Nutrition - Food For Health

Flashcards testing core terminology and concepts from the Nutrition - Food For Health lecture notes.

How is nutrition defined as a science?

Nutrition is a science that studies the interactions that occur between living organisms and food.

What are nutrients and what roles do they play in the body?

Nutrients are chemical substances in food that provide energy and structure and help regulate body processes.

What are processed foods?

Foods that have been altered or specially treated from their natural state, such as frozen fruits and vegetables or canned foods.

What are chronic diseases and what are two examples mentioned in the text?

Non-communicative diseases that develop slowly over a lifetime and require medical intervention, such as stroke and diabetes.

What defines essential nutrients?

Nutrients necessary for health but not made by the body or not made in sufficient amounts, meaning they must be obtained through diet.

Approximately how many nutrients are essential to human life?

About 45 nutrients are essential to human life.

What are fortified foods and why are nutrients added to them?

Foods to which one or more nutrients have been added, typically to replace nutrient losses during processing or to prevent known inadequacies in the Canadian diet.

What are Natural Health Products and how are they regulated in Canada?

They are a middle ground between food and drugs regulated by Health Canada, including supplements, probiotics, and homeopathic medicines.

What is the difference between phytochemicals and zoochemicals?

Phytochemicals are non-essential nutrient substances found in plant foods, whereas zoochemicals are non-essential nutrient substances found in animal foods.

What are macronutrients and which nutrients belong to this category?

Macronutrients are nutrients needed in large amounts, consisting of carbs, fats, and proteins.

What are micronutrients and which nutrients belong to this category?

Micronutrients are nutrients needed in small amounts, consisting of vitamins and minerals.

What distinguishes organic molecules from inorganic molecules?

Organic molecules contain carbon bonded to hydrogen, while inorganic molecules contain no carbon-hydrogen bonds.

What is metabolism?

The sum of all the chemical reactions taking place in a living organism.

What is homeostasis?

A physiological state in which a stable internal body environment is maintained.

How is malnutrition defined?

Any condition resulting from nutrient or energy intake above or below optimal.

What is undernutrition and what can cause it?

Any condition resulting from an energy or nutrient intake below nutritional needs. It can be caused by deficient intake, increased requirements, or an inability to absorb or use nutrients.

What is overnutrition and what reaction can excess specific nutrients trigger?

Overnutrition is poor nutritional status resulting from an energy or nutrient intake in excess of what is optimal. Excess of specific nutrients can cause an adverse or toxic reaction.

What is portion distortion and over what period has it been observed?

Portion distortion is the increase in portion sizes for typical restaurants and snack foods, observed over the last 40 years.

What are the six chemical classes of nutrients?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals.

What factors combine to determine an individual's actual health risk of disease?

An individual's actual health risk of disease is a combination of diet and lifestyle plus genetics.