Basic Components of Food (Nutrients)

Question 1

What are the six main nutrients need by the human body to remain healthy?

Answer 1

1. Water
2. Carbohydrates (Simple and Complex)
3. Protein
4. Fat
5. Minerals
6. Vitamins

Question 2

What percentage of the human body is made up of water?

Answer 2

65%

Question 3

True or False?:

Lack of water can cause death more quickly than any other nutrient.

Answer 3

True!

Lack of water CAN cause death MORE QUICKLY than lack of any other nutrient!

Question 4

What do carbohydrates do for your body?

Answer 4

Provide energy.

Question 5

What does protein do for your body?

Answer 5

Build and repair body tissues.

Question 6

What do FATS do for your body?

Answer 6

Supply energy and carry fat-soluble vitamins.

Question 7

What does water do for your body?

Answer 7

Transports nutrients and wastes.

Question 8

What do VITAMINS do for your body?

Answer 8

Keep the body healthy and functioning properly.

Question 9

What do MINERALS do for your body?

Answer 9

Keep body processes operating.

Question 10

What are the FUNCTIONS OF WATER in the body? List them.

Answer 10

1. Dissolves nutrients
2. Transports nutrients and wastes
3. Regulates body temperature
4. Serves as a medium for chemical reactions
5. Reacts during chemical processes

Question 11

How many glasses of water is it suggested that each person should drink a day?

Answer 11

Six to eight glasses

Question 12

What are the three types of carbohydrates?

Answer 12

1. Sugars (simple carbohydrates)
2. Starches (complex carbohydrates)
3. Fiber

Question 13

What chemicals are carbohydrates made up of?

Answer 13

• Carbon
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen

Question 14

What percentage of the food you eat daily should be carbohydrates sucha s fruits, whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals, vegetables, and grains?

Answer 14

55%

Question 15

If you don’t eat enough carbohydrates, what can happen?

Answer 15

You may not get enough other nutrients, have digestion problems caused by lack of fiber, and feel tired all the time.

Question 16

If you overeat carbohydrates, especially simple sugars (sweets!), what can happen to you?

Answer 16

You may gain weight, develop tooth decay, and have poor nutrition.

Question 17

What are proteins made up of?

Answer 17

Amino acids

Question 18

What are ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS?

Answer 18

Amino acids that your body can NOT produce. They must be gotten from the food you eat.

Question 19

How many ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS are there?

Answer 19

9

Question 20

What is the difference in a COMPLETE protein, and an INCOMPLETE protein?

Answer 20

• COMPLETE PROTEINS are high quality. They contain all 9 essential amino acids.
• INCOMPLETE PROTEINS are lower quality. They do not contain all of the 9 essential amino acids.

Question 21

What types of foods provide complete proteins?

Answer 21

Animal foods (ex: meat)

Question 22

What types of foods provide incomplete proteins?

Answer 22

Plant Foods (ex: Beans)

Question 23

What percentage of your day’s food supply should be protein?

Answer 23

No more than 15%

Question 24

What happens if you do not eat enough protein?

Answer 24

People who do not get enough proteins may:

• grow more slowly
• develop infections and diseases more easily
• do not heal or recover from illness quickly

Question 25

What can happen if you eat too much protein?

Answer 25

It could be considered toxic and you may develop serious illness.

Question 26

Which vitamins are carried through your body by fats?

Answer 26

Fat-soluble vitamins (carried through the body by fat) are:

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin D
3. Vitamin E
4. Vitamin K

Question 27

True or False?:

Fats are needed for a healthy skin and nervous system.

Answer 27

TRUE:

Fats are needed for a healthy skin and nervous system.