Macronutrients Flashcards
What are macronutrients?
Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
What are micronutrients?
Vitamins
Minearls
Essential amino acids
Essential fatty acids
What is the calorie density of each macronutrient?
Carbs 4 cal/g
Proteins 4 cal/g
Fats 9 cal/g
How much do carbs make up (calories wise) in most diets? What is recommended?
40-70% are average, recommended 45-65% of overall caloric intake
What is the primary source of usable energy?
Carbohydrates
What are the main starches in the human diet?
Amylose and amylopectin
What is glycogen?
Glucose storage in animals
What is fiber?
Starch that is resistant to being absorbed or digested
Soluble - makes gel like substance in water
Insoluble - stays intact and increases stool bulk
How are carbohydrates absorbed?
As monosaccharides in the small intestine where they go to the liver
What breaks down carbohydrates?
Amylase released by salivary glands and pancreas
What carbohydrates cause a spike in blood sugar levels?
Simple carbs
What carbohydrates cause a gradual rise and fall in blood sugar?
Complex Carbs
What carbs do not impact blood sugar/energy?
Insoluble carbs
What is glycemic index?
The 2 hour postprandial curve for blood glucose values relative to a reference standard of simple glucose or white bread
What is the difference between glycemic index and glycemic load?
Glycemic load takes into account the standard serving size of a food
Which macronutrient has the lowest satiety index?
Fats
How much fat do we consume per day? What is recommended?
30-40% of daily calories. Recommends 20-35%
What are saturated fats?
Fats with the maximum number of carbon-hydrogen bonds
Solid at room temperature
Typically animal based
Less healthy bc don’t break down easily
What are unsaturated fats?
Fats with at least one double-bond between carbon molecules
Liquid at room temperature
Typically from plants
Generally more healthy
What are the types of unsaturated fats?
Monounsaturated - one double bond
Olive, canola, peanut, avocados
Polyunsaturated - multiple double bonds
walnut, sunflower, flax, soybeans, fatty fish
Poly are most healthy
What are trans fats?
Unsaturated fats with an altered double bond, typically a product of industrial food processing
Hydrogenation - makes oils solid (margarine)
Negative effect on health
What negative health outcomes are trans fats associated with?
Higher LDL
Lower HDL
Pro-inflammatory
Insulin resistance
How do we digest fats?
Triglycerides in diet are broken down into fatty acids by lipase (in mouth and stomach and sm intestine), bile salts (in duodenum).
Small/medium fatty acids are absorbed in small intestine
Large fatty acids are made into chylomicrons and transported in lymph
Why can’t babies drink cows milk?
Cows milk does not contain lipase whereas human milk does