human nutrition

Question 1

Distinguish between essential and non-essential nutrients (in general).

Answer 1

ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Cannot be replaced or synthesized by the body, so must be ingested in the diet, Water, Minerals, Some vitamins, Some unsaturated fatty acids, Some amino acids

NON-ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Can be synthesized by the body or have a replacement nutrient which serves same dietary purpose, so are not necessary in the diet
Carbohydrates/sugars/ starches (energy could come from proteins/fats)
Other minerals and some vitamins
Saturated fatty acids
Some amino acids

Question 2

Outline how to determine the energy content of food (calorimetry).

Answer 2

Mass of water (g) x 4.2 (J/g℃) x Temp increase (℃)

Question 3

Outline the causes and consequences of Vitamin D deficiency in humans

Answer 3

cause - lack of vit D nutrients, lack of uv light (sun)
consequences - bone mineralization and rickets in kids / thick and wide bone growth/osteomalacia

Question 4

Know that the hypothalamus is the appetite control center (in the brain)

Question 5

Define malnutrition

Answer 5

a deficiency, imbalance, or excess of nutrients in the diet.

Question 6

Outline the health consequences of obesity.

Answer 6

overweight individuals are more likely to suffer hypertension and type II diabetes

Question 7

Outline the health consequences of starvation and anorexia

Answer 7

causes the breakdown of heart muscle. body will begin to break down OWN tissue as not receiving enough energy from diet (adipose (fat) tissue broken down first as fats contain more energy and their breakdown does not (usually) disrupt homeostasis/ metabolism - after adipose tissue broken down, muscle tissue broken down to provide proteins)

Question 8

Explain how cholesterol levels in the blood are an indicator of the risk of CHD (coronary heart disease)

Answer 8

buildup of plaque in the arteries