Why do we eat? What do we eat? Flashcards
We obtain the raw materials for growth and maintenance of our bodies from nutrients in food
Nutrients
are the chemicals that an organism needs in order to grow, build, repair, tissues and make energy
Nutrients that we need to stay healthy include
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, minerals, and vitamins
Nutrients provided the energy that fuels all biological processes
Cells use the chemical energy to fuel biological processes like physical activities such as growth and movement
Endothermic animals(mammals, birds)
need a great deal of energy to keep their bodies warm and must consume more food than ectothermic animals(cold blooded) of equal size
size:
another factor in determining how much an animal to eat(larger animals generally eat more food than smaller ones
Metabolism is made up of catabolism and anabolism
Catabolism
the metabolic reactions that breakdown larger molecules into smaller sub unites(protein->amino acids)
Anabolism
is the building of larger more complex molecules from smaller simpler subunits(amino acids -> protein)
Metabolic rate
metabolic rate refers to the rate at which our body converts stored energy into walking energy
Factors affecting metabolic rate:
-Body size: the larger the body, the more energy required to stay alive
-Physical activity: muscle burns more energy than far so physical activity requires more energy
-Sex: makes are typically larger in size and have more muscle mass than females of the same size, age, and fitness level
-Age: metabolic rate decreases with age(part due to less physical activity and loss of muscle mass)
-Genetics: some people have a naturally higher metabolic rate
energy is measured in…
Joules(J)
We see energy on our foods measure in calories
Basal metabolic rate
the minimum amount of energy required to keep you alive. This is the amount of energy you wouldn’t need to use per day if you stayed in bed all day with your body only performed vital processes (breathing, heartbeat)
Carbohydrates
-Primary source of energy
-Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
-3 types: Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
-Most basic/shape or simple sugars(fructose, galactose, glucose)
-Glucose is needed for cellular respiration to provide energy for physical activity and cellular processes
-Found in fruits, milk and things like cake, candy and refined sugar products
Disaccharides
double sugars: result of 2 monosaccharides joining together(maltose, sucrose)
Polysaccharides
complex: result of 3 or more monosaccharides linking together
-need to be digested before we can absorb them
-Some are used for energy stored in plants(startch) and glycogen(in animals)
-Some are structural(cellulose in plant cell and chitin in exoskeletons of insects)
Dietary sources of carbohydrates
-Grains, potatoes, breads, fruits
-A healthy diet generally is considered to be one in which carbohydrates provide at least 55% of a persons energy needs
-In humans carbs are stored in the liver as glycogen
-When we have reached the max amount of glycogen storage, excess carbs are converted into lipids and stored as fat
-When energy is needed, glycogen is converted into useable glucose
Protiens
-The functional molecules and “building blocks of life”
-Help chemical reactions take place(enzymes)
-Repair and maintain the cell
-Transport materials around the body(hemoglobin)
-Some serve as hormones-chemical messengers released by all cells in the body which influence cell activity elsewhere in the body
Protiens are involved in
movement, structure(muscle, connective tissue, hair, nails), defence system(antibodies made by immune system), and a source of energy
Protiens are made up of…
- amino acids
-there are 20 amino acids (12 are made by our body, 8 we must obtain from our diet) - these are called essential amino acids
-Protien can be found in meat, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, and nuts
-Candy suggests that 10-30% of energy requirements should come from protien
Lipids(Fats)
-Concentrated source of chemical energy for the body
-Functions: structural components of cell membranes, some hormones(sex chromosomes), and insulation
- Made up of 3 fatty acids bonded to a glycerol molecule called a triglyceride
-Some fatty acids are essential(omega-3 fatty acid is an example which is needed for preventing health problems like heart diseases and arthritis)
-Lipids should constitute no more than 30% of energy intake