What’s Your Idea?Biology - Nutrition and Digestion

Everybody needs to eat the same amount of food each day to stay healthy.

Carbohydrates are the most important types of nutrient.

Each nutrient is just as important as the next.

Protein is the most important nutrient for teenagers, especially boys.

The students are discussing people’s dietary requirements.

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Possible Points of DiscussionProtein is the most important nutrient for teenagers, especially boys.Protein is important for the growth and repair of cells, especially in the muscles.Since teenagers are going through adolescence, they require a lot of protein for growth. Boys need more protein than girls as their muscle mass is typically greater than that of girls.

Each nutrient is just as important as the next.All nutrients are required within a healthy balanced diet, including fats and sugars, and they are individually important. Some essential fatty acids can only be gained from the diet so it is important to eat a varied diet so that you can gain all the nutrients you require for a healthy body.

Possible Points of DiscussionCarbohydrates are the most important types of nutrient.Carbohydrates typically make up the largest proportion of a healthy balanced diet and, therefore, make up the majority of food and energy sources. Carbohydrates are used in the body to release energy for many chemical processes and functions in the cells and body.

Everybody needs to eat the same amount of food each day to stay healthy.Everyone requires a balanced diet, with adequate proportions of each of the food groups. Individual people, however, have different calorie intake needs, dependent on their lifestyles.

Glucose is a type of sugar. Muscles need sugar to be able to work properly.

Sugar is bad for you, so you shouldn’t drink sugary sports drinks unless you are doing sport or exercise.

Sugar is used to make glucose inside the body.

How are sugary sports drinks designed to help you when exercising?

The students are discussing sugar in the diet.

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Possible Points of DiscussionHow are sugary sports drinks designed to help you when exercising?

Sugar is used to make glucose inside the body.Glucose is a type of sugar. The sugars in food are broken down into different types of sugars, including glucose.

Possible Points of DiscussionSugar is bad for you, so you shouldn’t drink sugary sports drinks unless you are doing sport or exercise.Sugars are required as part of a healthy balanced diet and should be eaten in moderation with other nutrients and food groups. If a person does lots of sports and exercise, their body might require additional sugars as a source of energy.

Glucose is a type of sugar. Muscles need sugar to be able to work properly.This is correct - muscles require energy which is released from the glucose molecule during respiration.

If you have a stomach bug that’s making you ill you shouldn’t eat anything for at least 24 hours.

When I have been poorly I have had to drink rehydration fluids. I think they have lots of salt in them.

No, you should drink more water if you have diarrhoea.

If you have diarrhoea you shouldn’t drink lots as it will make the poo more runny.

The students are discussing treatments for diarrhoea.

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Possible Points of Discussion

No, you should drink more water if you have diarrhoea.It is important to drink plenty to ensure you can replace any lost fluids and prevent dehydration.

If you have diarrhoea you shouldn’t drink lots as it will make the poo more runny.Diarrhoea is a result of the body not being able to absorb enough water back from the food being passed through your large intestines. Therefore, you should drink lots of water and clear fluids to ensure you do not dehydrate your body.

Possible Points of DiscussionWhen I have been poorly I have had to drink rehydration fluids. I think they have lots of salt in them.Rehydration fluids help the body to reabsorb water by setting up a concentration gradient for diffusion and osmosis. They contain salts and minerals which create a high concentration in the body, drawing water into the body to balance the concentrations.

If you have a stomach bug that’s making you ill you shouldn’t eat anything for at least 24 hours.If the bug is caused by microorganisms, it might be recommended that you starve yourself for a period of time to ensure that the microorganisms cannot survive and therefore help you to recover faster.

?There are two holes in the throat, haven’t you ever heard the expression ‘down the wrong hole?’

The lungs aren’t connected to the oesophagus.

It’s because the food is trapped in the oesophagus and stops air getting into the lungs.

If you choke is it because the food is stuck in your throat?

The students are discussing what causes choking to occur.

Possible Points of Discussion

It’s because the food is trapped in the oesophagus and stops air getting into the lungs.Choking is a result of restricted airways and lack of air reaching the lungs, however the oesophagus takes food to the stomach, not air to the lungs.

If you choke is it because the food is stuck in your throat?

Possible Points of DiscussionThe lungs aren’t connected to the oesophagus.The oesophagus is separated from the trachea, (windpipe), by a flap called the epiglottis. When a person swallows food (down the oesophagus) the epiglottis covers the trachea (windpipe) to prevent food entering the airways and reaching the lungs.

There are two holes in the throat, haven’t you ever heard the expression ‘down the wrong hole?’There are two pipes in the throat which diverge from one another.

oesophagus

trachea