Lesson 15.

Taking Care of Our Digestive

System
 identify healthful
1 practices that affect the
Objectives
digestive system; and
At the end of
the lesson, you differentiate the positive
should be able and negative effects of
to: 2 different practices on the
digestive system.
 Learn about It!

Balance Diet
● Diet pertains to the
variety of food and
drinks consumed
regularly.

● What and how much an

individual eats describes A balanced diet consists of
his or her diet. necessary nutrients and vitamins
 Learn about It!

Balance Diet
● This should include:
○ carbohydrates (usually
from cereals)
○ proteins (meat, milk
legumes)
○ essential vitamins and
minerals (fruits and
A balanced diet consists of
vegetables) necessary nutrients and vitamins
 Learn about It!

Balance Diet
● What to avoid or minimize:
○ Fatty food (especially
those with saturated
fats): may impede with
the process of digestion

Saturated fats in food may

increase risk for heart diseases
 Learn about It!

Balance Diet

● What to avoid or minimize:

○ Acidic and spicy food:
increases risks of
gastritis and ulcer

Saturated fats in food may

increase risk for heart diseases
 Learn about It!

Hydration
● Water is vital for many
metabolic processes and one
of its essential roles is to keep
proteins intact.

● Besides regulating body

temperature, water also Water is essential to many
prevents constipation. life processes
 Learn about It!

Hydration
● During digestion, water is
responsible for moistening
digestive material.

● This allows for the smooth

movement of material
through the digestive tract. Water allows smooth
movement of food
 Learn about It!

Good Eating Habits

● Eating slowly and chewing
the food well helps make
the digestive process
smooth.

● Sitting properly makes sure

where the body is not Proper posture allows for ease
scrunched also help to ease in the flow of food
the material flow.
 Learn about It!

Good Eating Habits

● Drinking water after every
meal and eating meals at
regular intervals gives the
digestive organs enough
time to process the food
from the last meal.
Proper posture allows for ease
in the flow of food
 Learn about It!

Healthy Lifestyle
● Regular and moderate
physical exercise helps
strengthen abdominal muscles
which lessen the strain of
digestion.

Basic exercises can improve

the process of digestion
 Learn about It!

Healthy Lifestyle
● Smoking and alcoholic
drinks increase the risk of
liver and kidney diseases.

● They may also cause

constipation, diarrhea, and
also damages the inner Smoking and alcohol drinking have
lining of the stomach. many negative health effects
 Learn about It!

Healthy Lifestyle
● Proper handling of stress
should also be included in a
healthy lifestyle.

● Relaxing activities such as

yoga or adequate sleep are
good ways of managing Meditation can help us manage
stress. stress effectively
 Learn about It!

Malnutrition
● Protein-Energy
Malnutrition
○ Lack of protein-rich and
energy-giving foods like
carbohydrates in one’s
diet.
A balanced diet includes sufficient
proteins and carbohydrates
 Learn about It!

Malnutrition
● Micronutrient Deficiency
○ The lack of minerals or
vitamins in diet.
■ Common lacking
micronutrients and
vitamins are iodine,
iron, and vitamin A. Fish is a rich source of iodine
 Learn about It!

Malnutrition
● Overnutrition
○ It is characterized by
being overweight, and
there is a high amount of
fat evident in the body.
Fatty foods increase the risk of
being obese
Key Points

A balanced diet that contains the proper amount of

1 macromolecules and nutrients necessary for proper
body function is important for good digestive health.

Healthy practices, such as exercise, also helps with

2 digestive health.

Malnutrition comes in two primary forms: protein-

3 energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency.
 Check Your Understanding

Determine the whether each statement below

is true or false.
1. Smoking cigarette is alright in acceptable amounts and will not
impact digestive health.
2. The mental state does not have an impact on digestive function.
3. Protein-energy malnutrition can be cured by taking
micronutrients.
4. There is no relationship between obesity and diabetes.
5. Overnutrition is acceptable since it provides all the proper
nutrients needed by the body.
Challenge Yourself

How does water

prevent constipation?
 Bibliography
Bill W. Tillery, et al. 2010. Integrated Science, 4th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. Earth Science. USA:
CK-12 Foundation, 2009.

Campbell, Neil A. and Jane B. Reece. 2004. Biology, 6th edition. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia
Pte Ltd.

Cecie Starr et al. 2014. BIOLOGY: Today and Tomorrow, 4th edition. Singapore: Cengage Learning Pte Ltd.

Dee Thompson. SeattlePI Education.

http://education.seattlepi.com/digestive-system-experiments-seventh-graders-6613.html

Kelly Ludwig. Lincoln-Way High School. http://mypages.iit.edu/~smile/bi9706.html

Neil Campbell, et al. 2013. Biology, 10th edition. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.