Diet and Nutrition 4.1 Flashcards
What are the seven classes of food that should be present in all sports performers diets?
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fibre
- Water
What are the two types of carbohydrates?
Simple carbohydrates- These are found in fruits and are easily digested by the body.
Also often found in processed foods and anything with refined sugar added
Complex carbohydrates- Found in nearly all plant-based foods, and usually take longer for the body to digest
Most commonly found in bread,pasta, rice and vegetables
How are carbohydrates digested?
Carbohydrate in food is digested and converted in glucose and enters the bloodstream
The glucose is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen but these stores are limited so regular refuelling is necessary
What is the glycaemic index?
This ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels
What do foods with a low glycaemic index do?
Foods with a lower glycaemic index cause a slower sustained release of glucose to the blood meaning that blood glucose levels are maintained for longer
Foods that have a low glycaemic index should be eaten 3-4 hours before exercise
e.g. bread, rice, cereal with milk
What do foods with a high glycaemic index do?
Cause a rapid, short rise in blood glucose- but this will be short lived
Foods with high glycaemic index should be eaten 1-2 hours before exercise
e.g. cereal bars, fruit, lucazade
What are the different types of fat?
Saturated, trans and unsaturated
What are saturated fats?
- Saturated fats can be found in both sweet and savoury foods but most come from animal sources
What can too much saturated fat lead to?
- Could lead to high cholestrol
- Could lead to high blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Affect stamina
- Limit flexibility
- Increased weight gain
What is LDL (Low-density lipoproteins)?
- Transport cholesterol in the blood to the tissues and are classed and ‘bad’ cholestrol since they are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
What can too much LDL lead to?
Can lead to fatty deposits developing in the arteries which can have a negative effect on blood flow
What is HDL (high-density lipoprotein)?
Transport excess cholestrol in the blood back to the liver where it is broken down
HDL’S are classed as good cholesterol as lower risk of heart disease
What is good fat used for?
Good fat is an energy source for LONG duration and LOW intensity exercise
Fat is a carrier for fat-soluable vitamins A,D,E and K
Fats cannot be used as an energy source for high intensity exercise where oxygen supply is limited - fats need oxygen to be broken down
e.g.jogging
What is cholesterol?
A type of fat found in the blood
How does cholesterol work?
- Predominately made in the liver and is carried by the blood
- It is carried as low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
- Too much LDL can lead to fatty deposits developing in the arteries- can affect blood flow
- HDL takes cholesterol away from parts of the blood where it has accumulated to the liver where it is disposed of
What are trans-fats?
- Type of unsaturated fat found in meat and dairy
- Most are made from industrial process to combine hydrogen to vegetable oils
- Artificial trans- fat increases shelf life
- Leads to high levels of cholesterol
- No more than 5g a day- should only be consumed in minimal amounts
What do fats also carry?
Fats are also a carrier for the fat -soluable vitamins A,D,E and K
What are proteins?
A combination of many chemicals called amino acids
& are important for muscle growth & repair
& to make enzymes, hormones & haemoglobin