Macronutrients (Carbs, Fats, Proteins) Flashcards
proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are what type of nutrient?
macronutrient
dietary substances that are consumed in smaller amounts than macronutrients, but still essential for various needs of the body
micronutrient
- Vitamins and vitamin-like substances
- Minerals
- Essential amino acids
- Essential fatty acids
Typically (not always) not made by the body in sufficient amounts and therefore must be ingested to some degree
Energy density for proteins, carbs, and fats
carbs = 4 calories(kcal)/gram
Proteins = 4 calories(kcal)/gram
Fats = 9 calories(kcal)/gram
organic compounds consisting of carbon and water in a 1:1 ratio
Primary source of readily usable energy
Does not contain any essential components
carbohydrates
- Major staple of plant matter
– Make up 40-70% of calories in most diets
carbohydrates
6 major functions of carbohydrates
- Fuel for metabolic processes
- Especially CNS, RBCs, renal medulla - Prevent protein from being used for energy
- Enable fat metabolism/oxidation
- Taste/dietary variety
- More than other macros - Healthy gut
- Food for intestinal microflora
- Aid in nutrient absorption - Help form important cellular structures
monosaccharides and disaccharides
May be naturally occurring or added to food products
simple carbohydrates
fruits, veggies, dairy, honey, maple syrup are examples of what type of carbohydrate
Naturally occurring simple carb
table sugar, beverages, cereals/grains, HFCS
are examples of what type of carbohydrate
Additive simple carb
polysaccharides, like starches, cellulose, glycogen, gums, pectins, are examples of?
complex carbs
2 main starches in human diet
amylose and amylopectin
glucose storage in animals
Glycogen
“resistant” starch that is not absorbed/digested
fiber
2 types of fiber
- Soluble - dissolves in water to form gel-like material
- Oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus, carrots - Insoluble - stays intact; increases stool bulk
- Whole-wheat flour, bran, nuts, beans, potatoes, veggies
carbohydrates must be broken down in the ____. Can only be absorbed as ___
GI tract
monosaccharides
what begins the process of carbohydrate digestion?
amylase
Speed of breakdown depends on overall composition of food
____ → rapid breakdown → spike in blood sugar levels
simple carbs
____ → slower breakdown → more gradual rise/fall in blood sugar
complex carbs
____ → do not have clinical impact on blood sugar/energy
insoluble carbs
describe the digestion/storage of sugar
- Monosaccharides are absorbed by the small intestine
- Enter circulation and travel to liver - Liver changes sugars into glucose
- If glucose not immediately needed for energy → stored as glycogen
- Once glycogen stores are full → carbs are stored as fat (TG)
what are 2 examples of foods that are exceptions of how carbs are broken down?
fiber and protein
can impact digestion
evaluates the 2-hr postprandial curve for blood glucose values relative to a reference standard (usually glucose or white bread)
Glycemic Index (GI)
similar to glycemic index - calculates 2 hr postprandial change taking into account a standard serving size of that food
Glycemic Load (GL)
Incorporating a low GI/GL diet has been shown to have positive health effects, especially in ?
Especially in chronic disease patients - HTN, DM, cancer, CV disease, obesity
what is the recommended intake for carbs
Recommended 45-65% of overall caloric intake
what makes a “good” carb vs “bad” carb?
Good:
1. High…
- nutrients
- fiber
2. Low…
- GI/GL
- calories
- sodium
- saturated fat
- refined sugars and grains
Bad:
1. Low…
- relative nutritional content
- dietary fiber
High…
- GI/GL
- calories
- refined sugar content
- Corn syrup, white sugar, honey, juices
- refined grains
- White flour, rice, pasta
- sodium
- saturated fats
Clinical pearls of carbohydrates for pt education
- Less processed = more healthy (in general)
- “White” foods are not your friend!
- Fiber is your friend! - Avoid eating carbohydrates without protein or fat
- The type of carb is more important than the amount
- GI/GL, if your patient can understand, can be helpful
- Moderation is a big key - Avoid sugary beverages!
Provide energy and important component of many body structures, molecules
Include essential fatty acids
water-insoluble compounds, a type of lipid
dietary fats
dietary fats can come from ?
both plant and animal products
what has the lowest satiety index of any macronutrient
dietary fats
- Calorie-for-calorie, less filling
- Higher calorie/gram ratio than other macros
7 major functions of dietary fats
- Energy reserve*
- Stored fat (adipose tissue)
- A lean adult can store about 120,000 kcal in adipose
stores vs 2,000 kcal in glycogen stores - Absorb necessary fat-soluble vitamins from diet
- Provide essential fatty acids
Linoleic and alpha-linoleic acid - Component of body structures and molecules
- Cell membranes, neural tissue, hormones - Insulate the body
- Cushion and protect viscera
- Contribute to flavor and palatability of food
type of fat that contain the maximum number of carbon-hydrogen bonds
saturated
type of fat that have at least one double-bond between carbon molecules
unsaturated
2 types of unsaturated fat
- Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) - one double-bond per molecule
- Olive, canola, peanut, avocado - Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) - multiple double-bonds per molecule
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
- Walnut, sunflower, flax, soybean, fatty fish