Introduction to Nutrition and Energy Dynamics

Flashcards covering fundamental nutrition terminology, macronutrients, energy expenditure, units of measurement, and vitamins from Lecture 1.

Nutrition

The sum total of processes in the intake and utilization of food by organisms, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, and metabolism.

Metabolism

All chemical processes performed by an organism to sustain life.

Food & Nutrition Board

An organization involved in population research development, policy regulation, recommendations, and guidelines.

Nutrient

A substance that performs one or more functions in the body, such as providing energy, structural growth and development, or regulation.

Organic Molecules

Molecules containing carbon, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, alcohol, and vitamins.

Inorganic Molecules

Molecules without carbon, specifically water and minerals.

Essential Nutrients

Nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient amounts and must be obtained from the diet.

Conditionally Essential Nutrients

Nutrients that become essential during specific conditions of disease or age, such as creatine during kidney disease.

Energy

The capacity of a physical system to do work.

Macronutrients

Energy-yielding nutrients required in amounts $> 1\,g/day$, including carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

Micronutrients

Nutrients required in smaller amounts that are not energy-yielding, including vitamins and minerals.

Bomb Calorimeter

An instrument used to measure the energy content of food by exploding the food sample and measuring the temperature increase of surrounding water.

Kilocalorie (kcal)

Equal to $1{,}000\,cal$, defined as the energy needed to increase the temperature of $1\,kg$ of $H_2O$ by $1^\circ C$.

Caloric (cal)

The amount of energy required to increase the temperature of $1\,g$ of water by $1^\circ C$.

Calorie (Cal)

Also known as the "large" food Calorie, where $1\,Cal = 1\,kcal$ (used primarily in the U.S.).

Joule

A unit of energy defined as $1\text{ Newton/meter}$, where $4{,}148\,J = 1\,kcal = 1\,Cal$.

Dr. Atwater

The father of modern nutritional science who created the Atwater System and built a respirometry calorimeter to measure heat generated, $O_2$, and $CO_2$ transferred.

Atwater System Energy Values

Standard energy values for macronutrients and alcohol: carbohydrates provide $4\,kcal/g$, proteins provide $4\,kcal/g$, lipids provide $9\,kcal/g$, and alcohol provides $7\,kcal/g$.

Basal (Resting) Metabolic Rate

A component of energy expenditure that accounts for baseline body functions such as respiration, circulation, and digestion.

Thermogenesis

Bursts of energy expenditure occurring only when eating, representing the energy cost of food processing (ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, and storage).

Energy Balance

The balance between energy intake (from carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and alcohol) and energy expenditure (from exercise and metabolism).

Water

An inorganic nutrient making up $60\%$ of total body weight, with a typical requirement of $2.4\,L/day$ (which is not a strict rule because kidneys conserve water).

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in water, comprising Vitamin C and B vitamins.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in fat, comprising Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Minerals

Inorganic elements such as iron, selenium, and sodium that function in body structure and regulation.

Phytochemicals

Naturally occurring plant-derived non-nutrient components (such as antioxidants) that aid health.

Zoochemicals

Naturally occurring animal-derived non-nutrient components that aid health.

Folate Deficiency

A nutritional deficiency during gestation that can lead to Spina Bifida in the fetus, addressed by fortifying food with folic acid.

Etiology

The causation or origin of a disease.

Proteins

Macronutrients containing CHON along with sulfur or selenium that function in growth and structural development, providing $4\,kcal/g$.

Lipids

Macronutrients comprising oils, fats, and steroids that contain CHONP and cholesterol, providing $9\,kcal/g$.