George tested kombu to see what nutrients it contains. He found it has carbohydrates and a tiny amount of protein. He described the steps of digestion: in the mouth, saliva breaks down kombu into a paste; in the stomach, acid breaks down protein; and in the small intestine, nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. Finally, in the large intestine, moisture is absorbed before waste is expelled from the body.
4. SCIENCE SUMMATIVE
ASSESSMENT
What’s my food for?
My food: Kombu
By George Wood
5. NUTRITIONAL INFO
Serving Size: 1
Calories: 10
Fat: 0 Grams
Carbohydrates: 2 Grams
Protein: A tiny amount that did show on our test, but didn’t show on a website on
the internet.
6. HOW I DID THE TEST
STEP. 1 To test for Glucose: I put kombu in a test tube and then I added water.
Then I put Benedict Solution. Then, I put it into a hot water bath. If it turns blue,
that means it has Benedict Solution.
STEP. 2 To test for Starch: Put kombu into test tube, and add some water. Then
add iodine, and if the food turns black, this means it contains Starch
STEP. 3 To test for Protein: Add 2 cm of Biuret A and 10 drops of Biuret B. If it
turns brown, then it will contain Protein.
STEP. 4 To test for Fat: Put kombu onto filter paper. Then, gently rub the food
into the paper, and then if grease appears, then there is fat in the food.
7. MOUTH
In the mouth, the amylase in the saliva
breaks down the kombu and
moisturises it, and breaks it down. The
kombu will turn into a green paste.
This will allow it to travel through the
digestive system. The starch in the
kombu is broken down, and glucose
comes out.
8. ESOPHAGUS
The esophagus will squeeze
the kombu with special
muscles. It does it to prevent
food from going back up.
Then, the food will go down
to the stomach.
9. THE STOMACH
In the stomach, acids are mixed
with the kombu breaking it
down and taking kills all
bacteria. The acid also breaks
down the protein.To make sure
the acid doesn’t leek out, the
stomach’s inside is covered in
mucus.
10. SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINE
In the Small Intestine, the all the
nutrients which had been previously
broken down, are now absorbed into
the bloodstream around the small
intestine.
In the Large Intestine, any leftover
moisture including acids, are
absorbed and decontaminated. Then,
it is hardened and leaves the body in
the form of excrement. This means it
is now just poo and wee.
12. OVERVIEW
1. The kombu is first broken down
by my teeth and saliva.
2. Then it travels down the
esophagus and into the stomach.
3. In the stomach, the acids breaks
apart certain nutrients. This helps
them later be absorbed.
4. The small intestine absorbs all
the nutrients into the blood to use
around the body.
5. In the large intestine, all the
moisture is taken, and the waste in
ejected.
