Human Diet

Question 1

What are three chemicals that are needed in a balanced diet and what are they made from?

Answer 1

• Proteins; made from amino acids
• Carbohydrates; made from simple sugars such as glucose
• Fats; made from fatty acids and glycerol molecules

Question 2

Where are each of these chemicals stored?

Answer 2

• Proteins cannot be stored in the body
• Carbohydrates are stored in the liver as glycogen or converted into fats
• Fats are stored under the skin and around organs as adipose tissue

Question 3

How does a balanced diet vary?

Answer 3

• Religion
• Age
• Vegetarianism/Veganism
• Allergies
• Gender
• Level of activity

Question 4

How can we tell if someone is overweight?

Answer 4

Calculate the BMI (body mass index)

Question 5

What is the formula for BMI?

Answer 5

BMI = mass in kg / (height in m)^2

Question 6

What is the difference between first and second class proteins?

Answer 6

• First class: from meat and fish, contain all essential amino acids that the human body cannot make
• Second class: from plants, doesn’t contain all essential amino acids

Question 7

What is the effect of having too little protein?

Answer 7

Causes kwashiorkor (protein deficiency), common in LEDCs due to poor agriculture and overpopulation

Question 8

How can we know how much protein we should eat?

Answer 8

Calculate EAR (estimated average daily requirement)
EAR in g = 0.6 X body mass in kg

Question 9

How does EAR vary?

Answer 9

• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• Age