Nutrition and Health Flashcards
What are Nutrients?
Nutrients are substances required by our body to maintain normal cellular functions.
What are Macronutrients?
Macronutrients are nutrients that we require in larger amounts. These encompass Water, Protein, Lipids and Carbohydrates.
What are Micronutrients?
Micronutrients are nutrients that are essential to our diet but only in small quantities. These encompass Vitamins and Minerals.
What states of nutrition can you over?
Balanced Nutrition and Malnutrition (Under and Over)
What is the main fuel source for the body?
Glucose is a major source - which is a Carbohydrate, they provide 4 kcal/g
What are carbohydrates made from?
Carbohydrates are composed oh Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
What versions of Carbohydrates can you get?
Carbohydrates come in simple sugars, complex sugars and indigestible sugars.
What are simple sugars?
Monosaccharides and Disaccharides are simple sugars, they contain one or two sugar units respectively.
What are some examples of simple sugars?
Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose and Lactose
What are Complex sugars?
Oligiosaccharides and Polysaccharides
What is an Oligiosaccharide?
It is a complex sugar that is formed from 2 - 10 monosaccharide residues.
What is a Polysaccharide?
a polysaccharide is a complex sugar that contains a ot of units of simple sugars
What are non-digestible sugars?
These are sugars that our body cannot digest, however they will usually ferment in our gut.
What are lipids and fats made from?
Lipids are composed of Carbons and Hydrogen, however there is fewer oxygen then carbohydrates
What type of lipids are there?
Fatty Acids, triglycerides, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols.
What is a triglyceride?
A tryglyceride is a glycerol with three fatty acids attached.
What is the purpose of triglycerides?
Triglycerides are the storage molecules of fatty acids for the body such as adipose tissues.
What are fatty acids?
Fatty acids are carboxylic acids, you can have saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
What makes up a fatty acid?
A fatty acid is composed of a hydrocarbon chain attached to a carboxyl group.
What is a saturated fatty acid?
A saturated fatty acid mean that all carbon to carbon bonds are singular and therefor fully saturated with hydrogens.
What is an unsaturated fatty acids?
An unsaturated fatty acid is where the carbons are not completely saturated by hydrogens. As a result there will be double and triple bonds in the hydrocarbon chain.
What is a monounsaturated fat?
a monounsaturated fat means that there is one carbon to carbon bond that is a double bond.
What is a polyunsaturated fat?
a polyunsaturated fat means that there are numerous carbon to carbon bonds with double bonds.
what are the two most important fatty acids?
Linoleic acids (LA) and alpha linoleic acid (ALA)
What are LA and ALA
these acids are essential omega acids, our body cannot produce them and therefor it is critical that they are included in our diet.
what are the dietary sources of linoeic acid and alpha linoeic acid.
Oils (particularly fish) Nuts and Seeds
What are proteins comprised of?
Proteins contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen - proteins typicall are formed by joining amino acids.
What are proteins used for?
Proteins are used for enzymes, hormones, transporters and antibodies. They can be used for energy but it is a last resort.
What are essential amino acids?
Essential amino acids are amino acids that our body cannot produce on its own and therefor relies on our diet to introduce it to our system.
Why is water important in our diet?
It acts as a solvent and lubricant in our body.
Helps temperature regulation
acts as a transporter of nutrients in our blood.
What are minerals?
Minerals are inorganic compounds that are typically ions.
What are some typical minerals required in our diet?
Na+, K+, MG2+, CA2+ and Cl -
What are minerals critical for?
Minerals are critical in maintaining function in our nervous system. they maintain electrolyte and water
levels
What are vitamins?
These are organic molecules that maintain cellular functions. Most participate in energy production pathways, however the have minimal energy values themselves. we cannot produce these in our body