Nutrients Flashcards
What is nutrition?
the study of how the body uses the nutrients from the food we eat to provide energy needed for growth, repair and reproduction.
Why do we need energy for us to:
a) Grow- in height and weight
b) Repair- muscle repair, cuts, (protein rushes to heal and needs energy)
c) Reproduce- more stamina, healthy eggs and sperms (bad eating leads to infertility)
Why do we need to eat protein?
- Building and repairing body tissues, particularly muscle tissue.
- Making enzymes that are needed for metabolism.
- Building antibodies which protect us against disease.
Which nutrient/s can provide us with energy?
Lipids (number 1) and carbohydrates
What is the relationship between fibers and carbohydrates?
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. Though most carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules, fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules, and instead it passes through the body undigested.
What is the difference between a balanced diet and a healthy diet?
A healthy meal ensures you’re getting essential nutrients, while a balanced meal ensures you’re getting a variety of nutrients in the right proportions
Your best friend says that so far today she has eaten a piece of fruit and fruit juice for breakfast and at lunch a roast vegetable salad with a drink of water. Which of the following would help to make her diet for today more balanced? Give reasons for your answers. Some peanuts, a slice of chocolate cake, a piece of chicken, a pot of yogurt, some sweets.
Adding a piece of chicken or a pot of yogurt would be beneficial. Chicken provides lean protein, which is essential for muscle maintenance and overall health, while yogurt offers protein, and calcium, supporting bone health and digestion. Both options help address the nutrient gaps in her current meals.
Children who lack proteins will suffer from What?
kwashiorkor and marasmus.
Carbohydrates is present in
sugars, starch and cellulose.
(cellulose is a material which forms plant cell walls which is difficult to digest)
A deficiency in carbohydrates result in lack of ______
energy
Fats are found in foods that come from ________
Oils are mostly found in foods from _________
animals
plants
Fats are important because they:
Can be digested to provide energy and water;
Contain fat soluble vitamins D and E;
Act as insulation to protect internal organs
A diet high in animal fats is often associated with ______________________
heart and circulatory disease.
We contain ____% water by mass.
Water is constantly lost from the body by breathing and sweating so on average we need to drink at least ______ of water daily.
Drinking too much water is also dangerous as it dilutes the fluids in the body too much causing _________
70%
2 litres
water intoxication.
Dietary fibre is also called _______. We get this mainly from plants.
It is not truly a food since it cannot be digested in the human body however it is important since it allows for the______________________
roughage
easy elimination of faeces.
