Nutrition 1 - Macronutrients

Question 1

What is nutrition?

Answer 1

The science of foods and their actions within the body, including their relationship to health and disease.

Question 2

What are the six classes of nutrients?

Answer 2

Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, mineral salts, and water.

Question 3

What are macronutrients?

Answer 3

Nutrients required in large amounts (grams/day), including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Question 4

What are micronutrients?

Answer 4

Nutrients required in small amounts (mg or μg daily), including vitamins and minerals.

Question 5

Which macronutrients provide energy?

Answer 5

Carbohydrates (4 kcal/g), proteins (4 kcal/g), and fats (9 kcal/g).

Question 6

How is energy measured in nutrition?

Answer 6

In kilocalories (kCal) or kilojoules (kJ), where 1 kCal = 4.2 kJ

Question 7

What is the recommended daily calorie intake?

Answer 7

~2,000 kcal/day for women and ~2,500 kcal/day for men (NHS guidelines).

Question 8

What happens when energy intake exceeds expenditure?

Answer 8

Weight gain, obesity, and increased risk of chronic diseases.

Question 9

What happens when energy intake is too low?

Answer 9

Weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and metabolic imbalances.

Question 10

What are carbohydrates?

Answer 10

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as the body’s primary energy source.

Question 11

What are the three main types of carbohydrates?

Answer 11

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Question 12

Give examples of monosaccharides.

Answer 12

Glucose, fructose, galactose

Question 13

How is excess glucose stored?

Answer 13

As glycogen in the liver and muscle cells.

Question 14

Which hormones regulate blood glucose?

Answer 14

Insulin (lowers glucose) and glucagon (raises glucose).

Question 15

Give examples of disaccharides and their components.

Answer 15

Sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), maltose (glucose + glucose).

Question 16

What are polysaccharides?

Answer 16

Large carbohydrate molecules composed of many monosaccharide units.

Question 17

Give examples of polysaccharides.

Answer 17

Starch (plants), glycogen (animals), cellulose (fiber).

Question 18

How are carbohydrates digested?

Answer 18

Broken down by amylase enzymes into monosaccharides for absorption.

Question 19

What is dietary fiber?

Answer 19

Indigestible plant polysaccharides that aid digestion and regulate cholesterol

Question 20

What are the health benefits of fiber?

Answer 20

Prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, reduces risk of heart disease and colon cancer.

Question 21

What is the glycaemic index (GI)?

Answer 21

A measure of how quickly a carbohydrate raises blood sugar levels.

Question 22

What are high-GI foods?

Answer 22

Processed carbs, white bread, potatoes, watermelon (cause rapid blood sugar spikes).

Question 23

What are low-GI foods?

Answer 23

Fruits, legumes, whole wheat products (cause gradual blood sugar rise)

Question 24

Why are low-GI foods recommended for diabetics?

Answer 24

They help stabilize long-term blood glucose levels.

Question 25

What are the effects of high sugar intake?

Answer 25

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental cavities, heart disease.

Question 26

What is protein?

Answer 26

A macronutrient composed of amino acids, essential for growth, repair, and enzymatic functions.

Question 27

What are the two types of amino acids?

Answer 27

Essential (must be obtained from diet) and non-essential (synthesized by the body).

Question 28

Give examples of essential amino acids.

Answer 28

Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine.

Question 29

What are complete proteins?

Answer 29

Proteins containing all essential amino acids, found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and soy.

Question 30

What are incomplete proteins?

Answer 30

Proteins lacking some essential amino acids, found in plant-based foods like beans, lentils, and cereals.

Question 31

How can vegetarians meet protein needs?

Answer 31

By combining different plant-based proteins (e.g., beans and rice).

Question 32

What are the health effects of protein deficiency?

Answer 32

Muscle wasting, impaired growth, weakened immune function (e.g., kwashiorkor, marasmus).

Question 33

What are the risks of excessive protein intake?

Answer 33

Kidney strain, osteoporosis, increased cardiovascular risk (from animal proteins).

Question 34

How are proteins digested?

Answer 34

Broken down into amino acids by enzymes like pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin.

Question 35

How are amino acids absorbed?

Answer 35

Transported into intestinal cells and used for protein synthesis or energy.

Question 36

What are lipids?

Answer 36

A group of hydrophobic molecules, including fats, oils, and steroids

Question 37

What are the three main types of lipids?

Answer 37

Triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols (cholesterol).

Question 38

What is the main function of triglycerides?

Answer 38

Energy storage and insulation.

Question 39

What is the role of phospholipids?

Answer 39

They form cell membranes and act as emulsifiers.

Question 40

What is cholesterol used for?

Answer 40

Hormone synthesis, cell membrane structure, and vitamin D production.

Question 41

What are the three types of fatty acids?

Answer 41

Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.

Question 42

What are saturated fats?

Answer 42

Fats with no double bonds, solid at room temperature, found in animal products

Question 43

What are unsaturated fats?

Answer 43

Fats with one or more double bonds, liquid at room temperature, found in plants and fish.

Question 44

What are essential fatty acids?

Answer 44

Omega-3 (linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid), which must be obtained from diet.

Question 45

What are trans fats?

Answer 45

Artificially hydrogenated fats that increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and heart disease risk.

Question 46

How are lipids digested?

Answer 46

Emulsified by bile salts, then broken down by pancreatic lipases.

Question 47

What is the role of bile in fat digestion?

Answer 47

It emulsifies fats, allowing enzymes to break them down more effectively.

Question 47

How are lipids absorbed?

Answer 47

Long-chain fatty acids form micelles, which enter intestinal cells and are packaged into chylomicrons for transport.

Question 48

What happens to absorbed lipids?

Answer 48

Stored in adipose tissue or used for energy.

Question 49

What are the health risks of high-fat diets?

Answer 49

Obesity, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol.

Question 50

What are the health risks of fat deficiency?

Answer 50

Impaired brain function, hormonal imbalances, dry skin, fatigue.