7. Human Nutrition Flashcards
What is a balanced diet?
A balanced diet consists of all of the food groups in the correct proportions
What are the necessary food groups?
Carbohydrates Proteins Lipids Vitamins Minerals Dietary Fibre Water
What is the function of carbohydrates?
Source of energy
What is the function of proteins?
growth and repair
What is the function of lipids?
insulation and energy storage
What is the function of dietary fibre?
provides bulk (roughage) for the intestine to push food through it
What is the function of vitamins and minerals?
needed in small quantities to maintain health
What is the function of water?
needed for chemical reactions to take place in cells
What are sources of carbohydrates?
bread, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes
What are sources of proteins?
meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts
What are sources of lipids?
butter, oil, nuts
What are sources of dietary fibre?
vegetables, whole grains
What are sources of vitamins?
fruits and vegetables
What are sources of minerals?
fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy products
What are sources of water?
water, juice, milk, fruits and vegetables
What 4 specific vitamins and minerals do we need?
vitamin c
vitamin d
calcium
iron
What is the function of vitamin c?
- forms and essential part of collagen protein which makes up skin, hair, gums and bones
- deficiency causes scurvy
What is the function of vitamin d?
- helps the body to absorb calcium and so required for strong bones and teeth
What is the function of calcium?
- needed for strong teeth and bone and involved in the clotting of blood
- deficiency can lead to rickets or osteoporosis later in life
What is the function of iron?
- needed to make haemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen
- deficiency leads to anaemia
What are sources of vitamin c?
citrus fruit (oranges, lemons)
strawberries
green vegetables
What are sources of vitamin d?
oily fish, eggs, liver, dairy products, also made naturally by the body in sunlight
What are sources of calcium?
milk, cheese, eggs
What are sources of iron?
red meat, liver, leafy green vegetables like spinach
What could be the cause of a vitamin d deficiency?
-lack of sunlight, fish, eggs, butter in diet
What could be the cause of an iron deficiency?
lack of leafy green vegetables, red meat, liver
What does a vitamin d deficiency lead to?
causes RICKETS
- where bones become soft and deformed (this is because vitamin D is needed for absorption of calcium into the body which is a key component of bones and teeth)
What does an iron deficiency lead to?
causes ANAEMIA
- where there are not enough red blood cells so tissues do not get enough oxygen delivered to them (this is because iron is a key component of haemoglobin)
What is malnutrition caused by?
Malnutrition is caused by not eating a balanced diet
What does the type of malnutrition depend on?
There are different types of malnutrition depending on the cause of the imbalance
What 4 types of malnutrition are there?
Starvation
Coronary heart disease
Constipation
Obesity
What is the cause of starvation?
taking in less energy than is used (over a long period)
What is the cause of coronary heart disease?
diet too high in saturated fat and cholesterol
What is the cause of constipation?
lack of fibre in the diet
What is the cause of obesity?
taking in more energy than is used
What is the effect of starvation?
body starts to break down energy stores
- first fat and then muscle tissue leading to severe weight loss and eventually damage to heart and immune system, increasing the risk of many diseases
What is the effect of coronary heart disease?
fat deposits build up in arteries supplying the heart, reducing flow of blood to the heart muscle cells which do not work properly due to the lack of oxygen. Can lead to heart attacks and death
What is the effect of constipation?
Food lacks bulk for muscles to push it through the alimentary canal and so risk of diseases such as bowel cancer are increased
What is the effect of obesity?
extra energy stored as fat, weight increases and contributes to development of many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes
What can lead to mass malnutrition in certain countries?
In many countries in the world, droughts, natural disasters, wars and a poor economy can lead to mass malnutrition in large areas of the country
What are the two type of most common malnutrition termed in (mainly) LEDC’s?
Protein energy malnutrition (PEM)
What are two types of PEM?
Kwashiorkor and Marasmus
What is kwashiorkor caused by?
caused by a lack of protein in the diet
In whom is kwashiorkor most common?
most common in children under 2
Why is kwashiorkor common is places of poverty?
Often caused by poverty as high protein foods tend to be more expensive and scarcer
What are signs that a child has kwashiorkor?
Children suffering from kwashiorkor are always underweight for their age but they often have a swollen abdomen as their diet may contain a lot of carbohydrate
What causes marasmus?
a lack of both protein and energy in the diet
What are signs that a person has marasmus?
People suffering from this have a much lower body weight than normal and look emaciated
What 4 factors affect dietary needs?
age
activity levels
pregnancy
breastfeeding
How does age affect dietary needs?
The amount of energy that young people need increases towards adulthood as this energy is needed for growth.
Children need a higher proportion of protein in their diet than adults as this is required for growth.
Energy needs of adults decrease as they age
How do activity levels affect dietary needs?
The more active, the more energy required for movement as muscles are contracting more and respiring faster
How does pregnancy affect dietary needs?
- During pregnancy, energy requirements increase as energy is needed to support the growth of the developing foetus, as well as the larger mass that the mother needs to carry around
- extra calcium and iron are also needed in the diet to help build the bones, teeth and blood of the foetus
How does breastfeeding affect dietary needs?
energy requirements increase and extra calcium still needed to make high quality breast milk
What 6 stages does the food go through in the alimentary canal?
Ingestion Mechanical digestion Chemical digestion Absorption Assimilation Egestion
Ingestion definition
the taking of substances, e.g. food and drink, into the body through the mouth