Nutrition+Label-CMP



why do we eat? fat: it is used to create everything in our body saturated fat: animal fat; bad fat trans fat: man-made fat; really bad fat cholesterol: can cause heart disease, but necessary in the diet sodium: a form of salt, also necessary in the diet
 * energy
 * we are constantly losing cells, so we need to consume matter in order to rebuild them

Vitamin A: associated with vision Vitamin C: improves the immune system; makes a protein called collagen (fills up empty space in the body; lips, nose) Calcium: builds strong bones Iron: red blood cells that carry oxygen require iron

how do the molecules get into the body?
 * the digestive system begins in the mouth, and is a twenty-foot long tube.
 * mouth: mechanical digestion; break the food up into smaller pieces; saliva
 * stomach: food is broken down even more into a liquid solution
 * small intestine: breaks down food until it is small enough to be absorbed by the cells
 * large intestine: the food that wasn't absorbed in the small intestine is stored in the large intestine, where it is consumed by "friendly" bacteria. the water from the substance is absorbed, and the solution becomes more firm... (sick.)