Nutrition and macromolecules Flashcards
Why are chemicals taken into the body
To produce energy and provide building blocks to build other molecules.
What are the six classes of nutrients
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Vitamins, Minerals, Water
Do you need large or small amounts of the six classes?
Large amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and water.
Small amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Describe essential nutrients
Chemicals that must be taken into the body because we can’t make them ourselves. Include some amino acids/fatty acids/carbs, water, most vitamins and minerals.
What are the recommended amounts of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
Carbohydrates: 60%
Lipids: 30%
Proteins: 10%
Describe carbohydrates
Most come from plants (Exception of lactose from milk). 2H and 1O for every carbon. Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides.
Three examples of monosaccharides
Glucose, Fructose and Galactose
Two examples of disaccharides
Sucrose (Glucose and fructose) and Lactose (Glucose and galactose).
Two examples of polysaccharides
Long chains of many sugars (3+ to 3000). Glycogen, starch and cellulose.
Describe carbohydrate absorption
Polysaccharide: Digested by saliva in oral cavity and pancreatic amylase in duodenum.
Disaccharide: Digested by enzymes in the intestine (Sucrase for sucrose)
Monosaccharide: Absorbed into blood via villi/microvilli in the intestine.
List the uses of carbohydrates in the body
Glucose –> Produces ATP
Excess glucose –> Glycogen and stored in muscle and liver cells
Excess beyond storage is converted into fat
Sugars also become part of DNA and RNA
What is a triglyceride made up of
3 fatty acids and one glycerol
What do proteins contain
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and sometimes Sulphur. CHONS.
What are the basic building blocks of proteins
Amino acids
What are the basic building blocks of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides
What groups do each amino acid contain
An amine group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) a hydrogen and a side group. The side group is what is different between the amino acids.
What are the functions of proteins
Regulate body functions, structural, cell membrane transport, enzymes, hormones, antibodies.
What are essential amino acids
Can’t be produced by the body and need to be regularly consumed. 9 in total.
What are non-essential amino acids
Still required from our body but can synthesise from essential amino acids
Describe complete and incomplete protein sources
Complete: Foods that contain enough of all nine essential amino acids. E.g meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese.
Incomplete: Don’t contain all 9 essential amino acids. Legumes, grains, vegetables.
Describe protein absorption
Digested in the stomach by pepsin. Protein is broken into polypeptides digested by trypsin in the duodenum. Peptides and individual amino acids are absorbed into the blood via villi and microvilli in the small intestine.
What do lipids contain
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorous. CHONP.
Describe saturated and unsaturated triglycerides
Presence or absence of double bond.
Saturated: No double bonds. E.g animal fats such as beef, pork, milk, cheese and butter.
Unsaturated: One or more double bonds. E.g olive oil from avocado.
Explain trans fats
Unsaturated fats that are artificially altered to have more saturation (more hydrogen). E.g fast food and deep frying.
