Lecture 1: What is Nutrition? Flashcards
What drives our food choices
Socio-environmental factors
Psychologic Factors
Biologic factors
Nutrition knowledge
Habits
Emotions
Convenience
Advertising
Cost
Culture
Taste
Nutrients
What is Nutrition?
The science that studies how nutrients and compounds in foods nourish the body and affect body functions and overall health
Exploration of how food is:
Digested
Absorbed
Transported
Metabolized
Used or stored in the body
What are nutrients?
Compounds in foods that serve as building blocks for body components and sustain body processes
Nutrients found in foods are also found in the body
What are the 6 categories of nutrients
Carbohydrates
Fats (lipids)
Protein
Vitamins
Minerals
Water
What are non-nutrient compounds?
Non-digestible fiber
Chemicals that are added by food manufacturers to:
Enhance color
Enhance flavor
Add texture
Extend shelf life
What is the most abundant nutrient in the body and in food?
Water
What makes up the rest of the nutrients in the body besides water?
Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals
Food also contain non-nutritive compounds such as phytochemicals and fiber
What makes nutrients organic?
Containing carbon in their chemical structure
What are the organic nutrients?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
What are the inorganic nutrients?
Minerals
Water
What are Essential Nutrients?
Nutrients that must be consumed in diet
Can not be made in the body in sufficient quantities to meet its needs and to support health.
What are nonessential nutrients?
Can be made in sufficient quantities in the body to meet the body’s requirement to support health
What are conditionally essential nutrients?
Nutrients that can become essential under some circumstances
What is energy?
Energy is the capacity to do work
The body derives energy from the nutrients in the foods that store energy in the chemical bonds called ATP which is released when bonds are broken
What are energy-yielding nutrients?
Carbohydrates
Lipids (fats)
Proteins
what is the non-nutrient source of energy?
Alcohol
Kilocalorie (kcal) or Calorie
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water by 1 degree Celsius
Used to express the measurement of energy in foods
1 Kilocalorie is equal to 1,000 calories
Calorie (uppercase C) is used on nutrition labels to express the energy content of food
Calculating energy in foods
Carbs= 4kcal/gram
Protein= 4kcal/gram
Fat (lipid)= 9kcal/gram
Alcohol= 7kcal/gram
Energy in Body
Energy is trapped within bonds that keeps molecules together so breaking them releases energy
Role of energy
Used in multiple bodily functions:
Needs of energy varies according to age, gender, and activity level
Unused energy is stored predominantly as fat
Using more energy than is consumed results in fat breakdown
Primary roles of Individual Nutrients
Individual nutrients serve unique roles in the body:
Supply energy
Regulate metabolism
Provide structure
Macronutrients
Nutrients the body needs in large amounts
Ex: carbs, fats, proteins, and water
Micronutrients
Essential nutrients the body needs in smaller amounts
Ex: vitamins and minerals
Primary Source of Energy (Carbohydrates)
Made up of carbons, hydrogen, and oxygen
Function:
Supply glucose (energy source of many body cells including red blood cells and brain cells.
Food sources:
Plants: Breads, cereals, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables
Animal: Dairy products are the only animal products that provide significant carbohydrates
Additional Energy (Lipids)
Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Three categories:
Triglycerides
Sterols
Phospholipids
Function:
Provide energy to cells, structural component to cell membranes
Food sources:
Margarine, butter, oils, and animal products
Proteins
Provide the building blocks for Tissue Synthesis
Made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Food Sources:
Animal: Meat, poultry, fish, and dairy
Plant: legumes, soy, nuts, and seeds
Minimal protein amounts: whole grains, vegetables, and some fruits