BODY  SYSTEMS

Nutrition is related to the obtaining of substances our body needs to survive. Several body systems are involved in this task:

• food: to obtain nutrients. Digestive system.
• air to obtain oxygen. Respiratory system.
• blood to transport nutrientes and oxygen. Circulatory system.
• urine to eliminate waste. Excretory system.

RESPIRATORY  SYSTEM

We use our respiratory system to breathe in air.

• air enters through our nose and mouth when we breathe in
• air goes down the trachea
• air is divided in the bronchi and enters the lungs
• in the lungs oxygen passes into the blood
• carbon dioxide that returns to the lungs is expelled when we breathe out

 

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

The circulatory system moves blood around our body. This movement is called blood circulation.

Blood carries oxygen and nutrients and it also collects waste.

Blodd travels through blood vessels pumped by the heart. We can find:

• arteries: carry blood away from the heart
• veins: carry blood into the heart
• capillaries: connect arteries and veins

 

EXCRETORY SYSTEM

The excretory system eliminates the waste from the blood.

• kidneys filter the blood and reabsorb useful nutrients. Waste and water form urine.
• urine goes down the ureters to the bladder
• urine is expelled trough the urethra

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Our body needs to break down the food we eat to absorb the nutrients it needs. This process is called digestion.

The digestive system begins in the mouth and ends at the anus.

Each part of the digestive system has a specific function:

Here you have some interactive digestive systems:

 

 

Watch a video about the digestive system:

Read more information and listen to it in English in this web:

 

FOOD  AND  NUTRITION

The human body needs a balanced, healthy eating plan to keep functioning properly. This helps ensure that our bodies have enough nutrition to:

• Grow and build
• Repair and heal
• Reproduce successfully
• Repel illnesses and infections
• Avoid weight-related health problems

 

You can read more information on this link:

 

NUTRIENTS

Nutrients are substances that help us grow and develop. Food contains nutrients
There are six main groups of nutrients:

1. proteins
2. carbohydrates
3. fats
4. vitamnis
5. minerals
6. water

Depending on the nutrients they have, foods are classified into three groups:

• Energy-rich foods: they contain carbohydrates and fats. They give us energy.
• Body-building foods: they contain proteins. They help us grow and heal.
• Body-regulatory foods: they contain vitamins, minerals and vegetable fibre. They help us function properly.

THE RIGHT DIET

The key to staying healthy is eating the right food. Nutritionists suggest eating according to the food guide pyramid. It has five sections. You should eat a lot of the bottom parts, but only a little of the upper parts.
It is very important to drink plenty of water every day to keep our body hydrated. Fibre is also important because it helps us go to the toilet and prevent illnesses.

Here you have some games to practise these concepts. Click on the picture to play.

All of them are copied from a school´s blog:

Mundesley Junior School

 

MEDITERRANEAN DIET
The Mediterranean diet is healthy because it gives people all the nutrients they need.

The Mediterranean diet includes these types of food:

 

All these pictures are copied from:

Here you have more information about the Mediterranean diet: