B1.2 - Health and diet Flashcards
Why do we need to eat food?
Food is our source of energy.
What is a balanced or healthy diet?
A balanced diet contains the right amount of different foods and the right amount of energy to keep you healthy. It also includes nutrients (that do not provide energy), mineral & vitamins, water and fibre.
Why do we need carbohydrates and where is it stored?
Carbohydrates provide slow releasing energy (energy for a longer period of time e.g pasta) and it is stored in the liver as glycogen or converted to fats.
Why do we need fats and where is it stored?
Fats provide quick releasing energy (energy over a shorter period of time e.g chocolate) and it is stored under the skin and around organs as adipose tissue.
Why do we need proteins and where is it stored?
We need proteins for growth and repair in our bodies and you can use protein as energy if you do not have enough fat or carbohydrates stored. Protein is not stored in our bodies.
Why do we need iron and where is it stored?
We need iron to make haemoglobin in our bodies and it is not stored.
Why do we need vitamin C and where is it stored?
We need vitamin C to prevent Scurvy and it is not stored.
Why do we need fibre and where is it stored?
We need fibre to prevent constipation and it is not stored.
Why do we need water and where is it stored?
We need water to prevent dehydration, replacing water lost in tears, urine and faeces.
A balanced diet is not the same for everyone. It differs according to…
- Age
- Gender
- Religion
- How active you are
- Personal choice (e.g vegetarian/vegan)
- Medicinal reason (e.g diabetes/allergies)
How can we calculate how much protein we need to eat per day?
We can do this by calculating the EAR for protein. EAR stands for estimated average requirement.
What is the EAR calculation for protein?
EAR in g = 0.6 x body mass in kg
e.g So a 60kg boy should eat 0.6 x 60 = 36g of protein daily
In some developing countries some people do not get enough protein. Why is this?
- Overpopulation (too many people to feed properly)
- Limited investment in agricultural techniques which results in less food being produced.
- Eating more second class proteins(from plants) rather than first class proteins(from animals). First class proteins contain essential amino acids that cannot be made by the body.
What happens if a child does not eat enough protein?
If children do not eat enough protein they suffer from a deficiency disease called kwashiorkor. This causes them to have very thin legs and arms but a swollen belly. Their bodies cannot also fight infection very well.
How can you work out if you have a healthy body weight?
You can do this by calculating your BMI (Body mass index)
