Diet and Nutrition

Question 1

What are the components of a diet?

Answer 1

Nutrition is one of the 8 essential characteristics required to be considered a living thing. It supplies us with a source of energy which is released in respiration and provides material for growth and repair. (growth and cell division). It also helps our immune system fight diseases.

Question 2

5 main food groups?

Answer 2

There are five main groups of nutrition we need which are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals and vitamins. We also require water and dietary fibre as well.

Question 3

Balanced diet definition

Answer 3

A balanced diet is the combination of appropriate quantities of all the needed macro and micronutrients required to be healthy along with an appropriate amount of water.

Question 4

Macronutrients

Answer 4

Carbohydrates, fats, proteins
Eaten in large quantities

Question 5

Micronutrients

Answer 5

Vitamins, minerals
Eaten in small quantities

Question 6

Function of carbs?

Answer 6

Sugars act as a respiratory substrate and give quick energy release. They give you short term energy
Starches give slower energy release and help with long term energy
Dietary fibre bulks stool and prevents constipation

Question 7

Function of protein?

Answer 7

Growth and repair in muscle tissue. Also makes enzymes and hormones.

Question 8

Function of lipids?

Answer 8

Heat insulation and used for energy

Question 9

Function of vitamins/minerals?

Answer 9

These are needed to make essential chemicals in the body that perform important roles like ensuring the immune system works

Question 10

Function of water?

Answer 10

Water is required in cytoplasm as a solvent for chemical reactions. It’s also needed for the blood transport system and to sweat/cool our bodies.

Question 11

Starch monomer?

Answer 11

Starch is an insoluble macromolecule which can be broken by the digestive system into smaller units called monomers which are soluble.
These are called monosaccharides or simple sugars.
Made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Question 12

Glycogen purpose?

Answer 12

Glycogen can be broken down into glucose when blood glucose is low.
Humans store small quantities of glycogen in their liver and muscle and it’s structurally similar to starch

Question 13

Cellulose purpose?

Answer 13

Found in cell walls of plant cells.
Cellulose is known as the dietary fibre of our diets.
It prevents constipation by bulking food which assists the action of peristalsis.

Question 14

Starch purpose?

Answer 14

Starch is only found in plant cells and is made through photosynthesis.
Chemical formula - (6CO2 + 6H2O ——-> C6H12O6 + 6O2)

Question 15

Protein purpose?

Answer 15

Proteins allow growth where new cells are made. Lots of parts of the cell are made of protein structure.
It is also required for repair which also requires the production of new cells.
Enzymes are made of protein and are the biological catalysts that allow cell chemical reactions of life to work.

Question 16

Protein monomer?

Answer 16

Protein is a large insoluble macromolecule and is made up of monomers called amino acids. These are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen

Question 17

Essential vs non essential amino acids?

Answer 17

Essential amino acids must be consumed within our diet whereas non-essential amino acids can be made in our bodies and don’t have to be eaten.

Question 18

Lipids purpose?

Answer 18

Lipids are required to insulate our body heat at 37 degrees.
Fats can also be used to produce energy and can be used as a respiratory substrate.

Question 19

Saturated vs unsaturated fats?

Answer 19

Saturated fats only have single bonds and tend to be solid at room temperature whereas unsaturated fats have at least one double bond in their structure and are usually liquid at room temperature.

Question 20

Lipid monomer?

Answer 20

Lipids are macromolecules which are made of monomers. There are three fatty acids and also a molecule of glycerol. The elements found are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Question 21

Iron function and disease?

Answer 21

Production of red blood cells
Anaemia

Question 22

Vitamin A function and disease?

Answer 22

Allows eyes to function
Night blindness

Question 23

Calcium function and disease?

Answer 23

Toughens bones and teeth. Makes them hard and strong
Osteoporosis

Question 24

Vitamin C function and disease?

Answer 24

Allows connective tissue to be firm
Scurvy

Question 25

Vitamin D function and disease?

Answer 25

Helps bones absorb calcium
Rickets

Question 26

Water purpose?

Answer 26

Water dissolves chemicals and allows the reaction of metabolism in the cytoplasm
It also dissolves and transports chemicals around the body through the plasma.
Water also cannot be squashed so it stops bones from smashing into each other in our joints by acting as a shock absorber.

Question 27

Starch test?

Answer 27

Pour some starch solution into a test tube and add a few drops of iodine solution.
If starch is present the solution will go from yellow to a dark blue colour if starch is present.

Question 28

Glucose test?

Answer 28

Put some glucose solution into a test tube and add a few drops of Benedict’s solution.
Put the test tube in a beaker of boiling water.
If glucose is present the solution will turn red and if glucose presence is low it will be a green/yellow.

Question 29

Protein test?

Answer 29

Put some protein solution in a beaker and add a few drops of Biuret solution
If protein is present in the solution, the colour will turn into a violet/purple.