Chapter 1: Basic concepts in Nutrition

01/24/2025- finished flashcard set ~X

What is nutrition?

The act or process of nourishing or being nourished.

what are nutrients?

Substances required by the body to perform its basic functions.

What are the 6 classes of nutrients required for the body to function and maintain overall health.

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins

• Water

• Vitamins

• Minerals

Define Macronutrients

nutrients that are needed in large amounts.

What are the three classes of macronutrients?

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins

Define calorie

A unit of measurement of food energy.

Define carbohydrates

A family of molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

What are the two forms of carbs?

• Simple carbs- consist of one or two basic units. ex. sucrose.

• Complex carbs- long chains of simple sugars that can be unbranched or branched. ex. starch.

What are the functions of carbs?

• Proper functioning of the nervous system, heart, and kidneys.

• Provide energy.

• Building blocks of molecules.

What is the storage molecule of carbs called in humans?

Glycogen

How many kilocalories of energy does 1 digestible carb yield?

4 kilocalories of energy per digestible unit.

Define lipids

A family of molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. However they are insoluble in water.

What are the functions of lipids?

• Provide or store energy.

• Major component of cell membranes.

• surround and protect organs.

• provide insulation to aid in temperature regulation.

• regulate many other functions in the body such as hormones.

how many kilocalories of energy does 1 gram of lipid yield?

9 kilocalories of energy

Define proteins

macromolecules composed of chains of subunits called amino acids.

Define amino acids

simple subunits composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

How many kilocalories of energy does 1 gram of protein yield?

4 kilocalories of energy per gram.

What are the functions of proteins?

• Provide structure to bones, muscles, and skin.

• Help with immunity- antibodies.

• Help with transporting gases- hemoglobin.

• Play a role in conducting chemical reaction- enzymes.

• Move molecules in and out of cells- channels and carriers.

how much of total body weight is water?

more than 60%

Define micronutrients

comprises of all essential minerals and vitamins. they are not sources of energy but assist in the process as cofactors or components of enzymes. aka. coenzymes.

how many essential minerals and vitamins are there?

16 essential minerals and 13 essential vitamins.

What are the functions of micronutrients?

• Critical for enzyme function.

• used to maintain fluid balance.

• build bone tissue.

• synthesize hormones.

• transmit nerve impulses.

• Contract and relax muscles.

• protect against harmful free radicals in the body that can cause health problems like cancer.

Define enzymes

enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in the body and are involved in all aspects of body functions from producing energy, to digesting nutrients, and to building macromolecules.

Define minerals

solid inorganic substances that form crystals and are classified depending on how much we need of them.

What are the two classifications of minerals?

• Trace minerals- only required in a few milligrams or less.

• Macrominerals- required in hundreds of milligrams.

What are the two classifications of vitamins?

• Water soluble vitamins

  • Vitamin C

  • All B vitamins

• Fat soluble vitamins

  • Vitamin A

  • Vitamin D

  • Vitamin E

  • Vitamin K

Are vitamins organic?

yes

Define food quality

The amount of nutrients food contains relative to the amount of energy it provides.

Define nutrient dense food

High quality food containing significant amounts of one or more essential nutrients. ex. fresh fruits and vegetables.

Define energy dense food

foods that provide many calories and very little if any nutrients. ex.processed foods like chips, french fries, and doughnuts.

What is the nutrient density formula?

Amount of nutrient (g or mg) / amount of energy (kcal) = Nutrient density (g or mg/kcal)

What are the two systems of measurements that are commonly used?

• Metric

  • Gram

  • Meter

  • Liter

• US customary units

  • Ounce

  • Pound

  • Cup

  • Gallon

  • Teaspoon

  • Tablespoon

What are the characteristics of a healthy diet?

• Balance- not overdoing things

• Variety

• Adequacy- favors nutrient dense foods

• Moderation

• Kilocalorie control- amount of energy intake should equal the same used throughout a day. (equal out)

What are the types of scientific studies in nutrition?

• Epidemiological/ observational trials

• Intervention clinical trials

• Randomized clinical trials

• Animal and Cellular biology trials

Define malnutrition and its two types.

Condition resulting from energy or nutrient intake above or below normal.

• Undernutrition- Intake does not meet body’s needs.

• Overnutrition- Intake exceeds body’s needs.

Define Nutritional assessment

An interpretation of anthropometric, biochemical (laboratory), clinical and dietary data. It is a tool to determine whether a person or groups of people are well nourished or malnourished (over or under).

A nutritional assessment can be done using ABCD methods. Define them.

A. Anthropometry

B. Biochemical methods

C. Clinical methods

D. Dietary methods

Define Anthropometry

Involves different measurements taken to assess growth and body composition.

• To assess growth, several different measurements including length, height, weight, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, skin-fold thickness, head/chest ratio, and hip/waist ratio can be used.

• Height and weight measurements are essential in children to evaluate physical growth.

Define biochemical methods of assessing nutritional status

Include measuring a nutrient or its metabolite in the blood, feces, urine or other tissues that have a relationship with the nutrient.

Define clinical methods of assessing nutritional status

Involves checking signs of deficiency at specific places on the body.

• Special attention are given to organs such as skin, eyes, tongue, ears, mouth, hair, nails, and gums.

Define dietary methods of assessing nutritional status

Include looking at past or current intakes of nutrients from food by individuals or a group to determine their nutritional status. Methods include:

• 24 hour recall

• Food frequency questionnaire

• Food diary

• Observed food consumption

Which sources of information are trustworthy for nutrition related content?

• US department of agriculture food and nutrition information center.

• Department of Health and Human Services.

• Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC).

• Food and Drug administration (FDA).