Nutrition Flashcards
What are nutrients?
Substances in food that provide energy and materials for cell development, growth, and repair.
6 classes of nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, water)
What are proteins?
Molecules your body uses for replacement and repair of body cells
Made up of amino acids
What are Amino Acids?
Building block of protein
8 essential amino acids (must be your diet)
What are carbohydrates?
Nutrients that usually is the body’s main source of energy
- many sugars (simple carbohydrates) in long chains
- from starches and fibers (pasta, rice beans .etc) (complex carbohydrates)
What are fats?
Nutrients that store and provide energy, cushions organs, and helps the body absorb vitamins
Saturated fat is solid at room temperature (animal sources)
Unsaturated fat is liquid at room temperature (plant sources)
What are vitamins?
Any group of organic compound that are essential for natural growth
Fat Soluble: Vitamins A, D, E, K
Water Soluble: Vitamins B12, C
What are enzymes?
A type of protein that regulates nearly all chemical reactions in cells they are made in the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine
What are minerals?
Inorganic nutrient that nearly regulates many chemical reactions in the body
What is the process of digestion?
The sequence by which food is broken down and chemically converted so that it can be absorbed by the cells of an organism and used to maintain vital bodily functions.
What is the process of mechanical digestion?
Mechanical digestion begins in the mouth and involves physical processes such as chewing. This process continues in the stomach as the food is mixed with digestive juices.
What is the process of chemical digestion?
Chemical digestion involves the secretions of enzymes throughout your digestive tract. These enzymes break the chemical bonds that hold food particles together. This allows food to be broken down into small digestible parts.
What is peristalsis?
Peristalsis is involuntary constriction and muscles of the intestines or esophagus. Purpose is to move food through the digestive tract.
What are villi?
Small projections that helps the small intestine absorb nutrients from the food.
What is chyme?
Acid like substance which passes from the stomach to the small intestine which also consists of partly digested food (food is digested from a solid into the liquid chyme in the stomach).
What are food groups?
A collection of specific foods that have the same nutritional and biological properties. Examples are fruits, grains, vegetables, and proteins.
