Running Head: DIGESTION LAB 1

Digestion Lab

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DIGESTION LAB 2

My estimated calorie need is 2600. According to Ismail (2018), men who are active need

between 2400 and 3000 calories a day. Therefore my calorie need per day is reasonable because

it falls within the range. The food label I chose is cereal. Since I prefer to take my cereal with

milk, the nutrients per servings that I will use in this paper include a half cup of milk. The

calories calculate the percentage of daily calories per serving divided by calories needed and

multiplied by 100.

 230/2600 x 100=8.84%

The percentage daily calories of the food are 8.84%. I think this number is not reasonable

because it is low than recommended 10% to 20%. Therefore, the food is not giving me the

required amount of calories I need per day. 

Serving size and calories in a serving

Calories in serving: cereal 190 with ½ cup of milk 230

The calories in a serving 

Calories are not bad because the body needs calories for energy. However, eating too

many calories can result in weight gain because the body may not burn them through activity.

Therefore, it is important to know the number of calories per serving to help determine eating

patterns that should be modified.

Calories from fat: 10

A diet with moderate fat content is essential in maintaining a healthy weight and

preventing heart conditions and stroke. The fat also provides adequate and essential nutrients.

According to Osilla, Safadi, and Sharma (2021), a total of 25% to 36% calories is recommended.

The body converts extra calories to fat. Therefore too many calories in one serving can result in

overweight and other health problems. 

DIGESTION LAB 3

Nutrients found in the food item

 Sodium per serving 210 mg (12%)

 Total carbohydrates per serving 46g (17)

 Sugar per serving 18g

 Protein per serving 5g

 Vitamins & minerals (list) 

 Vitamin A 15%

 Vitamin C 0%

 Calcium 15%

 Iron 25%

 Vitamin D 25%

 Thiamin 30%

 Riboflavin 35%

 Niacin 25%

 Vitamin B5 25%

Sodium, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, vitamins, and minerals found in the food item

have different benefits. First, carbohydrates are beneficial as they are the major nutrient that

provides energy. Proteins are nutrients that actively build nitrogenous tissues. They are the

building blocks for all human tissues. The body can only assimilate and absorb between 30 to 40

grams of quality protein per meal. The food also has minerals and vitamins, which are vital

nutrients that help bolster the immune system and convert food into energy (Ismail, 2018). 
DIGESTION LAB 4

I think the package is not misleading. First, the amount of sodium in the food is relatively

low. According to WHO, it is healthy to consume 2000 mg of sodium per day. Therefore, it is

safe to say that the 210mg of salt in the cereal is good. However, the serving size of the cereal is

smaller than what I consume in one sitting. Manufacturers deceive consumers into thinking that

the food contains fewer calories and less sugar. Most people do not know the serving size

scheme and assume that the whole container is a single or two servings when it may consist of

more servings. I am also not sure if the manufacturer listed a much smaller amount than most

people consume in one sitting. I also like that the packaging includes information on calories

when consumed alone and when consumed alongside half a cup of milk.   
DIGESTION LAB 5

References

Ireland, K. A. (2018). Visualizing human biology. (5th ed.). John Wiley and Sons. Available in

the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link

Ismail, A. (2018). How many calories should I eat a day?. 10.13140/RG.2.2.22313.70242.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324943266_How_many_calories_should_I_eat

_a_day

Osilla EV, Safadi AO, Sharma S. (2021). Calories. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island

(FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499909/