Macronutrients

Flashcards about macronutrients, including definitions, functions, and dietary context.

Nutrients

Substances found in food and water used for energy, growth and repair, and chemical reactions.

Macronutrients

Essential nutrients required by the body in the greatest amounts, including carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and protein.

Carbohydrates

An easy source of energy, ultimately broken down into glucose in the digestive tract; necessary to avoid ketosis; a source of fibre; used to form DNA and RNA; excess is stored as glycogen or converted to fat.

Lipids (fats)

Major source of stored energy; forms cholesterol, steroid hormones, cell membranes, and bile; phospholipids for cell membranes.

Protein

Basic structural material of the body (e.g., collagen, keratin); has many roles including structural, enzymatic, hormonal, carrier molecules, hemoglobin, contractile proteins, antibodies, and energy.

Essential Amino Acids

Histidine, Arginine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine

Protein turnover

Continuous occurrence within the human body, creating an amino acid pool; rate of degradation may vary between proteins.

Protein:Nitrogen balance

Nitrogen intake = Nitrogen output

Positive Protein:Nitrogen balance

Nitrogen intake > Nitrogen output

Negative Protein:Nitrogen balance

Nitrogen intake < Nitrogen output