Introduction to Nutrition Flashcards

1
Q

Why is nutrition important?

A

Correct nutrition is essential for maintaining optimum health in all species
Failure to do so will have major health effects on the animal

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2
Q

Define nutrition?

A

The process related to the supply of food constituents (nutrients) taken in by a species to support life

Giving the body everything it needs to be able to function. Nutritionally balanced diet.

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3
Q

What are nutrients?

A

Nutrients are the components of food

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4
Q

How do nutrients support life?

A

An energy supply
Providing structural components for new cells
Transporting substances within and through the body - water
Regulating temperature - water
Helping chemical reactions in the body - enzymes
Helping food palatability - Fat

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5
Q

Define ingestion

A

The act of taking food via the mouth

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6
Q

Define digestion

A

The breaking down of food into smaller units by mechanical and chemical means
Use of tongue, teeth, lips and throat

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7
Q

Define absorption

A

The transportation or diffusion of small food compounds into the body

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8
Q

Define metabolism

A

The process by which physiological changes occur in the body through chemical reaction
All the physical and chemical changes that occur in cells to allow growth and maintain body functions

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9
Q

What is metabolism?

A

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions

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10
Q

Define anabolism

A

The process of building up nutrient molecules into large units that store energy
The constructive phase of metabolism which is characterised by the conversion of simple substances into the more complex compounds of living matter e.g. Amino acids into protein

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11
Q

Define catabolism

A

The breaking down of complex organic compounds often resulting with the release of energy
The metabolic process in which energy is used by breaking down large complex molecules into smaller ones

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12
Q

What is the differences between anabolic and catabolic

A

Anabolic:

  • builds up
  • constructive phase
  • energy use
  • ◼️ ⬛️ -> ▪️▪️▪️▪️

Catabolic:

  • breaks down
  • destructive phase
  • energy release
  • ▪️▪️▪️▪️ -> ⬛️⬛️
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13
Q

What does the term dry matter mean?

A

Chemical components available to provide energy once the water content of the food has been extracted

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14
Q

Define hunger

A

The physiological sensation triggered when the body require energy

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15
Q

Define appetite

A

The desire for a particular type and quantity of food to satisfy a bodily need

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16
Q

Define anorexia

A

Loss of desire to eat

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17
Q

Define balanced diet

A

Where all the correct nutrients are available to the animal in the correct quantities

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18
Q

What are the 7 main nutrients in food?

A
Water
Fat
Protein
Carbohydrates
Vitamins
Minerals
Amino acids
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19
Q

What is the purpose of water?

A

Carrier of substances to and from body tissues
Temperature regulation
Fluid balance
pH of blood
Gaseous exchange
Lubricates joints/tissues and organs
Water is not an energy producing nutrient

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20
Q

What factors may influence the quantity of water an animal requires?

A
The age
Life stage - lactation, neonates etc
Environmental conditions
Diet
Habit
Physical exertion
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21
Q

What is synovial fluid?

A

Fluid that lubricates the joints

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22
Q

What are the 3 ways water is obtained by the body?

A

Drinking - must be fresh and available at all times
Water in food - varies depending on food type
Metabolic water - produced from catabolism of nutrients;
CHO breakdown 60%
Proteins 40%
Fats 10%

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23
Q

What 6 ways is water lost from the body?

A
Urine
Faeces
Expired air
Swear
Milk during lactation
Blood loss
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24
Q

What is the purpose of carbohydrates?

A

Provide energy
Can also be converted into body fat
Can affect gut function
Made of sugars

25
Q

Where do we get carbohydrates from?

A
Cereals 
Potatoes
Bread
Pasta
Rice
26
Q

Carbohydrates are classified into two groups, what are they?

A

Soluble

Insoluble

27
Q

What are soluble carbohydrates?

A

Simple and complex sugars
Cereals provide the majority of energy in commercial dog food
These are absorbed and utilised by the body

28
Q

What are insoluble carbohydrates?

A

Fibre - used to bulk low calorie food

Not absorbed or utilised by the body

29
Q

What are the 2 types of soluble carbohydrates?

A

Monosaccharide

  • glucose
  • fructose

Disaccharide

  • 2 monosaccharides joined by an enzyme reaction
  • These are classed as simple sugars
  • lactose
  • maltose
  • sucrose
30
Q

What insoluble carbohydrates are there?

A

Cellulose

  • found in the wall of plant cells
  • non digestible in carnivores
  • important energy source in herbivores
  • provides dietary fibre
31
Q

What does monosaccharide mean?

A

One sugar

32
Q

What dies disaccharide mean?

A

2 sugars

33
Q

What does polysaccharide mean?

A

Many sugars

34
Q

What are polysaccharides?

A

Made up of chains of simple sugars
Primary plant energy made available by cooking
Glycogen - animal starch chain of glucose molecules
These are classified as complex sugars

35
Q

Are diets high in insoluble fibre appropriate for animals with high energy requirements?

A

No
Because they are low in energy density
So would need a lot of it

36
Q

What are amino acids?

A

Building blocks of proteins
There are 22 different amino acids
As few as 50 or as many as several thousands of amino acids line up in a specific sequence to make a protein

37
Q

How do animals receive most of there amino acids?

A

The food they eat
Synthesis
Breakdown (catabolism) and build up (anabolism) of chemicals into the required amino acids

38
Q

Define synthesis

A

Bi-product of chemical reaction

39
Q

What are the essential amino acids?

A

Amino acids that an animal can not synthesise itself
Must be provided in the diet
Dogs require 10 essential amino acids
Cats require 11 essential amino acids such as Taurine

40
Q

What is Taurine?

A

An essential amino acid required for cats
Only found in meat protein
Deprivation causes degeneration of the retina and dilated cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart)
Deficiency poorly shown through symptoms

41
Q

What is arginine?

A
Show signs of protein deficiency
Rough dull coat
Poor muscle development
Reduced immunity
Anaemia
Poor wound healing
Lethargy
Anorexia
42
Q

What are proteins?

A

Very complex organic compounds composed of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms
Made up of amino acids
From part of all living cells, and non living structures such as hair, nails and matrix of connective tissue

43
Q

What is the purpose of proteins?

A

All enzymes and some hormones are protein
Absolutely essential for growth and repair of the body
May be used for energy production

44
Q

What are four reasons protein is required in the diet?

A

Tissue growth and repair
Metabolic function (enzymes and protein)
Protect against disease
Provide energy

45
Q

Proteins are particular important for animals that are…

A

Growing
Reproducing
Working
Unwell/recovering

Carbohydrates have a similar role

46
Q

What 5 ways can protein be lost from the body?

A
Faeces
Urine
Hair
Skin
Sweat
47
Q

Five foods that contain protein?

A
Meat 
Eggs
Cheese
Legumes
Nuts
48
Q

Which if species has the higher protein requirements, cats or dogs?

A

Cats require 3.3 - 3.5g/kg/day

Dogs require 1.3 - 1.5g/kg/day

49
Q

Name 4 functions of fats

A
Provide energy 
Absorption of fat soluble vitamins D,E,K,E
Enhance palatability
Source of essential fatty acids 
Insulation
Too much fat causes obesity
50
Q

What are lipids?

A
Organic substances only very slightly or totally non-soluble in water, but very soluble in organic solvents such as alcohol
Contain;
- fats
- oils
- waxes
Fat is the most abundant lipid
51
Q

What are fat molecules called?

A

Triglycerides

52
Q

What are essential fatty acids?

A

Linoleum acid
Arachidonic acid
There are the parent compounds from which the more complex longer chain compounds can be synthesised by the body

Cats have only a limited ability to convert EFA’s into the longer compound and therefore require a preformed source of arachidonic acids from animal sources

53
Q

What is DHA?

A

Needed for cognitive development

Easier training

54
Q

What are volatile fatty acids?

A

Significant source of energy for herbivores
Produced in the ruminant by the fermentation process of insoluble fatty acids

Formed by the breakdown of cellulose

55
Q

What are antioxidants and why do we add them to feeds?

A
Prevents oxidation of 'stored' food
Prevents fats from becoming rancid and breaking down 
Examples;
- vitamin C
- vitamin E
- Carotenoids

Preserves food

56
Q

How is protein made into an amino acid?

A

Protein -> protease -> amino acid

57
Q

How is far made into fatty acids/glycol?

A

Fat -> lipase -> fatty acids/glycol

58
Q

What proteins break down carbohydrates to glucose?

A

CHO -> amylase -> maltase -> glucose