Nutrition Flashcards
Macronutrients
provide energy and “building materials” for cells
Carbs
Proteins
Fats
Micronutrients
needed in small quantities for physiological use
Vitamins
Minerals
Types of Carbohydrates
Polysaccharides
Complex carbs
Complex carbs
Type of carbohydrate
(longer sugars) like those in whole grains take longer to digest and prevent feelings of hunger
They also provide fiber, which cleans the large intestine
Polysaccharides
Type of carbohydrate
“many sugars”
Provide quick energy
Simple sugars in milk, fruit, honey, and table sugar are quickly broken down and absorbed
Proteins
Chains of amino acids, which are broken down and reassembled to make new proteins
Proteins should make up at least 10% (but not more than 35%) of the diet.
Proteins: keratin (hair/nails), hemoglobin, antibodies, muscle tissue (actins/myosin), collagen (ligaments/tendons/skin), etc.
Number of amino acids
20 kinds of amino acids
8 essential amino acids: cannot be produced by the body and must be eaten
Protein sources
Complete proteins: Animal sources usually contain all the amino acids
Complementary proteins: different plant-based foods can provide all the amino acids in one meal
- Rice or corn + beans
- Whole wheat pita bread + hummus (chick peas/garbanzo beans + tahini/sesame seeds)
Lipids
(aka fatty acids)
provide long-term energy storage, insulation, protective padding, and assist with nutrient absorption (vitamins A, D, E, K)
Fats vs Oils
Fats: animal origin & solid at room temperature
Oils: plant origin & liquid at room temperature
Types of lipids
Saturated fatty acids
Trans fats
Unsaturated lipids
Saturated fatty acids
“saturated” with hydrogen so no more H can be added to the chain (meat, butter) can clog arteries
Trans fats
“transformed” fats
super-saturated with H and raise LDL cholesterol levels while lowering HDL cholesterol levels (margarine, processed foods)
Unsaturated lipids
(olive oil, avocados, nuts) + polyunsaturated (cold water fish) are heart-healthy
Relative healthiness based on amount of hydrogen in the carbon chain
Malnutrition
Over-nutrition
- Many developed countries are consuming too many calories but not enough nutrients
Under-nutrition
- Children are most effected by under-nutrition
Under-Nutrition: Mortality
Direct mortality
- Stunting: Low height for age
- Wasting: Low weight for height
Indirect mortality
- Infectious Disease
- When you become emaciated, opportunistic infections are able to take hold more easily
Rates of underweight children
Nearly 150 million under-5s are underweight
- 27% of children in developing countries
- 46% are underweight South Asia
Under-nutrition regions
Four-fifths of undernourished children live in just 20 countries across four regions
- Africa,
- Asia,
- Western Pacific
- The Middle East
Marasmus
extreme protein/calorie malnutrition
Body can not process proteins
Kwashiorkor
extreme protein malnutrition, but often sufficient calories
- Edema
- Distended abdomen
The term Kwashiorkor comes from Ghana meaning “first second”
- related to spacing - first kid stops nursing too soon when the second kid arrives
Micronutrient Dietary Additions
Supplementation: multivitamin pills
Enrichment: adding nutrients back into food lost during processing
- Iron and folic acid
Fortification: adding nutrients not naturally in foods to them
- Niacin in bread
Bioavailability
% of nutrient absorbed by body