Unit 5 Reflection

  In this unit, we learned about diabetes, obesity, and how the various systems in our body are affected depending on how often we consume food. When our body doesn't receive enough energy from food for long periods of time, it relies on adipose storage and eventually muscle tissue; this shows that constantly skipping meals can be problematic for the body. Yet, eating too much can be detrimental to one's health as well. Obesity is the primary cause to numerous diseases such as Type II diabetes, which affects almost 8% of the population. Unfortunately, diabetes increases one's chance of heart disease or stroke and can cause kidney disease and amputations. We also learned about some of the body's systems, including the endocrine, digestive, and lymphatic system. For instance, the lymphatic system is responsible for protecting the body from foreign cells, absorbing lipids, and recovering fluids.

 

  I found the lecture on fuel metabolism to be quite challenging because it was difficult memorizing what happens in each of the three states and the functions of the various organs and hormones because there were a lot of important details. On the other hand,  I felt that the endocrine system was easier for me because a lot of the terms were already used in the unit or in previous units.  

  We completed a couple projects during this unit, which included a poster where we discussed the fed, fasting, and starvation state as well as an activity where we measured out the length of our digestive systems. It was really surprising to see that the length of my digestive system to be almost the width of the room. We also did a reading regarding the increase in type II diabetes in the United States due to the lack of exercise and poor diet choices. This was really interesting to read since I hadn't really realized that the number of diabetes cases were rising so rapidly. 

  While reading a couple posts from the discussion commenting homework, I came across an article that said that fasting could actually be beneficial to the body. After reading the article, I understood some of the reasonings behind it but I was still slightly confused. 

  For my New Year Goals, I intended to spend more time getting adequate sleep by procrastinating less on completing homework assignments and studying for assessments. This has improved since I've learned to stop putting off studying and completing homework; rather than getting 6 hours of sleeps nightly, I can now usually get 7.5 hours of sleep.

Digestive System

Data Table:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KpQV1cjDSn5hY1noiFzO0kqir8K4N3V2970Hgw0p9hc/edit?usp=sharing 

1) In this lab, we measured the lengths of various digestive organs, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. It was interesting to see the lengths of the various organs, specifically the small and large intestine. Also, the lab enabled me to learn about the complexity of the digestive system

2) While my digestive system is 866.27 meters, it's able to fit into my body because the small and large intestines which make up the majority of the digestive system are coiled up and fit in the abdomen. 

3) I originally thought that it would take 24 hours for the food to pass through the digestive system. According to this article, it takes from 24-72 hours for food to be fully digested. The time it takes for the body to digest food can be influenced by a variety of factors, specifically diet and exercise. By eating fiber-rich foods and constantly exercising, it takes a shorter time for the food to move throughout the body. However, taking prescription drugs, smoking cigarettes, and drinking caffeine causes a delay in digestion.

4) Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breaking down of food into smaller components that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and involves the stomach. On the other hand, absorption involves the small intestine (gallbladder) where most of the nutrients from ingested food are absorbed.

New Year's Goals

1) I will procrastinate less on studying for tests/quizzes and homework. In the past, I've realized that I tend to put off studying for an assessment until the day before the test/quiz, and usually, it doesn't turn out too well since it's difficult to cram all the information under pressure. Instead of putting off all the studying till the last minute, I will write some of the test/quiz information on flashcards, enabling me to constantly quiz myself on information.


2) I've always told myself that I would find time to sleep more by procrastinating less on homework and assignments and studying ahead of time; yet with college apps, high-school/college courses, and weekly quizzes/tests, it was difficult to find time to get the recommended 9-10 hours of sleep. Even though I would be exhausted with the large workload, I often have trouble falling asleep. To improve this, I will reduce my exposure to artificial light before sleeping and find time to take naps to help with sleep debt.