Digestion & Health

2. A harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body, which interferes with normal metabolic processes.
3. Acid Hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach to lower pH levels, kill bacteria, and activate digestive enzymes.
5. A condition that results from eating a diet in which nutrients are either not enough or are too much.
6. The muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach.
8. Organic compounds that people need in small quantities; distinct from minerals because they are made by living things.
10. A waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells; needed to make hormones and vitamin D, but too much can lead to heart disease.
11. The final section of the gastrointestinal tract where water is absorbed from indigestible food matter and waste is stored.
14. The wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
16. Tiny, finger-like projections lining the small intestine that increase surface area for maximum nutrient absorption.
17. Nutrients required by the body in trace amounts, specifically vitamins and minerals, to orchestrate physiological functions.
19. Minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge and affect how your body functions.

1. A value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person, used as a screening tool to categorize weight status.
4. Substances that protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals.
6. A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions, such as breaking down food in the stomach.
7. The long, tube-like organ where most chemical digestion takes place and where nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.
9. Inorganic substances found in soil and rocks (like calcium, iron, and potassium) that are essential for body function.
12. A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
13. The indigestible part of plant foods that travels through the digestive system, absorbing water and easing bowel movements.
15. A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose), often associated with insulin resistance.
18. An enzyme found in saliva and pancreatic fluid that specifically converts starch and glycogen into simple sugars.