Nutrition

Question 1

What are nutrients?

Answer 1

Nutrients are substances the body needs for energy, building materials, and control of body processes.

Question 2

Which nutrients are needed in relatively high amounts?

Answer 2

Carbohydrates, åroteins, lipids, and water are nutrients needed in relatively large amounts.

Question 3

What nutrients are needed in smaller amounts?

Answer 3

Vitamins and minerals are nutrients needed in much smalæler amounts.

Question 4

What is an adequate diet?

Answer 4

An adequate diet provides energy for the performance of metabolic work, although the energy could be in any form.

Question 5

What is a balanced diet?

Answer 5

A balanced diet provides all dietary requirements in the correct proportions. Ideally this would be 1/7 fat, 1/7 protein and 5/7 carbohydrate.

Question 6

Undernutrition vs malnutrition

Answer 6

In conditions of undernutrition, the first concern is usually provision of an adequate diet, but to avoid symptoms of malnutrition, a balanced diet must be provided.

Question 7

What should a balanced diet contain?

Answer 7

A balanced diet should contain the correct proportions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals, water, and dietary fibre.

Question 8

Good sources of carbohydrates

Answer 8

Rice, potatoes, wheat and other cereals provide starch. Food sweetenings, sweets, and soft drinks, and preservatives provide refined sugar, such as sucrose and glucose.

Question 9

Functions of carbohydrates in humans

Answer 9

A source of energy. Excess carbohydrate can be stored as glycogen and as fat.

Question 10

What are carbohydrates absorbed as?

Answer 10

Carbohydrates are digested in the mouth and absorbed as glucose.

Question 11

How are refined sugars absorbed?

Answer 11

Refined sugars are absorbed very rapidly, giving a sudden boost of energy source.

Question 12

How is starch digested?

Answer 12

Starch is digested and absorbed more slowly, giving a steady supply of energy source: starches are called slow release carbohydrates.

Question 13

Sources of lipids

Answer 13

Meat and animal foods are rich in saturated fats and cholesterol. Plant sources such as sunflower seeds and peanuts are rich in unsaturated fats.

Question 14

Functions of lipids in humans

Answer 14

Fats and oils are an important source of energy. They are especially valuable as energy store because they are insoluble in water. They also provide insulation.

Question 15

How are fats and oils digested?

Answer 15

Fats and oils are digested in the small intestine and absorbed as fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 16

What are the two acids that lipids can contain?

Answer 16

Some lipids contain saturated fatty acids, and others contain unsaturated fatty acids.

Question 17

How much fat can the body store?

Answer 17

The body can store unlimited amounts of fat, contributing to obesity.

Question 18

What can cause diseases of the circulation?

Answer 18

The incorrect balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, or an excess of cholestrol, can cause diseases of the circulation.

Question 19

What are good sources for proteins?

Answer 19

Meat, fish, eggs from animals, and legumes and pulses from plants.

Question 20

What are the two substitues for meat?

Answer 20

The soya bean is one of the best sources of protein and contains very little fat. Soya beans can be flavoured and textured to make them taste and feel like meat. Mycoprotein is also a low-fat substitue for meat.

Question 21

What are the 5 main functions of proteins in humans?

Answer 21

Many functions including
-catalysts (enzymes)
-transport molecules (like haemoglobin)
-structural materials, as in muscles
-hormones, such as insulin
-in defence against disease, as antibodies

Question 22

Where are proteins digested?

Answer 22

Proteins are digested in the stomach and small intestine and absorbed as amino acids.

Question 23

How many different amino acids make up all the proteins in the human body?

Answer 23

20 different amino acids are needed to make up all of the different proteins in the human body.

Question 24

Essential amino acids

Answer 24

Some of these amino acids must be supplied because the body cannot make them. These are the essential amino acids.

Question 25

Amino acids in animals vs plants sources

Answer 25

Proteins from animal sources usually contain all 20 amino acids but plant sources often lack one or two of the essential amino acids.

Question 26

What can deficiency of protein called?

Answer 26

Deficiency of protein causes, poor growth, in extreme cases may cause marasmus kwashiorkor.