Get to Know Your Body

Skin The majority of the times considered the body's largest organ, the skin protects the body from outside invaders. It also acts as an excretory organ; sweat glands within the skin dispose of salts, urea, and water. Riboflavin and niacin, as well as vitamins A.C and E promote the healthy growth of skin.

You might be surprised to find out that the skin, which you might not think of as an organ, it is. Your skin covers and protects everything inside your body, that is why is very important. Just imagine, without skin, people's bones,muscles, and organs would be hanging out all over the place. Skin holds everything together. It also helps keep our bodies at just the right temperature and allows us to have the sense of touch besides protecting our bodies.

The skin is made up of three layers, each with its own important parts.
The layer on the outside is called the epidermis.
The epidermis is the part of your skin you can see.
The next layer down is the dermis
You can't see your dermis because it's hidden under your epidermis.
The third and bottom layer of the skin is called the subcutaneous layer.
It is made mostly of fat and helps your body stay warm.

Fat
Stored fat
Despite its negative reputation, fat serves two important functions for the body. It stores energy in the form of lipids for future use, and it supports and cushions vital organs.

Energy Without energy, typically listed on packaging as “calories,” the body cannot function. Extra energy is stored primarily as fat, but it is also stored in the liver and muscle in the form of glycogen. Over time, if the body takes in more energy than it needs, weight gain will occur which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes-- all fast-growing problems among adults and children in the United States. If the body takes in less than it requires, weight loss will result. Severe deficiencies can lead to starvation and death.

Lipids Lipids, commonly known as fat, are required for many functions throughout the body, including energy storage, insulation, the building of membranes, digestion, vision, nervous system function, hormone regulations, skin health of enough lipids, all of these functions can be seriously impaired. Experts recommend that fats make up no more than 30 percent of total calories, although children younger than two can exceed that.

Blood Considered a connective tissue because it dioxide from the cells to the lungs, nutrients from the digestive system to cells, and waste products from cells to the lungs, sweat glands, and kidneys. It requires calcium and phosphorus as well as iron.

Kidneys The Kidneys filter out various wastes, including food particles and urea (a nitrogen waste). The kidneys also regulate the amount and concentration of blood (by filtering out excess water), the pH level of the blood, and the amount of sodium in the blood.

Liver The liver is the body's largest and heaviest internal organ. It serves many functions, including producing bile, a substance that helps digest food in the small intestine, and activating vitamin D. The liver stores and distributes many nutrients, including riboflavin and vitamins A and B-12.

Nervous System The nervous system is responsible for controlling all activities of the body. It includes the brain, spinal cord, and all of the nerves in the body.

Colon The colon, or large intestine, absorbs water and into the bloodstream. It also manufactures certain vitamins, Fiber, which is fermented in the colon by bacteria, is needed for normal bowel function. Fiber prevents constipation and hemorrhoids and may prevent colon cancer.

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored.

The content in this web page is provided for information purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Recommendations regarding supplements and diets should come from physicians and registered dieticians.