[L3 Principles of Nutrition] Section 1: Key guidelines of nutrition Flashcards
Define nutrition
The delivery of essential materials (required to promote
optimal health and growth) to cells and organisms.
Deine Diet
Current eating pattern.
What are the functions of macronutrients?
Used within the body for structure, function, and fuel.
What are the functions of micronutrients?
Used for:
- Structure
- Function
- Are necessary to ‘unlock’ the energy contained within the macronutrients.
- Support and manage vital physiological processes within the body.
How many amino acids are there?
20
The basic structure of a protein is what?
A chain of amino acids?
Most proteins are relatively large molecules comprised of at least how many amino acids?
100
Smaller clusters of amino acids are referred to as what?
Peptides
Name the four types of peptides and state the number of amino acids in each
Dipeptide = 2 Tripeptide = 3 Oligopeptide = 4-9 Polypeptide = 10+
Protein makes up what percentage of the body?
18-20%
What are the three groups of amino acids?
- Essential,
- Non-essential
- Conditionally essential
What are essential amino acids and how many are there?
There are 9 essential amino acids and they are considered to be essential to the daily diet because the body is unable to produce or synthesise them itself
What are ‘non-essential’ amino acids?
These are made by the body from essential amino acids or in the normal breakdown of proteins.
What are ‘conditionally essential’ amino acids?
These are amino acids that be synthesised by the liver if the 9 essential amino acids are absorbed, but for certain population groups, these amino acids must be supplied by the diet to ensure good health.
What is a ‘complete’ protein source
These foods contain all nine essential amino acids in sufficient amounts necessary for the liver to synthesise
the remaining non-essential amino acids.
What is an ‘incomplete’ protein source
These proteins are considered to have a lower biological value since they are usually lacking one or
more of the essential amino acids. e.g. plants
What is a ‘complementary’ protein source
Carbohydrate-based foods that also contain smaller
amounts of protein.
What are the 6 functions of protein?
- They serve as enzymatic catalysts.
- They are used as transport molecules (haemoglobin transports oxygen) and storage molecules (iron is stored in the liver as a complex with the protein ferritin).
- They are used in movement (proteins are the major component of muscles).
- They are needed for mechanical support (skin and bone contain collagen, which is a fibrous protein).
- They mediate cell responses (rhodopsin is a protein in the eye which is used for vision).
- Antibody proteins are needed for immune protection.
What are the three categories of protein functions?
Structural, Homeostatic, and Fuel proteins
What are structural proteins?
Proteins that form the main framework of many components of the body.
Proteins are present in collagen in bone and connective tissue, keratin in the skin, and in muscle
tissue.
What are Homeostatic proteins?
Proteins that make up hormones that regulate various processes, e.g. insulin controls blood sugar, enzymes speed up reactions, and white blood cells fight infection.
What are Fuel proteins?
Proteins that are used as a source of energy
- Especially during endurance events or periods of fasting. They can be converted into glucose, fatty acids, or ketones to help produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
What is anabolism?
The set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units.
When does the anabolic phase mostly orrcur?
During rest