Nutrition and Health Flashcards
What is an unbalanced diet?
An unbalanced diet contains too much of one substance (e.g. fat or salt) or not enough of another (e.g. vitamins or minerals).
In what foods do we find starch?
Starch is found particularly in bread, potatoes and cereals.
What is the function of starch in plants and in humans?
🚝 In plants starch is a concentrated energy store.
🚝 In our own diets starch gives us a source of slow release energy.
What are the main functions of proteins?
🚝 We need proteins for growth and for repairing tissue.
🚝 We also need proteins to make our enzymes and hormones.
Where do we get proteins from?
Certain amount of protein is present in most food but it is particularly plentiful in milk, eggs, pulses and meat.
What is the name of the building blocks from which proteins are composed?
Amino acids
What is the difference between essential and non-essential amino acids?
🚝 Non-essential amino acids are ones that we can make ourselves so we do not need them in our food.
🚝 Essential amino acids are ones that we cannot make ourselves and they must therefore be present in our diet.
What functions does fat serve?
🚝 Give us energy
🚝 Insulate the body
🚝 Protect our organs
🚝 A source for the fat soluble vitamins A, D & E
What is vitamin C needed for?
🚝 Vitamin C is needed for healthy teeth and gums.
🚝 Lack of vitamin C produces disease called scurvy.
What is vitamin D need it for?
🚝 Vitamin D is needed for bone formation.
🚝 Lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets.
What is the mineral calcium needed for?
🚝 Calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth
🚝 Lack of calcium can lead to rickets.
Where is iron found and what is it needed for?
🚝 Iron is found in red blood cells and a substance called haemoglobin.
🚝 The haemoglobin enables the cells to transport oxygen around the body.
🚝 If there is not enough red blood cells anaemia can occur.
What does fibre help to prevent?
Fibre helps to perfect constipation and bowel cancer.
List four things that water is needed for in our bodies?
🚝 In our cells as a solvent
🚝 To help us regulate body temperature
🚝 To help transport substances around the body in the digestive system, blood, tissue and then lymphatic system
🚝 The help and excretion
What is the dehydration?
Dehydration occurs if we do not take in enough water. The cells start to shrivel and cannot function properly.
How can we work out how much energy is in food?
It is possible to work out how much is energy is in food by burning it to heat water and recording the temperature rise.
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index is a method for estimating human body fat based on measurements of an individual’s mass and height.
What is BMR?
Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of daily energy expended by animals at rest. In other words the energy needed for the functioning of the vital organs.
The amount of energy we need to stay healthy depends on several factors. List four of these.
🚝 Our level of activity - the more active we are the more energy required
🚝 Gender - due to their larger frames, men generally need more energy
🚝 Age - younger people generally need more energy for growth
🚝 Other factors such as pregnancy
The person takes in too much energy, the excess will be stored as fat and there is a risk of becoming obese. List some of the risks associated with obesity.
🚝 Increase risk of high blood pressure and heart disease 🚝 Increased risk of strokes 🚝 Increased risk of diabetes 🚝 Increased risk of arthritis 🚝 Complications during operation
We need food in order to be able to perform a number of functions. List three of these.
🚝 To provide energy (carbohydrates and fats)
🚝 For growth and repair (proteins)
🚝 To defend against disease (vitamins and minerals)
