FAQs

I get asked lots of questions by lots of kids all the time, so I thought he'd put some of them up on his site so everyone can see the answers.

This month: Food

Why is wholegrain bread healthier than white?
Because it contains more fibre and is less processed. This aids digestion and maintains a healthy large intestine.

Are tomatoes really a fruit?
Officially yes because they contain seeds.

Is it okay to have an egg a day as Harold says?
Yes. The vitamins and minerals and protein in an egg contain several healthy ingredients. Some people think the yolk makes it too high in cholesterol but as long as you eat a balanced diet this should not be a problem.

Which is better - Coke or Diet Coke?
We advise people to drink water if they are thirsty. Both Coke and Diet Coke contain caffeine, which is a stimulant drug and so speeds up the messages in the body. Coke has a lot of processed sugar whereas Diet Coke contains a chemical sweetener. It is an individual's choice as to what they put in their body but they should know what the ingredients can do.

Are the best snacks the ones higher in fat or higher in sugar?
Tough one! A healthier choice would be to choose a snack that has less than 10g of sugar or fat per 100g of product. Check the nutrition label to be sure.

Why is too much salt unhealthy?
Too much salt can clog up the arteries and make it difficult for the blood and therefore oxygen to pass through. This can cause high blood pressure and can, in severe cases, cause heart attacks.

Why does alcohol have different percentage contents?
Alcohol is grouped into three types – beer, wine and spirits (although there are sub groups like fortified wines). Each type contains a different strength of alcohol and people who choose to drink it need to know how strong it is. The strength can be found on the bottle label.

Why can a poor diet lead to diabetes?
Diets too high in fat or sugar, or both, alter the natural production of a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. The insulin regulates how much sugar is in our blood, which is very important. If there is too much, some people can develop Type 2 diabetes. Eating a balanced diet can reverse the effects.

How does food get into our brain?
Once food has been digested, it enters the small intestine where it is turned into a liquid. It then seeps out through holes of the intestine (called villi) and gets into the blood. Blood travels all around the body including the brain.

Why is the liver involved in food digestion?
Well, the liver stores nutrients from the food we eat until we need them. If too many nutrients enter the body the liver will store them around the body as fat.

More FAQs: The body

How many bones are there in the body?
206

How many muscles are there in the body?
656

What is the biggest muscle?
The gluteus maximus (your bottom!)

What is the bendiest muscle?
The tongue

What is the difference between arteries and veins?
Arteries carry the blood that is full of oxygen (red blood) and veins carry the blood that has no oxygen (blue blood).

Why do we need nerves?
So that the brain can send messages around the body and the rest of the body can send messages back to the brain.

What is the job of the kidneys?
The kidneys clean the blood.

What is the largest organ inside the body?
The liver

What is the largest organ on the outside of the body?
The skin.

How many messages does the brain send?
The brain can send 200,000 messages every second!

What is the heart made of?
Muscle.

What is the body system?
A body system is a team of body parts that are working together on the same job inside the body.