1. Chapter 2
The Digestive System

2. What do we need to grow? In order to grow we need nutrients.
- help our body repair itself,
- give us energy
- help maintain functions in the body

3. Where do we get nutrients?
From our diet.
What is a diet?
the amount (and type) of food you eat to let you maintain your health.
4 Types of Nutrients
1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Fats
4. Vitamins/ Minerals

4. 1. Carbohydrates The body’s quickest source of energy!
2 Types of Carbs:
1. Simple
- a molecule of sugar (ex: glucose)
2. Complex
- sugar molecules joined together
(ex: brown rice, pasta)

5. Why not just eat sugar?
Your body uses simple carbohydrates quickly (breaks them down quickly!)
What happens when you eat complex carbohydrates? (ie: a big bowl of pasta?)
Your body must break down the chain of sugars
This takes longer….so you are full longer!
That’s a good thing!

6. 2. Proteins Protein is really important!
Your body uses it to build parts of:
Body’s muscles
Skin
Hair
Nails
Good sources:
- fish, nuts, poultry, dairy, soy…

7. How much protein do you need?
To find out:
Divide your weight (in lbs) by 2
This is about how many grams of protein you need each day!

8. 3. Fats Why are fats good to eat? Used to build cell membranes
Used for energy (stored)
Why can fat sometimes NOT be good to eat?
If we eat TOO much fatty foods
Good Fats = unsaturated fat (usually liquid at room temp)
found in: fruits, veggies, fish, olive oil…
Bad Fats = saturated fat (usually solid at room temp)
found in: lard, animal fats, packaged foods…

9. Bad Fats…Effects on Health:
A build-up of plaque can form in the blood vessels (arteries)
Harder for the blood to flow through
Leads to heart disease
Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

10. 4. Vitamins & Minerals
We need vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts
Help our bodies perform various functions
Examples: Calcium (strong bones)

11. Did you know?
Not only do we need calcium for strong bones but we also need vitamin D.
Does anyone know where we can get vitamin D for free?
From sunlight!

12. Last but not least…. Nutrient #5 (but not really)
Is WATER
Why is it important?
helps transport waste and nutrients
Helps cool us down (sweat)
Needed for chemical reactions in our body

13. Guess how much water our bodies require each day?
Got Water?
Guess how much water our bodies require each day?
3 to 5 litres of water!
We may not consume this much but that’s how much is needed by our bodies!

14. Where can we find more info about what we should be eating??
Canada’s Food Guide gives us daily serving recommendations and lists of foods that fall under each major category
Canada Food Guide