Comprehensive Nutrition and Food Security: Definitions, Diseases, and Assessment Methods

What is the definition of nutrition?

All processes involved in the taking and utilization of food substances for growth, repair, and maintenance of body activities, including ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism.

What is the definition of food?

Any material that provides the nutritive requirements of an organism to maintain growth and physical well-being.

What is food security?

Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Who was Norman Borlaug and why is he significant to nutrition?

He was a 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner who invented a disease-resistant, high-yield strain of dwarf wheat to combat world hunger.

Name three diseases caused by nutrient deficiency.

Scurvy, goiter, and rickets.

What are the primary factors influencing why we eat the way we do?

Physiological hunger, sensory stimulation, personal preferences, habits, ethnic heritage, social interactions, availability, emotions, values, and health benefits.

What is Pica?

A craving for non-food items such as dirt or clay, often observed during pregnancy.

What is an essential nutrient?

A substance that must be ingested because the body cannot make it or cannot make it in adequate amounts.

What is the difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient?

Macronutrients are needed in relatively large amounts (carbohydrates, fats, proteins), while micronutrients are needed in relatively small amounts (vitamins, minerals).

In chemistry, what defines an organic compound?

Any compound that contains carbon, except for carbon oxides.

What is an antioxidant?

A nutrient that neutralizes free radicals to prevent oxidative damage to cells, such as Vitamin C, E, and selenium.

What are phytochemicals?

Complex chemicals found in plants that help fight bacteria, viruses, and free radicals, and may assist in cancer prevention.

What is the primary purpose of carbohydrates in the body?

To supply energy to cells.

Where are carbohydrates stored in the body?

In the liver and skeletal muscle.

What are the four main purposes of lipids in the body?

Building blocks for phospholipids/glycolipids, protein modification, fuel, and serving as precursors for hormones and intracellular messengers.

What are Kwashiorkor and Marasmus?

Kwashiorkor is a condition caused by a lack of dietary protein leading to fat deposition in the liver and swelling; Marasmus is a condition of severe muscle wasting and fat depletion.

What are the two groups of vitamins?

Water-soluble (B vitamins and Vitamin C) and fat-soluble (A, D, E, K).

What is the difference between macrominerals and trace minerals?

Macrominerals are required in larger amounts in the diet, while trace minerals are required in small amounts.

Define a calorie.

The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

What is the energy density of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids?

Carbohydrates provide 4 kcal/g, proteins provide 4 kcal/g, and lipids provide 9 kcal/g.

What is the energy balance equation?

Energy in = Energy out + Energy stored.

What is the difference between nutrient density and energy density?

Energy density is the energy in a food relative to its mass; nutrient density is the amount of nutrients in a food relative to its content.

Name three non-protein nitrogenous compounds.

Glutathione, carnitine, and creatine (or carnosine/choline).

What is the role of the Canadian Organic Products Regulations?

They set standards for food growth, livestock production, and processing to ensure products are produced without prohibited fertilizers, hormones, or antibiotics.

What are the main forms of energy mentioned in the text?

Mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical, and nuclear.

What is the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)?

The average daily intake level of a nutrient that meets the needs of half of the people in a particular category.

How is the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) defined?

The average daily intake level required to meet the needs of 97-98% of people in a particular category.

When is an Adequate Intake (AI) used?

It is used when there is insufficient scientific evidence to establish an RDA, based on observations and estimates.

What is the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)?

The highest average daily intake level not likely to have adverse health effects; it protects against overconsumption.

What does the Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) measure?

The average dietary energy intake (kcal) required to maintain energy balance based on age, gender, weight, height, and activity level.

What are Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR)?

Ranges expressed as a percentage of total energy intake that should come from each macronutrient.

List three common symptoms of malnutrition.

Diarrhea, skin rashes, and fatigue.

What is the difference between energy density and nutrient density?

Energy density is the amount of energy relative to mass; nutrient density is the amount of nutrients relative to energy content.

What are the two reference points used for Daily Values on nutrition labels?

Recommended Daily Intakes (for most vitamins and minerals) and Reference Standards (for specific nutrients like fat, sodium, and fiber).

What is the primary protein found in wheat and rye?

Gluten.

What is the difference between refined and enriched grains?

Refined grains are finely ground endosperm with low nutrients; enriched grains have specific nutrients added back after processing.

What is the nutritional profile of legumes?

They are high in carbohydrates and fiber, provide adequate protein, and are generally low in fat (except for soybeans and peanuts).

Why is regular consumption of nuts and seeds linked to heart health?

They contain Vitamin E and unsaturated fats which help decrease the risk of coronary artery disease.

What is the 'Grapefruit Effect' regarding drug metabolism?

Furanocoumarins in grapefruit inhibit the enzyme CYP3A4, which can lead to increased drug toxicity or decreased therapeutic effects.

What is the role of the enzyme CYP3A4?

It is involved in toxin metabolism and the processing of 30-60% of all drugs.

What defines an 'Adequate Diet'?

A diet that provides enough energy, nutrients, and fiber to maintain a person's health.

What is the goal of a 'Balanced Diet'?

To consume combinations of foods that provide the proper balance of nutrients to achieve RDA or AI levels.

What does 'Variety' refer to in the context of a healthy diet?

Eating many different foods each day.

What is the main protein found in rice?

Oryzenin.

How does brown rice differ from white rice?

Brown rice retains the bran layer, whereas white rice is milled and polished, resulting in lower thiamin content.

What are the two ways maize (corn) is processed?

Dry milling (protein and starch kept together) and wet milling (protein and starch separated).

What is the function of fasting blood glucose tests in nutrition assessment?

They are used to evaluate glucose handling mechanisms.

Why is HDL cholesterol referred to as 'good cholesterol'?

It is monitored in relation to cardiovascular disease risk, unlike LDL which is a risk factor.

What components make up a 'total picture' of an individual's nutrition assessment?

Historical information, health status, diet history, anthropometric measurements, physical exams, and laboratory tests.

What is the primary purpose of tracking height and weight over time?

To identify trends in growth or health status.

What is the approximate daily energy need for adults according to Canada's Food Guide?

2000-2500 kcal/day.

What is the association between grapefruit consumption and breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women?

Consuming more than 1/4 grapefruit per day is linked to a 21-30% increased risk of breast cancer, which rises to 36-44% when combined with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

What potential toxin is found in the under-skin green portions of potatoes?

Solanine, a neurotoxin.

What are the general nutritional characteristics of vegetables?

They are typically low in fat and protein, but high in starch and dietary fiber.

What is the primary carbohydrate found in milk and how is it processed?

Lactose, a disaccharide that is digested by the enzyme lactase or fermented by colonic bacteria in lactose-intolerant individuals.

What is the purpose of pasteurization in milk processing?

To destroy disease-causing bacteria by heating milk to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds followed by immediate cooling.

What are the health benefits of probiotics found in yogurt?

They are live bacterial cultures that aid in gastrointestinal (GI) health.

Why is the iron in meat and poultry considered more bioavailable than plant-based iron?

Meat and poultry provide iron in a form that is more easily absorbed and utilized by the human body compared to plant sources.

What are the risks associated with curing meat products like ham and bacon?

The addition of nitrates and nitrites as preservatives.

Which type of fish is a significant source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)?

Fatty fish, such as salmon.

What are the primary health risks associated with consuming fish?

Undercooked fish (tapeworms), tetradoxin poisoning (puffer fish), bacterial spoilage, and metal contamination (e.g., mercury in tuna).

What is the function of plant sterols in the human diet?

They inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the GI system, and intake over 1.5g can reduce blood cholesterol by 10-15%.

How is extra virgin olive oil produced?

By cold-pressing, which involves temperature-controlled crushing of olives to minimize the loss of Vitamin E and antioxidants.

What is the difference between herbs and spices?

Spices are parts of dried seeds, bark, or roots, while herbs are the fresh or dried leaves of plants.

Which herbs are noted for having high anti-oxidant activity?

Oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, bay leaf, dill, and rosemary.

What is the hierarchy of the human organism from smallest to largest?

Subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and the organism.

What is the basic unit of life and approximately how many are in the human body?

The cell; there are approximately 10^13 cells in the human body.

What is the core function of DNA within a cell?

It acts as the genetic code or blueprint for cell characteristics, response to stress, and replication.

What is the primary exception to the rule that all cells contain a nucleus?

Red blood cells.

What is the definition of an element in chemistry?

A fundamental substance that cannot be chemically changed or broken down into anything simpler.

What does the Law of Mass Conservation state?

Mass is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions; it is only converted or transformed.

What is the key principle governing the interaction of subatomic particles?

Opposite charges attract, and like charges repel.

What does the Bohr-Rutherford model describe?

An atom with a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons.

What are the two main functions of the alimentary canal?

Digestion (breaking food into molecule-sized fragments) and absorption (moving those fragments into the blood).

Name the three sections of the small intestine.

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Why is the digestive tract considered to be 'outside' the body?

Because it is a continuous tube that remains in contact with the external environment.

What is the primary difference between fats and oils at room temperature?

Fats are solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid.

What are the accessory digestive organs?

Teeth, tongue, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

List the 6 essential activities of the digestive system.

Ingestion, propulsion, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation.

What is the difference between swallowing and peristalsis?

Swallowing is a voluntary activity moving food into the esophagus, while peristalsis is an involuntary movement involving waves of smooth muscle contraction and relaxation.

What is chyme?

The mixture of food and digestive juices that moves through the digestive tract.

What is the primary function of mechanical digestion?

Physical preparation of food for absorption, including chewing, mixing, and churning.

How are enzymes named and what is their primary function?

Enzymes are proteins that end in '-ase' and function to speed up chemical reactions.

Where does the majority of nutrient absorption occur?

In the small intestine.

What are the four tunics (layers) of the alimentary canal?

Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa.

What are the three major functions of the mucosa layer?

Secretion of mucus, absorption of end products, and protection against infectious disease.

What is the function of the submucosal nerve plexus (Meissner's plexus)?

It regulates glands and smooth muscle in the mucosa.

What is the function of the myenteric nerve plexus (Auerbach's plexus)?

It is the major nerve supply that controls GI tract mobility and motility.

What is splanchnic circulation?

The blood flow serving the gut, spleen, pancreas, and liver, which increases after a meal.

What is the role of the hepatic portal vein?

It carries nutrient-rich blood from the digestive organs into the liver.

Name the three types of tongue papillae.

Foliate (ridges), vallate (pimple-like), and fungiform (mushroom-shaped).

What is the pathway of taste sensation?

Taste cells connect to gustatory afferents, sending signals to the medulla oblongata and then the gustatory cortex.

What are the four main functions of saliva?

Cleansing the mouth, dissolving food chemicals for tasting, moistening food, and initiating chemical breakdown via enzymes.

What is the cardiac sphincter?

The sphincter surrounding the cardiac orifice, which connects the esophagus to the stomach.

What is the function of gastric pits in the stomach?

They secrete gastric juice and alkaline mucus (bicarbonate) for protection.

What are the three divisions of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is the hepatopancreatic ampulla?

The connection point where the bile duct and the pancreatic duct join to enter the duodenum.

What is the function of bile salts?

They aid in fat emulsification, which separates fat molecules.

What is bilirubin?

A bile pigment that acts as a waste product of heme from the breakdown of red blood cells.

What hormone stimulates the gallbladder to contract?

Cholecystokinin (CCK), secreted when fatty chyme enters the duodenum.