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KNES 337 > Unit 21 > Flashcards

Unit 21 Flashcards

Phytochemicals and genetically modified foods

1
Q

What are phytochemicals?

A

Biologically active compounds of plants (protect them from bacteria, animals, and give pigmentation and flavor) believed to reduce risk of chronic disease in humans

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2
Q

Are phytochemicals essential?

A

No, none of them are, but they are beneficial

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3
Q

How are phytochemicals useful to our tissues?

A

Have protective and antioxidant properties

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4
Q

Are some phytochemicals toxic to us?

A

yes

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5
Q

What disease can phytochemicals protect us from?

A
  • cancer
  • heart disease
  • high blood pressure
  • other chronic diesease
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6
Q

The correct balance of phytochemical is unknown, but to get get adequate levels, we need to:

A
  • follow the advice in Canada’s Food guide
  • eat a variety: don’t eat the same foods everyday
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7
Q

T/F: phytochemicals can reduce free radicals

A

True

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8
Q

How do phytochemicals work?

A
  • antioxidant
  • hormonal action
  • stimulation of enzymes
  • protect DNA
  • physical action
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9
Q

How do phytochemicals work as an antioxidant?

A

protect cells against oxidative damage and reduce risk of developing certain types cancer

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10
Q

Phytochemicals as antioxidants

What foods do we find allyl sulfides in?

A

garlic

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11
Q

Phytochemicals as antioxidants

What foods do we find cartenoids in?

A

carrots

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12
Q

Phytochemicals as antioxidants

What food do we find flavonoids in?

A

Berries

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13
Q

Phytochemicals as antioxidants

What foods to we find polyphenols in?

A

Grapes

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14
Q

What are the hormonal actions of phytochemicals?

A

isoflavones found in soy imitate human estrogens and help to reduce menopausal symtpoms and osteoporisis

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15
Q

How do phytochemicals stimulate enzymes?

A

Indoles found in broccoli and cabbage, stimulate enzymes that make estrogen less effective

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16
Q

What type of cancer could broccoli protect against?

A

breats cancer – make estrogen less effective

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17
Q

How do phytochemicals proctect DNA?

A

capsacin found in hot peppers, protects DNA from carcinogen

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18
Q

What is the theory behind how cranberries reduce the risk of urinary tract infections?

A

Some phytochemicals bind physically to cell walls preventing adhesion of pathogens to human cell wall. Proanthocyanidins are responsible for the anti-adhesion properties of cranberries

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19
Q

How many phytochemicals have been identified? What does this mean in terms of supplements?

A

Up to 10000 have been identified, they cannot all be isolated and put into a supplement

20
Q

How health benefits of phytochemicals associtaed with foods or supplments?

A

Foods

21
Q

What is an example of a phytochemical supplement that can harm health?

A

beta-carotene, leads to more lung cancer

22
Q

What is solanine?

A

The green part of potatoes that occurs when they are exposed to light. This is a natural defense againts insects eating them (bitter)

Symptoms include diarrhea, vomitting, headache, paralysis

23
Q

What is aflatoxins?

A

Fungi growing on nuts/peanuts, dried foods, grains, and spices which can cause liver cancer with chronic exposure

24
Q

What are 2 anti-nutrients?

A
  • oxalic acid
  • phytates
25
Q

Where is oxalic acid found?

A

Spinach

26
Q

Why is ocalic acid an anti-nutrient?

A

bind to calcium and irritate the stomach which can cause kidney stones

27
Q

Where are phytates found?

A

Whole grains

28
Q

Why are phytates anti-nutrients?

A

Bind minerals (iron and zinc)

29
Q

What can reduce phytates?

A

cooking, baking, sprouting, fermentation

30
Q

What are examples of selective breeding?

A
  • wild corn - use to be only 5 kernals/stalk
  • super sweet corn
  • leaner animals
  • chickens
31
Q

How many eggs did chickens used to lay a year? How many now?

A

Used to lay 50 eggs/year
Now 245 eggs/year

32
Q

What is genetic engineering?

A

modifying genetic material of living cells so they produce new substances or perform new functions

insert gene from one organism into another

33
Q

What are some benefits of food biotechology?

A
  1. extended shelf life
  2. efficient food processing
  3. biopharming
  4. improved nutrient composition
  5. gentically assisted agriculture
34
Q

food biotechnology

What is an example of extended shelf life?

A

Tomatoes - stay firm longer
- antisense gene
- binds native gene and prevents synthesis of softening protein
- harvested at more flavourdul, nutritious vine-ripe stage (1994-1997)

35
Q

What is an example of efficient food processing?

A
  • rennin - coagulate milk in cheese
  • traditionally from calf stomach
  • now massed produced in bacteri – saves time, money, and space
36
Q

Impossible meat - how does it work?

A

Contains genetically engineered soy protein and heme protein made from genetically engineered yeast – gives meat taste

Beyond meat does not use GMOs

37
Q

What is biopharming?

A

Using animals and plants to produce drugs

38
Q

What are some examples of biopharming?

A
  • cow produce vaccine in milk
  • use banmanas to make edible vaccine
  • hydroponically grow tomato plants to secrete desired protein through roots into water
39
Q

What are some examples of nutrient composition?

A
  • soybeans - upgrade protein quality (why soy is now considered a complete protein)
  • canola: increase monosaturated fatty acids
  • golden rice: genes from daffodil and bacteria to make beta-carotene
40
Q

How many child deaths are precipitated by vitamin A deficiency each year?

A

1.15 million

41
Q

What percantage of RDA of vitamin A is supplied by 1 cup of golden rice?

A

50%

42
Q

What % of canola crops in canada are GM to withstand herbicides?

A

90-95%

43
Q

What crops are GM in canada?

A
  • soy
  • corn
  • canola
  • sugar beets
  • alfafa
44
Q

What imported crps are usually GM?

A

US squash and 80% of hawaiin papayas

45
Q

What are 3 concerns when it comes to GM food? Explain each briefly.

A
  • Allergenicity: transfer of genes from commonly allergenic organisms to non-allergenic organisms is discouraged
  • Gene transfer: gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the GI tract is of concern if the transferred genetic material adversly affects human health (antibiotic resistance genes)
  • Outcrossing: migration og genes from GM plants into conventional crops

KNES 337 (32 decks)

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