Module 1.2: Food Composition Flashcards
Why are nutrients in food vital to our well-being?
The body uses nutrients obtained from food to get energy, synthesize tissue, and regulate functions.
(1) promote growth and development
(2) maintain tissue, cells, and bone
(3) fuel the body for physical and metabolic work
(4) regulate body processes.
Nutrients that are vital for sustaining health are referred to as ____________.
Essential nutrients
T/F: There are 45 essential nutrients needed for human growth, development, and maintenance.
True
There are six classes of nutrients that serve three general functions, what are the 3 functions?
(1) to provide energy
(2) to regulate body processes
(3) to contribute to cellular and body structure
Nutrients can be also classified as macronutrients or micronutrients, organic or inorganic. Please define these terms
Macronutrients - needed in large amounts in the body
Micronutrients - needed in small amounts in the body
Organic - a compound that contains carbon and hydrogen
Inorganic - any substance that does not contain carbon
What are the six classes of nutrients?
- Carbohydrate - organic, macro, energy source
- Protein - organic, macro, regulates body process, provide structure, energy source
- Lipids (fats) - organic, macro, regulate body process, provide structure, energy source
- Vitamin - organic, micro, regulate body process
- Minerals - inorganic, micro, regulate body process, provide structure
- Water - inorganic, macro, regulates body process, provide structure
What is energy?
The ability to do work. Provides calories and nutrients so the body can function.
The energy in food is often expressed as calories on food labels.
What are the three nutrient classes for sources of energy?
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
The body uses the energy released from carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol for various functions like _________.
- Build new compounds.
- Perform muscular movements (mechanical energy).
- Promote nerve transmissions (electrical energy).
- Maintain ion balance within cells.
Explain how a calorie (general term), Calorie (dietary term), and kilocalorie are related.
A calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Food calories (Calories) are expressed in terms of kilocalories.
Or
Calorie = 1 kilocalorie = 1,000 calories
T/F: A dietary Calorie (capital C) is actually the same as one kilocalorie, and the terms are often interchanged.
True
What number of kcal per gram does each macronutrient yield?
- carbohydrates: 4 kcal/gram
- proteins: 4 kcal/gram
- fats: 9 kcal/gram
- alcohol: 7 kcal/gram
How do you calculate the energy available from foods?
Look at food labels or food composition tables to get the number of grams of each nutrient of the food and know which nutrients are found in the specific food to get the total amount of kcals or energy in food.
Example:
___ grams of carbohydrates x 4 = _____kcal
How do you calculate the % of kilocalories from nutrients?
Divide kilocalories per food item by the total kcal of the whole meal and multiply by 100.
Example:
___ g of carbs x 4 = _____ divided by total kcal x 100 = % carb kcal
For the above example of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread:
Step 1: 47 g of carbs x 4 = 188 kcals
Step 2: 188 / 358 = 0.525
Step 3: 0.525 x 100 = 52.5 % carb
According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, what should the percentages of each nutrient be in our diets?
10-35% of our calories should come from protein
45-65% from carbohydrates
20-35% from fat
