Exam 1 Flashcards
What is nutrition?
Nutrition is the study of nutrients in the body and how food nourishes the body.
Why is nutrition important?
Understanding nutrition allows us to make healthy and intelligent choices when choosing what we put into our bodies and how it effects us.
Define nutrients.
Essential chemicals that the body needs to grow and stay alive.
Define diet.
Food a person usually eats and drinks.
Define nutrient density.
The ratio of beneficial ingredients to the food’s energy content for the amount that is commonly consumed.
Define malnutrition.
Occurs when a person has a nutrient deficiency, imbalance, or excess.
Define food.
Any substance that a body can take in and assimilate. Food provides nutrients that enable the body to stay alive and grow.
What are the functions of nutrients?
To provide energy
Contribute to body structure
Regulate chemical processes in the body
What are the essential nutrients?
Carbohydrates
Fats
Proteins
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
What makes a nutrient essential?
A nutrient is essential if it can not be created in the body and must be obtained through diet.
What are the macronutrients? What are their functions?
Carbohydrates
Fats
Proteins
Their function is to provide energy.
What are the micronutrients? What are their functions?
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
They do not provide energy.
What factors influence food choice?
Culture
Habits
Customs
Beliefs
Preferences
What are the types of nutritional studies?
Case study
Clinical trial/intervention study
Observational study
Animal/cell study.
What questions should you ask yourself when interpreting nutrition claims and news reports?
Who
What
When
Where
Why
