Science Project
By Alicia and Samuel
What are the different food groups?
Fruits- Apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi etc...
Vegetables- Broccoli, lettuce, peas, cucumbers etc...
Grains- Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-wheat flower etc...
Protein Foods- Meat, chicken, duck, fish, sunflower seeds etc...
Dairy- Milk, yogurt, cheese, puddings, frozen yogurt etc...
What are carbohydrates made from and why are they important?
- simple sugars (simple carbohydrates), such as fructose, glucose,and lactose, which also are found in nutritious whole fruits
- starches (complex carbohydrates), found in foods such as starchy vegetables, grains, rice, and breads and cereals"
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/sugar.html
When we first eat carbohydrates and sugar the body needs to break them down to simple sugars- it is the simple sugar that then is absorbed into the blood stream.
The food which contains simple sugars such as white flour, and white rice are easily broken down and the blood sugar levels rise quickly. The complex carbs, however, (whole grains) are broken down slowly which allows the blood sugar levels to rise quickly. This is the healthier option (less risk of diabetes).
What are proteins?
The food pyramid
Proteins
Your body uses the protein to make specialized protein molecules that have specific jobs. Others are used to make cardiac muscle. Protein helps you move your legs, to move your lungs and to protect you from diseases. "When you eat foods that contain protein, the digestive juices in your stomach and intestine go to work. They break down the protein in food into basic units, called amino acids. The amino acids then can be reused to make the proteins your body needs to maintain muscles, bones, blood, and body organs." http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/protein.html