Chapter 1: Nutrition, Food Choices, & Health Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, definitions, macronutrient AMDRs, and health concepts from Chapter 1.

Hunger

The primary biological, internal, or physical physiological drive to eat.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced by stomach cells and brain that stimulates hunger.

Appetite

The external or psychological influence that encourages or tempts us to eat, often in the absence of hunger.

Satiety

A state in which there is no longer a strong desire to eat, representing a feeling of satisfaction.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose tissue that signals satiety.

Nutrition

The science that links food to health, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, use, and excretion of food substances.

Nutrients

Substances found in food that are vital for growth and maintenance.

Essential Nutrient

A substance required by the body that it cannot produce or produces in insufficient quantities, satisfying three specific biological criteria.

Epidemiology

The study of diet and disease patterns among various populations.

Gluconeogenesis

The physiological process by which the body creates its own glucose as needed when dietary carbohydrates are lacking.

Carbohydrate AMDR

The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for carbohydrates, which is $45 - 65\%$ of total calories.

Lipid AMDR

The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for lipids/fats, which is $20 - 35\%$ of total calories.

Protein AMDR

The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for proteins, which is $10 - 35\%$ of total calories.

Phytochemicals

Non-essential health-promoting components found in plant sources, such as berries, grapes, and cooked tomatoes, that may decrease disease risk.

Major Minerals

Inorganic substances required in daily dietary amounts greater than $100\,mg$.

Trace Minerals

Inorganic substances required in daily dietary amounts less than $100\,mg$.

Kilocalorie

The heat energy needed to increase the temperature of $1000\,\text{grams}$ of water by $1^\circ\text{C}$.

Systematic Reviews

The strongest level of evidence in the scientific hierarchy, consisting of thorough summaries of available controlled trials and potential meta-analyses.

Cohort Studies

Observational studies that monitor large groups of people over time (prospective or retrospective) to examine exposure to risk factors.

Obesity

A condition characterized by a BMI of $30+$ involving excessive body fat tissue relative to lean muscle tissue.

Healthy People 2030

A US Department of Health & Human Services initiative containing 355 core, measurable objectives across 10-year targets to improve health and well-being.

Blue Zones

Regions worldwide where individuals tend to live to $100+$ years of age (centenarians) in a healthy way due in part to positive lifestyle behaviors.

Ethanol

The form of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, providing $7\,kcal/g$.

Alcohol Drink Equivalent

A standard drink unit defined by Dietary Guidelines as containing $14\,g$ of alcohol.

Binge-drinking

Consuming alcohol within a short period that elevates blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above $0.08\%$ (5 or more drinks for men; 4 or more for women).

Fermentation

The process by which microorganisms convert simple sugars into alcohol, $CO_2$, and $H_2O$ in the absence of oxygen.

Cirrhosis

An irreversible liver condition marked by fatty liver and scarring that develops in 20% of cases of alcohol abuse.