Human Nutrition Flashcards
What is ‘human nutrition’?
Describes the science food and how it affects our health
What is the function of human nutrition?
Job or role played by a structure or organism
Why is food important?
- To provide energy
- To provide raw materials for growth of new cells
- To repair tissue
What is the function of carbohydrates?
Main source of energy in the body
What foods are carbohydrates found?
In foods such as potatoes, bread and pasta
What elements are carbohydrates made out of?
Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), & Oxygen (O)
What are carbohydrates made up of?
Simple sugars —> monosaccharide
E.g. glucose (sweets), fructose (fruit)
What happens when two simple sugars join together?
They form disaccharides
E.g. sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk), & maltose (sweet potatoes)
What happens when small subunits link up?
They make long chains which we know as ‘Complex Carbohydrates’ —> Polysaccharide
E.g. starch (potatoes), fibre (whole grains), & glycogen (stored in liver and muscles)
What is another name for fats?
Lipids
What are fats found as
Fats can be found as liquids or solids
What are fats smallest unit?
A triglyceride
What are the functions of fats?
- They provide heat insulation
- They provide a protective layer around organs
- They form part of the cell membrane
- They are an important energy source for the body
- They form a waterproof layer on the skin
- They provide growth repair
What elements are fats made of?
Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), & Oxygen (O)
How much do we need of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ fats?
The right quantity’s
Saturated vs unsaturated
(Bad?) (Good?)What foods do we find fats in?
Nuts, butter, spreads, red meat, oils, fish & avocado
Which is which — fats & lipids - solid & liquid?
Fats are solid at room temperature e.g. butter
Lipids are liquid at room temperature e.g. oil
What elements are proteins made up of?
Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), & Oxygen (O)
What is the smallest unit of proteins?
Amino acids
What are the functions of proteins?
- Form hair, nails, skin, feathers
- Form muscles
- Form enzymes, antibodies and some hormones
What are the food sources of protein?
Lentils, nuts, beans, seeds, meat, fish, egg, dairy products - milk, cheese, yogurt
What are vitamins?
Vitamins are chemicals needed for growth and protection against disease
Very important but we only need tiny amounts of them
What vitamins are essential for keeping us healthy?
A B C D E & K
What vitamins are water soluble and fat soluble?
Vitamins B & C are water soluble
Vitamins A, D, E & K are fat soluble
