Ch. 9 - Terms

Nutrition

Micronutrients

Vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These are nonenergy yielding nutrients that have important regulatory functions in metabolic pathways.

Vitamins

Compounds found in food that help regulate many body processes

Minerals

inorganic compounds needed in relatively small amounts for regulation, growth, and maintenance of body tissues and functions

Protein

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

complete proteins

Proteins containing all the essential amino acids; found primarily in animal foods (meats and dairy products)

incomplete proteins

proteins that lack one or more of the essential amino acids

biological value

the percentage of absorbed amino acids that are efficiently used to synthesize proteins

Carbohydrates

Broken down to glucose to provide energy.

Carbohydrates function

energy

fiber

A form of complex carbohydrates from plants that humans cannot digest

adipose tissue

Tissue that stores fat.

complex carbohydrates

starches found in grains, potatoes, and vegetables

glycemic index

a method of classifying foods according to their potential for raising blood glucose

unsaturated fats

A fat that is liquid at room temperature and found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.

saturated fats

A fat that is solid at room temperature and found in animal fats, lards, and dairy products.

Fat soluble vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, K

water soluble vitamins

B vitamins and vitamin C

Electrolyte

A substance that dissolves in water to give a solution that conducts electric current

Ghrelin

hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends "I'm hungry" signals to the brain

hypertrophy

increase in muscle size