Turkey Twirl Pennsylvania Academic Standards: Health, Science, and Physical Education: 10.1.3 B Have you ever noticed what happens to your stomach after a long morning of schoolwork, sports or playing? - Around lunchtime, your stomach starts to rumble! How does your body know it is hungry? The brain needs a sugar called glucose to give it energy. The glucose is carried in your blood from your stomach to your brain. If the brains supply of glucose is running low, you may feel tired, or even get a headache. When the brain senses that the stomach is empty it tightens up the stomach muscles. This shakes the liquid in your stomach and makes a rumbling sound. It can sometimes be embarrassing, but a rumbling stomach is just your body's way of telling you it is time to eat! Try this experiment for a few days, to see which foods keep you from getting hungry. Try keeping a diary of what you have eaten for two or three days. Make a note of every time you feel hungry, and then think about how long it has been since you last had something to eat or drink. Look carefully at what you eat and drink. Does it contain glucose or starch? How soon do you feel full? How long before you feel hungry again? Look at your results. You should find that a square meal containing a balance of Carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins keep you going. Fatty foods also give your body energy, but they are not good for keeping the brain alert. Experiment and information adapted from: Munch! Crunch! What's for Lunch! By Janice Lobb, copy right date 2000, published by Snapdragon Publishing Ltd.
Alphabet Kitchen is an original production of WQLN TV-54, Erie Pennsylvania. © 2006 WQLN Productions Funding provided by The Erie County Department of Health & The Pennsylvania Department of Health