BCH 204 Flashcards
What is nutrition?
Nutrition is the study of nutrients in food, how the body uses them, and the relationship between diet, health, and disease.
Macronutrients include
Protein
Carbohydrates
Fats
Micronutrients include
Vitamins
Minerals
What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients are essential dietary elements required by organisms in varying quantities throughout life to orchestrate a range of physiological functions to maintain health.
Difference between vitamins and minerals
Vitamins are organic compounds made by plants and animals which can be broken down by heat, acid or air.
On the other hand, minerals are inorganic, exist in soil or water and cannot be broken down.
Types of vitamins and minerals
• water-soluble vitamins
• fat-soluble vitamins
• macrominerals and
• trace minerals.
Function of Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Helps convert nutrients (carbohydrates, fats abs proteins) into energy
Function of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Necessary for energy production, cell function and fat metabolism.
Function of Vitamin B3 (niacin)
cell respiration, proper circulation and healthy skin, functioning of the nervous system, and normal secretion of bile and stomach fluids
Function of Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
Necessary for fatty acid synthesis.
Function of Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Helps the body release sugar from stored carbohydrates for energy and create red blood cells.
Co-enzyme in amino acid synthesis
Function of Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Plays a role in the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids and glucose.
Function of Vitamin B9 (folate)
Important for proper cell division.
Function of Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Necessary for red blood cell formation and proper nervous system and brain function.
Function of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Required for the creation of neurotransmitters and collagen
- Powerful antioxidant
- Increases iron absorption
- Reduces risk of cataract formation
- Promotes wound healing
- Stimulates phagocytic action of leukocytes
- Aids in the formation of
liver bile
Function of Vitamin A
Aids in proper vision and organ function
Functions of Vitamin D
Promotes proper immune function and assists in calcium absorption and bone growth
Function of Vitamin E
Helps in immune function and acts as an antioxidant which protects cells from damage
Function of Vitamin K
Required for blood clotting and proper bone development
Function of Calcium
Necessary for proper structure and function of bones and teeth.
Assists in muscle function and blood vessel contraction.
Function of Phosphorus
Forms a part of bone and cell membrane structure.
Function of Magnesium
1.regulation of blood pressure.
2. Parts of teeth and bone
3. Helps body use carbohydrates
4. Involved in nerve and muscle contractions
Function of Sodium
Electrolyte that aids fluid balance and maintenance of blood pressure.
Regulates nerve impulses and muscle contractions
Function of Chloride
Often found in combination with sodium. Helps maintain fluid balance and used to make digestive juices.
Function of Potassium
Electrolyte that maintains fluid status in cells and helps with nerve transmission and muscle function.
Function of Sulfur
Part of every living tissue and contained in the amino acids methionine and cysteine
Examples of trace minerals
Selenium
Copper
Iodine
Manganese
Fluoride
Iron
Zinc
Examples of macro minerals
Calcium
Chloride
Potassium
Phosphorous
Sodium
Sulphur
Magnesium
Function of iron
Helps provide oxygen to muscles and assists in the creation of certain
hormones
Forms red blood cells
Function of Manganese
Assists in carbohydrate, amino acid and cholesterol metabolism
Function of copper
Required for connective tissue formation, as well as normal brain and
nervous system function
Function of Zinc
Necessary for normal growth, immune function and wound healing
Function of Iodine
Assists in thyroid regulation
Function of Fluoride
Necessary for the development of bones and teeth
Function of Selenium
Important for thyroid health, reproduction and defense against
oxidative damage
Role of carbohydrates
- Primary source of energy for the brain
- muscle contractions
- maintenance of body temp
- heartbeat
- digestion
Function of protein
Protein also plays a vital role in many important processes such as aiding the immune system, biochemical reactions, and providing structure and support for cells.
Protein is present in every body cell and adequate protein intake is important for keeping the muscles, bones, and tissues healthy.
Define obesity
A disorder of body weight regulatory system characterized by accumulation of excess fat, sedentary lifestyle, and consumption of a high calorie diet
Diseases associated with obesity
Hypertension
Type II diabetes
Cancer
Atherosclerosis
Stroke
Coronary heart disease
BMI of an underweight individual
Less than 18.5
BMI of a normal individual
18.5-24.9
BMI of an overweight/ grade 1 individual
25-29.9
BMI of an obese/ grade 2 individual
30-39.9
BMI of a morbidly obese / grade 3 individual
Greater than 40
Normal waist size for men
102 cm
Normal waist size for women
88cm
What is a calorie?
Is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 mL of water by 1 °C
RDA of carbohydrates
RDA: 130 grams/day for adults and children
Characteristics of Carboydrates
Made of organic compounds carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Their major role in diet is energy production.
Carbohydrates consumed in the diet that are not immediately used for energy are stored as glycogen.
Carbohydrate intake above RDA increases the risk of__________?
CHO intake above RDA causes: weight gain or obesity due to increased fat storage in adipose tissue.
Examples and description of simple sugars
- Glucose is the predominant sugar in nature and the basic building block of most other carbohydrates.
- Fructose, or fruit sugar, is the sweetest of the monosaccharides and is found in varying levels in different types of fruits.
- Galactose joins with glucose to form the disaccharide lactose, the principal sugar found in milk.
- Other disaccharides include maltose, two glucose molecules bound together, and sucrose (table sugar), formed by glucose and fructose linked together.
Which are the only comple carbohydrates that humans can fully digest?
Glycogen and Starch
Role of glycogen in the body
Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscle cells and can be broken down into single glucose molecules to provide a rapid source of energy.
Because glycogen contains many water molecules, it is large and bulky and therefore unsuitable for long-term energy storage.
Thus, if a person continues to consume more carbohydrates than the body can use or store, the body will convert the sugar into fat for long-term storage.
What is dietary fiber? Give examples
This carbohydrate cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes.
Found in eatable plants such as fruits vegetables, grains and legumes.
They can be classified according to their source e.g if from grain, is called cereal fiber.
Soluble fiber partially dissolves in water and insoluble fiber does not.
E.g
* Cellulose
* Hemicellulose
* Lignin
* Pectin
* Gums
* Mucilages.
RDA of fiber for adults and children
Adults 21-38g/day
19g/day
What is glycemic index explaining high and low?
It measures how fast and how far blood sugar will rise after consuming carbohydrates.
Foods that are considered to have a high glycemic index are converted almost immediately to blood sugar which causes it to rise rapidly e.g potatoes, white rice, white flour, corn syrup e.t.c.
Foods that are considered to have a low glycemic index are digested slower causing a slower rise in blood sugar. Examples are whole grains (brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, high fibre cereals), high fibre fruits and vegetables, and many legumes.
Characteristics of protein
Proteins supply amino acids and amino nitrogen to the body. Proteins are the only source of nitrogen in the body.
Made of organic compounds carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
Formation of the brain, nervous system, blood, muscle, skin and hair.
Forms the transport mechanism for iron, vitamins, minerals, fats and oxygen; and is the key to acid–base and fluid balance.
Protein forms hormones, enzymes, and antibodies
RDA for proteins
RDA: Normal adults:
0.8g/kg body weight for adults,
30g/kg for pregnancy/ lactation and
2.0g/kg children
What is the only source of Nitrogen in the body
Proteins
What is an essential amino acid?
Amino acids that cannot be produced by the body
What are the essential amino acids
Histidine (not essential for adults), Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine.
Characteristics of fats
Provide 9 Kcalories per gram; it is an energy-yielding nutrient
Lipids are made of organic molecules carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Fats consist of glycerol fatty acids joined by an ester bond.
Fats serve many critical functions in the human body, including insulation, cell structure, nerve transmission, vitamin absorption, and hormone production.
The body stores adipose tissue (fat) as triglyceride.
Types of fats
Triglycerides - composed of three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule.
Saturated fatty acid - fatty acid with carbon chains fully saturated with hydrogen.
Monounsaturated fatty acid - fatty acid that has a carbon chain with one unsaturated double bond.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid - fatty acid that has two or more double bonds on the carbon chain.
Benefits of dietary fibers
Promotes feeling of Fullness By slowing gastric emptying
Reduces exposure of gut to carcinogens (free radicals of the carcinogen are excreted with the soluble fiber)
Lowers serum LDL levels
Slows gastric emptying (long-term glucose control in patients with diabetes mellitus)