Digestive System Flashcards
Define nutrients
A substance found in food that’s used by the body to meet important needs.
What are the 6 important nutrients?
-Proteins
-Carbohydrates
-Fats
-Water
-Vitamins
-Minerals
Define carbohydrates
-Are made of a single sugar molecule or a chain of sugar molecules.
-Is the body’s main source of energy.
-Carbohydrates can be monosaccharides, disaccharides or polysaccharides.
What are monosaccharides?
Are carbohydrates that are made of simple sugars (ex:glucose).
What are disaccharides?
Are carbohydrates made of double sugars (ex:lactose)
What are polysaccharides?
Are carbohydrates that are complex sugars (ex:starch)
Define fats
-Are composed of fatty acids and a glycerol.
-They store and provide energy, however this energy is stored so it’s available over a longer period of time compared to carbohydrates.
-Are the building blocks of hormones and cell membranes.
-Protect organs and insulate the body from the cold.
What are examples of fats?
dairy products (except skimmed), vegetable oils, butter, fatty meats and fish, eggs, nuts, croissants, french fries etc.
Define saturated fats
-A straight fatty acid.
-Since its straight, it can pack itself onto another resulting in a solid fat at room temperature. (This is why a diet high in saturated fats can cause heart disease)
What are examples of saturated fats?
butter, some oils, animal fat, chips, some baked goods, fast food etc.
Define unsaturated fats
-A kinked fatty acid.
-It cannot pack itself onto another molecule resulting in it being liquid fat at room temperature.
Define trans fats?
-Are made by adding hydrogen and a lot of pressure to vegetable oil to create a stiffer fat.
-Trans fats and saturated fats can clog arteries.
Define proteins?
-Proteins are large molecules made of chains of amino acids.
-They build and repair cells and tissues and provide the body with energy only when carbohydrates and fats are severely restricted.
What are examples of proteins?
Meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, legumes, tofu, nuts etc.
Define water
-Water transports nutrients and waste products in the body.
-It helps regulate body temperature and is needed in numerous chemical reactions in the body.
-70% of the human body is made up of water. ( A person needs 2-3L of water a day)
What are examples of foods that contain a lot of water?
Fruits, fruit juice, vegetables, vegetable juice, soups, milk etc.
Define vitamins
-Are substances that the body needs in small amounts.
-Each type of vitamin has a different function in the body including: contributing to chemical reactions, helping to make energy, helping to fight off infections, helping to repair tissue etc.
-The main vitamin types are A, B1, B2, C, D and E.
What are examples of foods that contain vitamins?
Fruits, vegetables, dairy products, whole grains, eggs etc.
Define minerals
-Minerals make up 4% of the weight of the human body and must be ingested daily.
-Minerals have different roles like building tissue, maintaining fluid in the body, helping muscles to contract, transporting oxygen in the blood etc.
What are examples of minerals?
-Potassium
-Calcium
-Magnesium
-Phosphorus
What foods are minerals found in?
Dairy products, legumes, seafood and fish, fruits, vegetables etc.
Why do we need energy?
Energy is required to do anything. Sleeping, reading, sitting, standing, walking, weightlifting, sports etc. all require energy. Since we constantly use energy, it needs to be replaced regularly
Which nutrients are a source of energy and which are not?
Are: Carbohydrates and fats.
Are not: Water, minerals and vitamins.
(Proteins are mostly used build and repair body tissue. If there are no carbohydrates and fats or if there are too much protein, only then will protein be used as an energy source).
1 gram of carbohydrate = ? calories
1 gram of protein = ? calories
1 gram of fat = ? calories
1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories
1 gram of protein = 4 calories
1 gram of fat = 9 calories
Problem #1:
One serving of food contains 20g of fat, 14g of protein and 3g of carbohydrate. Approximately how many calories are in one serving?
20g x 9 calories = 180 calories
14g x 4 calories = 56 calories
3g x 4 calories = 12 calories
180 + 56 + 12 = 248
Answer: 248 calories
What are the two parts of the digestive system?
-The digestive tract
-The digestive glands
What are the 6 things the digestive tract is made up of?
-The mouth
-The pharynx
-The esophagus
-The stomach
-The small intestine
-The large intestine
Define digestive glands
Digestive glands make chemical secretions that are needed to digest food as it travels in the digestive tract.
