NR 228Nutrition Discussion Post

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Week 1: Digestive System (graded, 25 points) Let’s follow the path of a delicious ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and pickles as it is eaten and digested! Start at the beginning and discuss t... he anatomical parts as well as the biochemical roles that contribute to this sandwich being turned into chemical energy. Be sure to include mechanical and chemical mechanisms, along with how they are metabolized in the body! What happens if one part does not function? For example, what happens to digestion if the person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a digestive disorder? 1 What stress factors may cause issues in the digestive tract for some people? 2 How can a regular exercise program aid in the development of a healthy digestive tract? 3 How might digestion and metabolism be different over the life span? Digestion is the chemical breakdown of food molecules into smaller molecules that can be used by various cells within the body. The breakdown is initiated when food is ingested in the mouth and specific enzymes are exposed to components within the food molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth with mastication, or chewing, performed by the teeth. The purpose of chewing is to grant the food more exposure to enzymes, therefore allowing chemical digestion to occur faster. The presence of the food in the mouth stimulates exocrine glands. This causes the mouth to secrete digestive enzymes, namely salivary amylase. These secreted enzymes aid in the breakdown of foods, officially starting the digestion [Show More]

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