Food and Nutrition

Question 1

Explain blood glucose

Answer 1

• Indicates amount of glucose in blood
• Sudden removal = a drop ( AKA hypoglycaemia )
• Sugar build up in blood instead of being converted into energy = hyperglycaemia

Question 2

What causes low blood glucose levels

Answer 2

• Skipping meals / not eating enough
• Exercising hard / for a long time without extra food
• Eating high-fat / high glycemic index foods
  - cause a sharp incr in blood glucose level triggering insulin release to stimulate removal of glucose from bloodstream

Below normal = hunger; shaky; sweaty or cold; headache

Question 3

How can you manage low blood glucose

Answer 3

• Eat slow-release / low GI carbs at every meal to keep it stable

Question 4

Explain GI foods

Answer 4

1) Low GI = 1-100
- seed loaf; legumes; rye bread; baked beans; sweet potato

2) High GI = 70 or more
- white bread ; biscuits; sweets; rice cakes; sports drinks

Question 5

Explain diabetes ( type 1 )

Answer 5

• Body doesn’t prod insulin or is unable to use it properly
• Insulin turns sugar into energy
• Type 1 = children and young adults when pancreas cells are damaged / unable to make insulin
  - symptoms = freq urination; excessive thirst or hunger; low energy; digestive problems
• Can lead to blindness; kidney disease; nerve disease and coronary heart disease
• Treatment = regular insulin injections; diabetic diet and sufficient exercise ( limit foods high in sat fats and cholesterol )

Question 6

Explain diabetes ( type 2 )

Answer 6

• Related to lifestyle and is when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it mostly in older people
• Overweight people = insulin resistance and have cholesterol and BP when diagnosed
• Obesity; lack of physical exercise
• Treatment = active lifestyle; eating soluble and insoluble fibre to improve carb metabolism; reduce protein intake; use fat sparingly

Question 7

Explain cholesterol fully

Answer 7

• Soft; waxy substance that clogs arteries and is produced in the liver and body cells
• Good = HDL ( high density lipoprotein ) helps lower risk of heart disease
• Bad = LDL is found in fat deposits in the arteries and contribute to heart disease
• Fats that raise cholesterol level:
  
  • saturated = fatty meat; full cream milk prod; butter; coconut palm oil
  • Trans fatty acids = hydrogenated fats; shortening; fried takeaway
• Fats that lower cholesterol level:
  - Polyunsaturated = sunflower; soya and corn oil; fatty fish
  - Mon-unsat = olive and canola oil; avocado; nuts; olives

Question 8

Explain high blood cholesterol; causes and prevention

Answer 8

• Atherosclerosis = clogging; narrowing and closing of arteries due to build up of cholesterol on walls of arteries ( may cause heart attacks; gangrene and strokes)
• Lack of exercise; high saturated d=fat intake; inherited; female and older people
• Limit animal fat intake; fish 2x a week; low dairy prod; limit hidden fats

Question 9

Explain osteoporosis

Answer 9

• Calcium is withdrawn from bones at a faster rate than it can be replaced and bones gradually become smaller; thinner and so fragile they break easily
• Caused by a lack of calcium; progesterone deficiency; lack of vitamin D and phosphorus
• Treatment = phosphorus and vitamin D; adequate fluoride; reduce protein rich foods; limit tea and coffee

Question 10

Explain anaemia

Answer 10

• Blood loses some of its capacity to carry oxygen
• Causes = folacin; vit b12 or b6 or copper