Nutrition and Nutrients

What areas does the ASVAB General Science section cover?

Ecology, astronomy, anatomy, geology and biology — general knowledge across all of them rather than depth in one.

How many questions and how much time does the CAT General Science section give you?

15 questions in 10 minutes.

How many questions and how much time does the paper General Science section give you?

25 questions in 11 minutes.

What are macronutrients?

The larger compounds we get calories and energy from: carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

What are carbohydrates?

Immediate, readily available energy, broken down into glucose and carried in the blood.

What are the two kinds of carbohydrate?

Simple and complex.

What are lipids?

Fats — the body's stored form of unused carbohydrates.

Name three jobs lipids do.

Serve as source material for hormones, help absorb micronutrients, and act as an energy source.

What are proteins needed for?

Cellular growth, repair and transport.

What are proteins made of?

Amino acids.

What are micronutrients?

Vitamins and minerals the body needs in small amounts to function properly.

What happens if you don't get enough micronutrients?

Overall health is compromised and long-term problems can develop.

What is the purpose of vitamins?

To allow normal cellular function; each vitamin has a different role.

What are the two groups of vitamins?

Fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Which vitamins are fat-soluble?

A, D, E and K — they occur in foods with fats and do not dissolve in water.

Which vitamins are water-soluble?

The B vitamins — they dissolve in water and are carried around the body but not stored.

What are minerals, in nutrition?

Substances in food that are essential for cells to function properly.

Name four common dietary minerals.

Magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.

Why is water called an essential molecule?

Every cellular function needs it; without it the body's metabolic reactions could not happen.

What percentage of body mass is water?

Between 60 and 80 percent.

What is fiber?

A plant derivative the body cannot break down, essential for bowel health.

How does fiber work?

It bulks up the stool so it passes more easily through the body.

Name three sources of fiber.

Berries, whole grains and apples — it also comes as an over-the-counter supplement.

What is a nutrition-related disease?

A disease arising from either a deficiency or an excess of a micronutrient or macronutrient.

Name four nutrition-related diseases.

Diabetes, hypertension, scurvy and iron-deficiency anemia.

What is the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients?

Macronutrients supply calories and are needed in large amounts; micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed in small amounts.