ModifiedInSchoolOffSchoolApproachModules(MISOSA)

DistanceEducationforElementarySchools

SELFINSTRUCTIONALMATERIALS

KEEPINGTHEDIGESTIVE
SYSTEMHEALTHY

DepartmentofEducation

BUREAUOFELEMENTARYEDUCATION
2ndFloorBonifacioBuilding
DepEdComplex,MeralcoAvenue
PasigCity

Revised2010
bytheLearningResourceManagementandDevelopmentSystem(LRMDS),
DepEdDivisionofNegrosOccidental
undertheStrengtheningtheImplementationofBasicEducation
inSelectedProvincesintheVisayas(STRIVE).

Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 49 provides:

No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines. However,
prior approval of the government agency or office wherein
the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of
such work for profit.
This material was originally produced by the Bureau of Elementary
Education of the Department of Education, Republic of the Philippines.

Thiseditionhasbeenrevisedwithpermissionforonlinedistribution
throughtheLearningResourceManagementDevelopmentSystem(LRMDS)Portal
(http://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/)underProjectSTRIVEforBESRA,aprojectsupported
byAusAID.

At the end of this lesson, you will able to:

describe common ailments of the digestive system.

identify ways of preventing/curing common ailments of the digestive system.

A. Trace the path of food in the digestive system. The arrow (

) shows

where
The food goes. Fill the blank with correct body part.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

B. Answer these questions:

1. Why should food be digested?
2. How does the body make use of the digested food?

Have you ever experienced any disorder in any part of your digestive
system?
Which part was it? Which part was it? How did you feel? How did it
affect your digestion?

Read and Learn More:

Different organs work together to make digestion possible. If any of these organs is not in
good condition, the digestive system cannot work well.
Taking good care of the digestive system can help prevent ailments to happen. These
ailments could have been prevented if the digestive system is healthy. Practicing health
habits enable your digestive system to work well. Many people however have habits
which unknown to them can cause ailments of the digestive system.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. If is therefore important for you to
learn about some common ailments that may affect parts of your digestive system and
how they can be prevented. Some common ailments of digestive system are in the chart
below.

AILMENTS

DESCRIPTION

CAUSE

PREVENTION

TREATMENT

Appendicitis

Swollen and
infected
appendix, pain
in the lower
right side of the
abdomen,
nausea,
vomiting and
fever

Trapped food
and bacteria

Eat slowly, take Surgery

a rest after
eating, move
bowel regularly

Constipation

Difficulty in
moving vowel

Not enough
water
absorbed in
the large
intestine

Eat plenty of
fruits and
vegetables,
drink plenty of
water and
move bowel
regularly

Medication

Diarrhea

Frequent bowel
movements
with watery
stool

Too much
water
absorbed in
the large
intestine; viral
infection of by
contaminated
food and water

Drink plenty of
water, avoid
foods which
contains fat,
fiber, and a lot
of sugar

Medication

AILMENTS

DESCRIPTION

CAUSE

PREVENTIO
N

TREATMENT

Gastric Ulcer

Open sore in
the stomach or
duodenum

Tissue eroded
by too much
stomach acid,
acidic juices,
smoking,
alcohol some
drugs

Avoid
smoking,
taking large
quantities of
tea, coffee,
alcohol and
some drugs

Medication

Indigestion

Pain in the
stomach

Too much
food, fear,
anger, tension,
presence of
parasitic
worms in the
intestines

Avoid
Medication
tension, eat
well and take
a rest

Tooth
Pain in the
decay/toothache tooth cavities

Food particles
in between the
teeth are acted
by germs and
produces acid.
Acid dissolves
theouter part of
the tooth and
forms cavity.

Brush teeth
every after
meal.
Regular visit
to dentist.

Medication

Gingivitis

Inflammation of
the gums;
Redness,
swelling and
bleeding of the
gums foods
particles in
between the
teeth are acted
by germs
produces acid

Food particles
in between the
teeth are acted
by germs and
produces acid

Brush teeth
and
massage
gums
regularly.

Medication

Gastritis

Inflammation of
the mucous
lining of the
stomach;
vomiting and
pain in the
upper abdomen

Excessive
intake of
certain drugs,
alcohol, heavy
smoking
bacterial
infection

Regular
intake of
meals; avoid
smoking and
excessive
intake of
alcohol

Medication

Mumps

Swelling of
glands and
cheeks, high
fever

Viral infection
of the salivary
glands behind
the jaw

Vaccination

Medication

The way the digestive system work has something to do with your health. In order to
keep your digestive system healthy and work smoothly, it is important for you know
what you can do to take care of your digestive system.

Learn to practice these habits:

Have a balanced diet every day. The food that you eat should contain the
right amount of the different nutrients needed by the body. Nutrients are
chemical substances which you eat and drink in order to grow and become
healthy. These include vitamins and minerals, vegetables and fruits, meat and
fish products, cereals and other carbohydrates.

Eat regularly and observe the proper time for eating. When buying ready to
eat foods, be sure they come from covered containers. Uncovered foods are
easily contaminated by bacteria or germs and harmful insects.

Chew the food slowly and well. Relax while eating your meals. Do not swallow
large chunks of food.

Do not eat when you are angry, sad or tense. The food you take in will not be
properly digested and may cause indigestion.

Wash uncooked foods thoroughly before eating them.

Drink about six to eight glasses of water a day. Lessen your intake of sweets
during snacks. Chocolates, cakes, and candies may destroy your appetite.

Take part in cheerful and relaxing conversation. It will help stimulate intestinal
activity.

Enjoy your meal.

Your teeth perform the first step in digestion. Eat food rich in calcium. Calcium helps
make your teeth strong.
Brush your teeth after every meal. It removes plaque that can damage the teeth. It is
the sticky material that forms on teeth if you fail to brush them regularly.
Visit your dentist at least twice a year or whenever you observe that a tooth is
showing signs of decay.

I learned that:
Toothache, mumps, diarrhea and constipation are common ailments of
the digestive system. Appendicitis, diarrhea, mumps, gingivitis,
gastritis, and ulcer may also occur to both children and adult.
The digestive system should be cared for so that it can work very well.
Desirable health habits are needed to keep the digestive system
healthy.
.

A. Fibers in cereals, fruits and vegetables clean the intestines.

They help prevent constipation.

Write the fiber foods that you eat in one day.

Copy and fill in the table in your notebook.

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

B. Eat your meals regularly. Eating on time helps prevent hyperacidity and
indigestion.
Write the time you eat your meals each day.
Copy and fill in the table in your notebook.
DAYS

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

C. Make a chart showing the use of herbal medicine in preventing the following
ailments.
AILMENTS

HERBAL MEDICINE USED

1. Diarrhea
2. Parasitic Worm
(hookworm, tapeworm)
3. Indigestion
4. Constipation
5. Mumps

Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. Describe how you feel when you had stomachache or toothache.
2. Describe three common ailments of the digestive system and list down how
they can be prevented.
3. Why should you chew your food well?
4. How would you show love and respect to your body especially your digestive
organs?

A. Write True if the sentence is correct. Write False if it is wrong.

1. The digestive system can take care of itself very well.
2. Bread and cereals help in digestion.
3. Boil water for drinking for more than 20 minutes.
4. Eat tahong and other shell foods when there is red tide.
5. See a doctor when you have a stomachache.
6. Eat more vegetables and fruits.
7. Drink plenty of water between meals.
8. Wash fruits before eating.
9. Play after eating your meal.
10. Chew your food well

B. Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

How would you prevent common ailments of the digestive system?

What is a balanced diet?
What helps strengthen the teeth?
Why should you take care of your teeth?
Why do we need to know importance of herbal medicine?