Nutrients and Food Unit Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering nutrients, food labels, digestion, preservation, and related topics from the lecture notes.

What are the three macronutrients?

Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

What are micronutrients and give examples?

Vitamins and minerals; needed in small amounts. Examples include vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and iron.

What are simple and complex carbohydrates and how do they differ in energy release?

Simple carbohydrates have one or two sugar units and provide quick energy; complex carbohydrates have long chains like starch and release energy more slowly.

Give examples of foods high in simple carbohydrates.

Fruits, lollies, fizzy drinks.

Give examples of foods high in complex carbohydrates.

Wholemeal bread, brown rice, potatoes, pasta.

What are proteins and what are amino acids?

Proteins are molecules made of amino acids; amino acids are the building blocks important for growth and repair.

What are lipids and what is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?

Lipids are fats and oils; unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and saturated fats are solid at room temperature.

What are vitamins and how are they categorized?

Vitamins are micronutrients; they are categorized as water-soluble (eg, vitamin C, B) and fat-soluble (eg, vitamins A, D, E, K).

Name some minerals and common sources.

Calcium (dairy), iron (meat, spinach), sodium (salt), potassium (bananas).

What is fibre and why is water important in digestion?

Fibre is not digested but aids GI motility; water is essential for almost all body processes and helps with digestion.

What is the recommended daily water intake?

8 to 10 cups of water per day.

What is a calorie and what is a kilojoule and their relationship?

A calorie (kcal) is a unit of energy from food; 1 kcal equals 4 kilojoules (kJ).

What is a serving size on a food label and why is it important?

The amount of food used for the nutrition information; important for interpreting calories, nutrients and percent daily values.

What does percent daily value indicate on a food label?

How much of a nutrient's daily recommended intake is provided by one serving.

What information can you find on a food label?

Serving size, calories (kcal) and kilojoules (kJ), nutrients and percent daily value.

What nutrient does Benedict's test detect and what indicates a positive result?

Detects reducing sugars; positive results show a color change to brick red.

What does iodine test detect and what indicates a positive result?

Detects starch; positive results turn blue-black.

What does Biuret test detect and what indicates a positive result?

Detects proteins; positive results are purple.

What does the ethanol test detect and what indicates a positive result?

Detects lipids; positive results show emulsification or a milky/cloudy appearance.

What four conditions are required for microbial growth?

Nutrients, warmth, moisture and oxygen.

Name several methods of food preservation.

Canning, drying, freezing, vacuum packing, salting, storing in oil, pickling, fermenting.

What is chyme and where is it formed?

A thick, semi-liquid mixture of partially digested food formed in the stomach.

What is peristalsis?

Involuntary wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

What is the function of the epiglottis?

Prevents swallowed food from entering the trachea (windpipe).

What are the main components of the stomach and their roles?

Stores bolus, secretes gastric juice (HCl, mucus, pepsin) to digest, churns to form chyme, passes to the duodenum.

Which enzyme is active in saliva and what does it do?

Amylase; begins starch digestion in the mouth.

What is the first part of the small intestine called?

The duodenum.

What is the role of villi in the small intestine?

Increase surface area for absorption; one cell thick; lacteals absorb fats; capillaries absorb glucose and amino acids.

Where are nutrients absorbed in the digestive system?

Primarily in the small intestine via the villi, then enter blood or lacteals.

What is the function of the large intestine?

Reabsorb water and minerals; form and store feces; bacterial fermentation of undigested material.

What is the appendix and what is its possible function?

A small pouch at the start of the large intestine; likely no essential current function but may have digested plant material in ancestors; can become inflamed (appendicitis).

Name the levels of biological organisation from smallest to largest.

Cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.

List the organs of the digestive system mentioned (mouth to anus).

Mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus.

Name the four types of teeth and their primary functions.

Incisors cut; canines tear; premolars grind; molars crush and grind.

How do carnivores, herbivores and omnivores differ in their teeth?

Carnivores have sharp canines and incisors; herbivores have flat molars and incisors for plant material; omnivores have a mix and less specialization.

What is the purpose of teeth in digestion?

To chew food into smaller pieces for easier digestion.

What is the role of saliva in digestion?

Moistens food and contains the enzyme amylase to begin starch digestion.

What is the stomach’s main enzyme and its role?

Pepsin; digests proteins in the stomach (with acid and mucus).

What is the first section of the small intestine called and what does it do?

Duodenum; continues chemical digestion and begins nutrient absorption.

What is the main function of the digestive system?

To break down food so nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream for use by the body.

What are obesity and diabetes, and which groups are most affected by obesity in Aotearoa?

Obesity is excess body fat; diabetes is high blood sugar due to impaired processing; obesity disproportionately affects Maori and Pasifika communities.

What is the purpose of the research activity on page 42?

To gather information about a disease/condition and prepare a poster or presentation.

What is meant by the alimentary canal?

The digestive tract from the mouth to the anus.