Diabetes is a disease in which insulin either cannot be produced or not properly utilized by the body.

• Some are born with diabetes (type 1); Type 2 is caused by a poor diet (i.e. high in sugar & fat and low in fiber) and lack of exercise.

• Overweight individuals are more likely to develop diabetes!

Diabetes

• 17 million Americans have diabetes already, 5.9 million don't even know they have it.

• It is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States.

• Diabetes is often linked to heart disease which is THE leading cause of death in the US.

• Diabetes diagnosis is up 49% from 1990 to 2000. Similar increases are expected.