Nutrition and the Human Digestive System

These flashcards cover the role of nutrition in wellness, the characteristics of the seven basic nutrients, the process of digestion, and the anatomy and enzymes of the digestive system.

What is the definition of a balanced diet according to the notes?

Consuming meals with the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and lipids, vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber to supply the body with energy and materials for metabolic processes.

How many food groups were included in the 2005 USDA New Food Pyramid, and what are they?

Six groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk, and meat and beans.

What are the exercise recommendations for adults and children to be physically active?

Adults should be active for at least $30$ minutes most days of the week, and children for $60$ minutes.

What are the specific daily recommendations for Grains and Vegetables according to the 2005 USDA Food Guide Pyramid?

Grains: $6\text{ oz.}$ (half should be whole grains); Vegetables: $2.5\text{ cups}$ (varied types).

Into what must carbohydrates be broken down for absorption into the bloodstream?

Monosaccharides such as glucose.

How many different amino acids make up proteins, and how many are considered essential?

Proteins are made up of $20$ different amino acids, $8$ of which are essential because the body cannot produce them independently.

How much energy do fats and lipids provide per gram compared to carbohydrates?

They provide twice as much energy per gram.

Which vitamin is the only one produced by the body, and how is it synthesized?

Vitamin D, which can be synthesized in the skin with direct sunlight exposure.

Which vitamins are classified as fat-soluble?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What is the difference between essential and non-essential amino acids?

Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized within the body and must be consumed in food, while non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body.

What are examples of trace elements (minerals) needed in small quantities?

Iodine, manganese, and zinc.

What percentage of humans and most mammals is made up of water?

About $70\%$ water.

What is the main function of fiber (roughage) in the digestive system?

It is helpful in peristalsis and helping food move along the gut.

What are the four types of teeth and their functions?

Incisors (cutting), canines (ripping and tearing food), pre-molars (chewing and grinding food), and molars.

What are the three divisions of the pharynx?

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

What is peristalsis?

A series of rhythmic and wavelike contractions and relaxation of muscles that carries swallowed food through the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract.

What are the three divisions of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Define Ingestion and Propulsion.

Ingestion is the active voluntary process of placing food into the mouth; Propulsion allows food to be processed by more than one digestive organ using movements like peristalsis.

What is the difference between Absorption and Assimilation?

Absorption allows digested food materials into body cells (mostly in the small intestine); Assimilation is the utilization of absorbed nutrients to meet energy requirements and perform metabolic processes.

Which enzyme and acid are produced in the stomach to aid digestion?

The Protease enzyme and hydrochloric acid (to kill bacteria).

What are the three enzymes produced by the pancreas and their functions?

AMYLASE (digests starch to Maltose), TRYPSIN (digests proteins to Peptides), and LIPASE (digests fats to Glycerol and fatty acids).

What is the purpose of bile, and where is it stored?

Bile breaks down fat by a process called emulsification; it is produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder.

What structural feature of the small intestine's inner surface increases surface area for absorption?

Villi.

Which part of the pancreas secretes insulin to maintain blood glucose?

Islet of Langerhans.