When you eat food, you take in large molecules called macromolecules that are made up of building blocks that you can absorb into the bloodstream, and that your cells can burn for energy. Your digestive tract breaks down these macromolecules to liberate their building blocks so that the small intestine can absorb them.
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The cardiovascular system, made up primarily of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, is responsible for distributing oxygenated blood to body cells, and removing metabolic waste from the cells.
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Pregnancy has many different physical effects on women; in addition to adjusting to the increased weight of a growing baby, their bodies also change in other significant ways. Blood volume increases, and the heart works harder to distribute blood. Hormone levels change.
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Glucose, commonly called blood sugar, is one of the most ubiquitous of biomolecules in nature. Humans ingest glucose in several forms and use the molecule to provide energy to cells. Table sugar and starch are both sources of glucose.
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Papaya contains an enzyme, called papain, which is commonly sold as a dietary supplement. Some sources say papain can prevent or cure a variety of conditions, including gastric reflux, stomach ulcers and arthritis.
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Peas, in addition to containing vitamins and minerals, are healthy sources of vegetarian protein. They also contain plenty of complex carbohydrate, fiber and a small amount of fat.
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Gamma radiation is a form of nuclear radiation produced by certain radioactive elements as they decay. In particular, gamma radiation is ionizing radiation, meaning that it is sufficiently energetic to break bonds in genetic material, structural components of cells and other biological molecules.
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Insulin-dependent diabetics can find themselves low on blood sugar if they overdose on insulin or go too long without eating. This is very dangerous to the brain, and quickly leads to coma. Such individuals commonly use glucose drinks to significant benefit and with essentially no side effects.
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Your digestive and respiratory systems, at first glance, seem very separate in their activities. In reality, however, the systems work together intimately in several ways. The results of respiratory activity allow the digestive tract to function, and vice versa.
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Tricalcium phosphate is one of many different calcium salts found in dietary supplements. You can take tricalcium phosphate to supplement your daily calcium needs if you are concerned that you're not getting enough calcium from food sources alone.
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As anyone who has ever been pregnant, or has known a pregnant woman, knows quite well, pregnancy can put a great deal of stress on a woman's body. Not only does her weight increase--sometimes dramatically--but her center of gravity shifts. Further, her joints soften in preparation for delivering a baby.
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If you have low HDL and high triglycerides, your doctor has likely advised you to modify your diet in order to raise HDL and lower your triglycerides level. There are several ways you can achieve these goals, both of which will help to prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
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The male reproductive system depends upon the action of many different hormones or chemicals, produced by various body glands and enter systemic circulation. Some of these hormones, called “tropic” hormones, cause other hormones to release.
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Antibodies are protein molecules that attach themselves to invading pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, marking those pathogens for destruction by other components of the immune system.
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Early in pregnancy, the odds are in favor of you experiencing a number of uncomfortable symptoms, many of which are gastrointestinal in nature. In addition to the classic morning sickness, diarrhea isn't uncommon. In very early pregnancy, it's probably due to your increasing hormone levels -- including levels of hCG.
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Fevers, whether they accompany other symptoms of illness or occur on their own, can be uncomfortable and scary, especially a high fever or one that occurs in an infant. Most fevers aren't serious and will go away on their own or as the illness they accompany resolves.
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Proteins are important structural and functional biomolecules that are a major part of every cell in your body. There are 2 nucleic acids -- DNA and RNA. Your cells make proteins by following the instructions encoded in your DNA, which is genetic material and a type of nucleic acid.
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The human digestive system is the organ system responsible for extracting nutrition from consumed food items and absorbing the nutritional molecules into the bloodstream. Doing this requires breaking food into smaller pieces mechanically and chemically, so that nutritional molecules are isolated and can be absorbed.
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There's a common misconception in the general public that weight gain is a result of digestive disorders and, more specifically, of digestive enzyme deficiencies. This is not the case; if anything, such a disorder would have the opposite effect.
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The physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy bring with them a whole host of interesting, frequently irritating and sometimes confusing symptoms. Among these, some women get toothaches or experience other dental concerns while pregnant.
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