The Impact of Nutrition and Nutrition on the Human Digestive System

THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION AND NUTRITION ON THE HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian Vegetarians are people who have a lifestyle of consuming food products only from plants. a) The advantages of being a vegetarian include: • Reducing the intake of fat and cholesterol, nutrients and vitamins from fresh vegetables and fruit can make the body healthier and help avoid various diseases. • Healthy skin. Vegetables and fruit are rich in antioxidants and minerals which are useful for maintaining healthy skin. • Reducing weight. Fruit and vegetables keep your stomach full longer but are low in calories. • Get nutritious food intake. A vegetarian diet prevents high cholesterol and fat intake, the protein contained in meat is replaced with protein from soybeans which is safer for health. b) Meanwhile, the disadvantages of being a vegetarian are: • Reducing weight. Fruit and vegetables keep your stomach full longer but are low in calories. • Lack of protein, especially animal protein. • Lack of vitamin B12, a vitamin that is not found in vegetables and fruit. • Deficiency of this vitamin can cause anemia. • Can cause nutritional deficiencies other than vitamin B12, also omega 3, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, all of which play an important role in maintaining body function and energy sources. 2. Explain the nutritional adequacy rate (AKG) The Nutritional Adequacy Rate (AKG) is a value that shows the average need for certain nutrients that must be met every day for almost all people with certain characteristics in order for their bodies to be healthy. These characteristics are the same as the factors that determine nutritional needs, namely body weight, height, age, gender, level of physical activity and other physiological conditions. The RDA that is usually used in nutritional value information is an average value that can be used as a benchmark for almost everyone. The nutritional adequacy figure stated in the nutritional value information refers to the average daily energy requirement, which is 2000 kcal. This value shows the amount of nutrients in weight units such as milligrams (mg) or grams (gr), or presented in the form of percentage (%) AKG. Each nutrient has its own recommended daily intake. Meanwhile, the AKG percentage is a comparison between the nutrients in a product and the total nutrients we need. For example, there is a package of biscuits which consists of one serving. This product contains protein equivalent to 30% RDA per serving. This means that by consuming one package of biscuits, we have met 30% of our daily protein needs. 3. Explain why the human body must consume a lot of water More than 60% of the human body consists of water. In order for all human body organs to function properly, the body's daily water needs must be met. If not, the body will become dehydrated. The body can lose water through sweat, breath and urine. To replace this water loss, we must drink water regularly. Each person's water needs are different. Generally it is recommended to drink 2 liters every day. Several factors that influence a person's water needs include: environment, daily activities, health conditions, mothers who are breastfeeding. The environment is one of the factors that determines how much water we should drink in a day. Living in a hot area will cause the body to sweat frequently. Therefore, it must be balanced by drinking water more often. People who live at high altitudes excrete more water. Activities that make us sweat often, such as exercise, also require drinking more water. The condition of the body when you have fever and diarrhea can also waste a lot of water. Another condition that requires us to drink a lot is a urinary tract infection. Women who are breastfeeding are required to drink more water than women who are not breastfeeding, to maintain the body's fluid needs. A lack of fluids in the body can have negative effects such as the following: • Decreased concentration, • dry skin, • acne easily appears on the face, • formation of kidney stones, • weak, • Dizzy, • poor digestion, and • dehydration Symptoms include excessive thirst or not wanting to drink at all, reduced skin elasticity, no tears being produced, the amount and frequency of urine excretion becomes small. 4. Explain the concept of the digestive process in humans The process of digestion of food that occurs in the small intestine. In order for the food we eat to be absorbed, it is necessary to convert the food into a simplified form. This process is called digestion. Food substances that usually go through the digestive process are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. And those that do not go through the digestive process, such as minerals, vitamins and water. In humans, the digestive process itself is divided into two types, namely mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. When we eat rice, bread, tubers and other foods, it means that the food will be chewed first until it becomes small and smooth food. The process of chewing food indicates that mechanical digestion is taking place. Therefore, the meaning of the mechanical digestion process is changing food that was originally large and coarse into a small and fine process. In general, the mechanical digestion process that occurs in humans and mammals is carried out using teeth. When the process of chewing food occurs, the salivary glands secrete saliva, which contains digestive enzymes, and then react to the food. This shows that a chemical digestion process is occurring. Understand that the process of chemical digestion is the process of changing food which is initially a complex substance and then converted into a simple substance by enzymes. Enzymes themselves are chemical substances obtained from the body and have a function as substances that can speed up chemical reaction processes in the body. The process of digestion of human food requires the function of the food digestive organs. The digestive organs are organs that have the function of digesting food. The digestive system consists of the digestive tract and digestive glands. Food digestion process The human digestive tract starts from the mouth to the anus. The order is as follows: mouth (cavum ovis), esophagus (esophagus), stomach (ventriculus), small intestine (intestinum), large intestine (colon), and anus. In the digestive glands, enzymes will be obtained which are used to assist the chemical digestive process. The digestive glands themselves consist of the salivary glands, stomach lymph nodes, liver and pancreas. 5. Explain the effects of acidic foods on the stomach and teeth Sour foods and drinks certainly have their fans. The sour taste of food and drinks gives a fresh taste when consumed. Apart from its unique taste, acidity can also be used to preserve food. In acidified foods, it is hoped that the pH of the food will decrease to prevent the growth of organisms, and the food will not spoil or deteriorate quickly. But do acidic foods or drinks have any effect on our health? What is a normal acidity level? The acidity of a substance is usually assessed by its pH value. If the pH of a substance is less than 7, it is called acid, and if the pH is higher than 7, it is called alkali. A substance with a pH of 7 is itself classified as neutral. In general, the pH of food is slightly acidic (less than 7), although the taste of the food is not acidic. The body itself has different levels of acidity. Under normal circumstances, human blood pH is 7.35-7.45. Even though blood is found in all organs of the body, this does not mean that all parts of the body have the same pH value. For example, the pH of saliva is 6.5-7.5, the pH of the stomach is 1.56.5, the pH of the small intestine is 6.0-7.4, and the pH of the large intestine is 5.0-8.0. Our body has a mechanism to regulate body acidity, namely through the urinary tract and respiratory tract. If someone consumes acidic foods, it will certainly increase the acidity of the digestive organs over a certain period of time. However, the food that is absorbed will be neutralized by both organs (urethra and respiratory tract), thereby maintaining the body's acidity, especially young people, because they have better acid tolerance than older people. Is eating acidic foods harmful to the body? 1) Teeth and Mouth Consuming acidic foods and drinks is of course permitted, but frequent and excessive consumption of acidic foods is not recommended. Continuous consumption of acidic foods and drinks will have an impact on our health. Acidic foods and drinks can cause erosion or erosion of the outer layer of teeth, thereby reducing the density of the tooth layer and causing discomfort in sensitive teeth, such as pain and tenderness. Apart from teeth, acidic foods and drinks can also cause canker sores, especially when the person feels tired, has a weakened immune system, and has experienced wounds in the mouth area. 2) Digestive system In the digestive system, acidic foods can worsen the discomfort and symptoms of people who already have digestive diseases such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and indigestion, although these symptoms are usually temporary and harmless. Acidic fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, and lemons, can irritate the previously compromised stomach lining, which can also be made worse if high-fat foods are consumed at the same time. For sufferers of gastric injuries or irritation, the mucous membrane or layer of mucus in the stomach becomes thinner, so that the layer that protects the stomach from acid corrosion also becomes thinner. This is why acidic foods should be limited for people with digestive tract diseases, especially those of the stomach, to avoid inflammation and causing discomfort. 3) Joints and bones Our limb systems, such as joints and bones, are also disturbed by excessive acid intake. When we eat acidic foods, the processing of food into energy leaves residue in the form of lactic acid. The lactic acid produced can release a substance, histamine, which is a pro-inflammatory or inflammatory substance. The effects of this process can cause joint swelling and inflammation. Therefore, it is recommended that arthritis sufferers do not consume foods and drinks that are too acidic to avoid making the disease worse. In addition, when you consume excessive amounts of acidic foods and drinks, the body uses alkaline calcium reserves in the bones to neutralize the acid. 4) Kidneys and urinary tract Excessive consumption of acidic foods and drinks can also have a negative impact on people with kidney and urinary tract disease. Because excess body acids are excreted in the urine, patients with kidney disease are advised to limit excessively acidic foods. Research has shown that a diet high in acid increases the risk of kidney failure in people who previously had kidney disease.