Nutrition, Metabolism and Energy Balance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture on Nutrition, Metabolism, and Energy Balance.

Nutrient

A substance in food needed for growth, maintenance, and repair.

Macronutrients

Three major nutrients that make up the bulk of ingested food: carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

Micronutrients

Nutrients required in small amounts, including vitamins and minerals.

Essential Nutrients

Nutrients that must be consumed because the body cannot synthesize them.

Nonessential Nutrients

Nutrients that are vital but can be synthesized by the body if not consumed.

Kilocalories (kcal)

A measurement unit of energy value; one dietary Calorie equals one kilocalorie.

USDA’s MyPlate

A guideline representing food portions for balanced nutrition including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

Complex Carbohydrates

Nutrient forms that consist mostly of starches from grains and vegetables.

Insoluble Fiber

Fiber that does not dissolve in water, aiding in stool bulk and regular bowel movements.

Glucose

The primary fuel used by cells to produce ATP.

Triglycerides

The most abundant form of fat in the body, necessary for energy storage.

Complete Proteins

Proteins that contain all essential amino acids, typically found in animal products.

Anabolism

The synthesis of large molecules from small ones, such as building proteins from amino acids.

Catabolism

The breakdown of complex structures into simpler ones, such as breaking down proteins into amino acids.

Glycolysis

The process that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, yielding ATP.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

The cycle that processes pyruvic acid from glucose breakdown to produce energy carriers like NADH.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process by which energy from NADH and FADH2 is used to produce ATP via the electron transport chain.

Lipogenesis

The process of converting carbohydrates and proteins into fatty acids for energy storage.

Lipolysis

The breakdown of stored fats into glycerol and fatty acids.

Ketogenesis

The production of ketone bodies from excess acetyl CoA in the liver during low glucose availability.