Chapter 10 - Nutrition Basics Flashcards
Nutrition
The science of food and dietary supplements, and how the body uses them in health and disease.
Essential Nutrients
Dietary components the body must get from foods or supplements because it cannot manufacture them to meet its needs.
There are about 45
ex. proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water
Macronutrients
An important nutrient required by the body in relatively large amounts.
ex. proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and water
Micronutrients
An important nutrient required by the body in minute amounts.
ex. vitamins and minerals
Digestion
The process of breaking down foods into compounds the gastrointestinal tract can absorb and the body can use.
Kilocalories (kcal)
A measure of energy content in food; 1 kilocalorie represents the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 liter of water 1°C; commonly referred to as a calorie.
What percentage of the world is undernourished?
~10% (768 million) {2021}
Energy
The capacity to do work, measured by calories. We get energy from certain nutrients in food.
Nutrient Density
The ratio of a food’s essential nutrients to its calories.
Proteins
An essential nutrient that forms important parts of the body’s main structures (muscles and bones) as well as blood, enzymes, hormones, and cell membranes; also provides energy.
Amino Acids
One of the building blocks of proteins; 20 common amino acids are found in foods. 9 of which are essential (indispensable)
Complete Protein Sources
Protein sources that supply all the essential amino acids in adequate amounts.
Incomplete Protein Sources
Protein sources that do not supply all the essential amino acids in adequate amounts.
Triglycerides
- most fats in food
- similar is basic composition
( a glycerol [alcohol] molecule with three fatty acid chains attached) - Both animal fats and plant fats (oils) are made of primarily
- Different structures of fatty acids result in different types
Saturated
- Animal Fats ( Especially fatty meats and poultry fat and skin)
- Butter, cheese, and other high-fat dairy products
- Palm and coconut oils
Monounsaturated
- Olive, canola, and safflower oils
- Avocados and olives
- Peanut butter (without added fat)
- Many nuts, including almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios.
Polyunsaturated omega-3 (alpha-linolenic)
- Fatty fish, including salmon, white albacore tuna, mackerel, anchovies, and sardines
- Compared to fish, lesser amounts are found in canola and soybean oils; tofu; walnuts; flaxseeds; and dark green leads vegetables
Polyunsaturated omega-6 (linoleic acid)
- Corn, soybean, and cottonseed oils (often used in margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressings)
Hydrogenation
A chemical process by which hydrogen atoms are added to molecules of unsaturated fats, increasing the degree of saturation and turning liquid oils into solid fats. Hydrogenation produces a mixture of saturated fatty acids, and cis (standard) and trans forms of unsaturated fatty acids.
Trans fatty Acids
A type of unsaturated fatty acid produced during the process of hydrogenation; trans fats have an atypical shape that affects their chemical activity. Trans fats are associated with an increase in LDL cholesterol and with endothelial dysfunction, attributes associated with risk of heart disease.
Low-Density Lipoproteins
Blood fat that transports cholesterol to organs and tissues; excess amounts result in the accumulation of deposits in artery walls, causing hardening of the arteries and potentially cardiovascular disease.
Carbohydrates
An essential nutrient, required for energy for cells; sugars, starches, and dietary fiber are all carbohydrates.