Human Nutrition

What does the human body require to perform tasks?

energy

What is the primary energy source for cells?

glucose

Which system breaks down food into usable energy?

digestive

Cooking food unlocks about what percent more energy?

80%

The human gut is often called the body's what?

second brain

The digestive system can be compared to what three things?

engine, strainer, tunnel

During intense activity, blood flow is diverted to the what?

muscles

What practice involves abstaining from food for spiritual or health reasons?

Fasting

After about how many hours of fasting does the body tap into fat reserves?

8

What does the liver store and release to regulate energy?

glucose

The human gut contains over how many trillion bacteria?

10 trillion

What is the collective name for gut bacteria?

microbiome

The microbiome plays a key role in what body system?

immune

Exposure to diverse what early in life helps prevent allergies?

microbes

Broad‑spectrum antibiotics can remove up to what percent of gut bacteria?

90%

The gut communicates with what to regulate emotions and hunger?

brain

Scientists sometimes call the gut the what brain?

second

Energy from food is converted into what molecule?

ATP

What hormone released by the pancreas regulates blood sugar?

insulin

Exercise increases the body's demand for what?

energy

When food isn’t available, the body turns to what stored in fat cells?

fat

Gut bacteria help digest what that human enzymes can’t break down?

fiber

Gut bacteria diversity is influenced by what two factors plus nature exposure?

diet & microbes

Some gut bacteria produce what beneficial compounds?

short‑chain fatty acids

Overuse of what and processed foods harms the microbiome?

antibiotics