Diet and Nutrition Flashcards
What are the 7 classes of food?
- Carbohydrates
- Fibre
- Fats
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
What is a balanced diet?
Contains adequate amounts of the 7 food groups
What are carbohydrates made from?
Chains of glucose molecules
Describe short chained carbohydrates
- Sugary taste
- Found in fruit, table sugar, chocolate etc
Describe long chained carbohydrates
- Starchy
- More complex carbohydrates
- Bread, pasta potatoes etc
Where and how are carbohydrates stored in the body?
Stored in the liver as glycogen and when needed they are broken down into glucose to be used in respiration
What is the primary role of carbohydrates?
Energy at high intensities
What is glycaemic index (GI)?
The number of glucose molecules in the carbohydrate not only determine what it is, but how hard it is to digest and how quickly it can release its energy. The glycaemic index of food refers to how quickly it breaks down to release its energy
What GI do sugary carbohydrates have?
High GI
What GI do complex carbohydrates have?
Low GI
What are fats made from?
3 fatty acid molecules attached to one glycerol molecule (triglyceride)
What is the primary role of fats?
Energy at lower intensities
Describe fats compared to carbohydrates
- Fats are bigger molecules than carbohydrates
- Need more oxygen to break fats down
- Only used at lower intensity work
- Very energy rich (contain more than double the energy contained in carbohydrates)
What are the two types of fats?
Saturated and unsaturated
Describe saturated fats
- Tend to be solid at room temperature
- Found in animal products
- Important for insulation
Describe unsaturated fats
- Tend to be liquid at room temperature
- Derived from vegetable products (oils)
- Important for the transport of fat soluble vitamins
Explain the health risks associated with a diet high in saturated fats
- Heart attacks
- High blood pressure
- Atherosclerosis
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- High LDL, Low HDL
What are proteins made of?
Amino acids
What do proteins provide for the body?
- The ‘building blocks’ for tissue (muscles ligaments etc.)
- Growth and repair
- Produce enzymes, hormones and haemoglobin
- Although not used for energy, they can be used when carbohydrate and fat stores are exhausted
What is hypertrophy?
Amino acids will be rebuilt into muscle tissue after training