Balanced Diets (Nutrients) Flashcards
Biological molecules (nutrients)
Carbohydrates/Lipids/Proteins/Vitamins/Mineral ions/Fibre/Water
Where are carbohydrates found and why do we need it
They are found In starchy food such as bread, pasta, potatoes
Why we need it: Because it provides us with the energy we need to carry out chemical reactions
Where are lipids and what are they
Lipids
(are bot fats/solid at room temperature and oil/liquid at room temperature )
Where are lipids found? In nuts and oily fish, dairy products, avocados
Lipids provide energy just like carbohydrates but act as longer term stores of energy as they store ‘fat’ for use later
Lipids keep us warm by insulating us and they protect our organs
Where are proteins and what are their functions
Proteins are found in: Nuts and seeds and meat and fish and legumes (which means lentils/beans)
Proteins function: They are building blocks which we need them to grow and to repair damaged tissue.
They ey can be used for energy if there isn’t enough lipids or carbohydrates
What are vitamins
They are organic molecules (made by living organisms)
Vitamin A: Can be gained from leafy vegetables and they are good for your hair and healthy skin
Vitamin C: You can get them from fruit and vegetables such as oranges and it prevents scurvy
Vitamin D: You can make it using sunlight or you can get it from eggs or oily fish this helps you to absorb calcium
What are minerals?
They are made from inorganic
Calcium is found in milk and leafy vegetables. Calcium is used to make strong bones which stops you from having rickets (weak/deformed bones)
Iron is an important component of haemoglobin (helps reduce blood cells transport oxygen around the body)which is found in red meat, spinach and beans and if you do not get enough you can develop anemia (can’t transport enough oxygen to your tissues)
What is fibre?
•Fibre is a type of carbohydrate (but we don’t absorb it into the body) and it is found in wholemeal food such as wholemeal bread and fruits.
The role of fibre is to help us move food through our intestines properly which stop us from getting diarrhoea and constipation
What is water
Water is found in our drinks also from our foods (strawberries or oranges)
Our body is made up of 70% of water
We need water for a myriad of things
• Chemical reactions
•Breathing
•Sweating
•Urinating
How much energy we require as human depends on a lot of things but, there are 3 main factors
1) Activity level- The more active you are the more energy you need e.g. an athlete
2) Age-Teenager often need a lot of energy because they’re growing whereas elderly people need less
3) Pregnancy-Pregnant women need more energy because the baby inside requires a lot of energy so they eat for 2
What 3 biological molecules do we need in large quantities
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
