Digestion Flashcards
Ingestion
The taking of substances, e.g. food and drink, into the body through the mouth
Mechanical digestion
The breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules
Chemical digestion
The breakdown of large, insoluble molecules into small, soluble molecules
Absorption
The movement of small food molecules and ions through the wall of the intestine into the blood
Assimilation
The movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used, becoming part of the cells
Egestion
The passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed, as faeces, through the anus
Carbohydrates
Source of energy; bread, pasta, rice, cereals, potatoes
Proteins
Growth and cell repair; meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts
Lipids
Insulation, energy storage, protection of internal organs; butter, oil, nuts
Fibre
Provides bulk for the intestine to push food through it; vegetables, whole grains
Water
Hydration, needed for chemical reactions to take place in cells; water, juice, milk, fruits and vegetables
Vitamin C
Forms and essential part of collagen protein, which makes up skin, gums, bones and hair; citrus fruits, green vegetables, strawberries
Vitamin D
Helps the body absorb calcium and so required for strong bones and teeth; oily fish, eggs, liver, dairy products, sunlight
Calcium
Needed for strong bones and teeth and also involved in the clotting of blood; deficiency can lead to osteoporosis later in life; milk, cheese, eggs
Iron
Needed to make haemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen; red meat, liver, leafy green vegetables
