Section One - Food, Nutrition And Health Flashcards
What do we get proteins from?
Meat, fish, dairy products, nuts, seeds and beans.
What do we need proteins for?
Growth: From childhood to adulthood. For the growth of hair as well as nails and muscle mass.
Repair: For the repair of muscles, tissues and organs if there is illness or injury.
Maintenance: It is used to make enzymes for digestion and antibodies to prevent illness.
What are proteins made of?
Amino acids
What amino acids does our body make?
Our body can make non-essential amino acids
What amino acids do we have to eat?
We have to eat essential amino acids
What are high biological value proteins?
They contain all of the essential amino acids we need. They’re found primarily in animal sources such as meat, fish, poultry. Soya beans and quinoa are plant based HBV foods.
What are low biological value proteins?
They are missing one or more of the essential amino acids. They’re only found in plant sources such as peas, lentils and nuts.
What is protein complementation?
If we don’t get enough HBV protein we have to combine LBV proteins to get all the amino acids we need. For example hummus and pitta contain all the amino acids we need when eaten together.
Describe 3 different groups of people who need different amounts of protein in their diet.
Growing children need a greater amount of protein relative to size and muscle mass
Physically active children need more protein for muscle growth and repair
Pregnant women need more protein to help the baby grow (6g more)
What are the consequences of too much protein in the diet?
Too much protein puts strain on the liver and kidneys which process proteins.
What are the consequences of having too little proteins?
- Growth is slowed
- Hair, skin and nails grow slowly so they can get into poor conditions
- The immune system doesn’t work as well without proteins so wounds take longer to heal and diseases are caught easier.
- People struggle to digest food so nutrients is lost
- Can lead to oedema, a build up of fluid in the body. Mainly around feet.
- In severe cases a disease called kwashiorkor can develop. Swelling of the abdomen.
Name and describe two alternative proteins
Soya - HBV protein. Used to make milk or can be processed into tofu.
TVP- (textured vegetable protein) is also made from soya beans. The soya flour can be baked into a meat substitute
Why do we need fats?
- They provide a lot of energy
- Source of vitamins A and D
- Source of essential fatty acids
- Fat under our skin keeps us warm and protect our bones and organs
- Used to make cholesterol
Describe saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
Saturated acids only have c-c bonds
Unsaturated acids have at least one c=c bond.
Our body breaks down fat into fatty acids. The ratio of saturated fats to unsaturated fats determines if it will be a saturated or unsaturated fat.
Describe Saturated fat.
They are classified as unhealthy fats.
They’re solid at room temp, come from animal sources and coconut milk.
Too much can increase cholesterol levels in the blood which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Describe unsaturated fats.
They are usually healthier
They’re soft and liquid and come from vegetable sources
Replacing the saturated fats in your diet has been shown to lower blood cholesterol.
What are monounsaturated fats?
They contain one C=C double bond in their carbon chains
Found in olive oil, peanut butter and avocados.
What are polyunsaturated fats?
They contain more than one C=C bond
Found in sesame oil, soybean oil, seeds and oily fish
What are omega-3 fatty acids and what do they do?
Our bodies cant produce Omega-3 essential fatty acids, they are found in foods such as oily fish and seeds. They help our brains function and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
What are omega-6 fatty acids and what do they do?
Our body cant produce omega-6 fatty acids, they are found in foods such as chicken, nuts and veg oil. They help reduce cholesterol and reduce inflammation
What portion of our daily food energy should come from fats?
No more than 35% with no more than 11% coming from saturated fats.
What can an excess of fat in our diet do to our body?
- Weight gain
- Type-2 diabetes
- Increase in Blood cholesterol, causing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
What can an deficiency of fat in our diet do to our body?
- Less vitamin A and D are absorbed by the body.
- If there is also a lack of carbs in the diet the body will use fat stores, not eating fat can lead to weight loss.
- Less body fat means less insulation
- less fat to protect body from knocks
Describe starch and what it can be found in.
- Starch can be found in foods such as potatoes, bread, pasta, rice and cereals as well as fruit and veg.
- Lots of B vitamins, Iron and calcium
- Wholegrain starch foods have high fibre content
Describe sugar and what it can be found in.
Glucose and fructose can be found naturally in fruits and vegetables or can be added in manufactured foods and drinks.
Empty calories as it has no nutritional benefits other than energy.
What are the two main types of carbohydrates?
Starch and Sugar
What are simple carbohydrates and what can they be divided into?
An example of a simple carb is sugar. They can be divided into monosaccharides and disaccharides.
They are rapidly digested in the body causing a spike in blood sugar.
What are monosaccharides?
They are the most basic of sugar molecules e.g. glucose and fructose
What are disaccharides?
They are made up of two monosaccharides e.g. sucrose is made from glucose and fructose
What are complex carbohydrates?
They are know as polysaccharides, they are made up of lots of monosaccharides joined together.
e.g. starches are made up of lots of glucose molecules
What is the glycemic index?
It rates carbs on how quickly they affect blood sugar levels.
High GI foods are digested quickly and cause a rise in blood sugar levels. (Watermelon, cornflakes, white bread)
Low GI foods are digested slowly and cause a rise in blood sugar levels. (Bread, pasta, porridge)
What happens if we eat too many carbohydrates?
- carbohydrates are converted into fats if we eat too many
- sugars are digested quickly meaning the energy they provide is ready to be used immediately
- too many sugars are bad for our teeth. Whole fruits are better than fruit juices
- rapid fluctuations in blood sugar can cause diabetes
What happens if we eat too little carbohydrates?
- causes our blood sugar levels to drop. Causing hunger, dizziness and tiredness
- the body will begin to break down fats
- if we also have a fat deficiency then our muscle begins to be broken down
What are the two fat soluble vitamins? And where are they found?
Vitamin A and D
They are found in fatty foods
What does vitamin A do for us? Where is it found?
Vitamin A is needed for good eyesight, growth, immune system and skin
The main source is retinol which is found in butter, oily fish and eggs but it can also be made from carotene found in orange or yellow fruit and veg
What are the problems with having too much vitamin A?
It can weaken bones. During pregnancy foods high in vitamin A- liver should be avoided
What are the problems with having too little vitamin A?
It can lead to night blindness, weaken immune system and stunt growth
What does vitamin A do for us? How do we get it?
It helps us absorb calcium
It is found in oily fish and egg yolk as well as when we are in the sun
What are the problems with having too much vitamin D?
It can mean you absorb too much calcium which can lead to kidney damage
What are the problems with having too little vitamin A?
Too little vitamin A can lead to bone disease like osteoporosis