2.5.7 Humans: Balanced Diet

Question 1

What does a balanced diet food groups consist of?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates 
Proteins
Lipids
Dietary Fibre
Vitamins
Minerals
Water

Question 2

What is the Function of Carbohydrates, and what are the sources

Answer 2

Function: Source of Energy

Sources: Bread, Cereals, Pasta, Rice, Potatoes

Question 3

What is the function of Protein, and what are the sources

Answer 3

Function: Growth and Repair

Sources: Meat, Fish, Eggs, Pulses, Nuts

Question 4

What is the function of Lipids, and what are the sources

Answer 4

Function: Insulation and energy storage

Sources: Butter, Oil, Nuts

Question 5

What is the function of Fibre, and what are the sources

Answer 5

Function; Provides bulk for the intestine to push food through it

Sources: Vegetables, Whole Grains

Question 6

What is the function of Vitamins and what are the sources

Answer 6

Function: Needed in small quantities to maintain health

Sources: Fruits, Vegetables, Meats and Dairy Products

Question 7

What is the function of minerals and what are the sources

Answer 7

Function: Needed in small quantities to maintain health

Sources: Fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products.

Question 8

What is the function of water and what are the sources

Answer 8

Function: Needed for chemical reactions to take place in cells

Sources: Water, Juice, Milk, Fruits and Vegetables

Question 9

What is the function and source for Calcium

Answer 9

Needed for strong teeth and bones and involved in the clotting of blood

Deficiency can lead to osteoporosis later in life

Sources: Milk, Cheese and eggs

Question 10

What is the function and source of Vitamin D

Answer 10

Helps the body to absorb calcium and so required for strong bones and teeth.

Sources: Oil Fish, Eggs, Lier, Dairy products, also made naturally by the body in sunlight

Question 11

What is the function and source of Vitamin C

Answer 11

Forms and essential part of collagen protein, which makes up skin, hair, gums and bones

Deficiency causes scurvy

Sources: Citrus Fruit, Strawberries, Green vegetables

Question 12

What is the function and source of Vitamin A

Answer 12

Needed to make the pigment in the retina for vision.

Sources: Meat, Liver, Dairy, Leafy green vegetables like spinach, eggs

Question 13

What is the function and source of Iron

Answer 13

Needed to make haemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that transport oxygen

Source: Red Meat, Liver, Leafy green vegetables like spinach

Question 14

Having an unbalanced diet can lead to, what?

Answer 14

malnutrition

Question 15

Malnutrition can cause a variety of different health problems in humans, name a few?

Answer 15

Starvation

Coronary Heart Disease

Constipation

Obesity.

Question 16

What are the effects and causes of starvation?

Answer 16

Cause: Taking in less energy than is used (calorie deficit over a long period of time)

Effect: Body starts to break down energy stores- First fat, then muscle tissues. Leading to severe weight loss and eventually damage to the heart and immune system, increasing the risk of many diseases

Question 17

What is the cause and effects of Coronary Heart Disease?

Answer 17

Cause: Diet too high in saturated fat and cholesterol

Effect: Fat deposits build up in arteries supplying the heart reducing the flow of blood to the heart muscle cells which do not work properly due to lack of oxygen. Can lead to heart attacks and death

Question 18

What is the cause and effects of Constipation?

Answer 18

Cause: Lack of fibre in diet.

Effect: Food lacks bulk for muscles to push it through the alimentary canal and so risk of diseases such as bowel cancer are increased

Question 19

What is the cause and effect of Obesity

Answer 19

Cause: Taking in more energy than is used

Effect: Extra energy stored as fat, weight increases and contributes to the development of many diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Question 20

How does age affect diet

Answer 20

An individual will still require the same key food groups, but in different quantities

Question 21

(Dietary Needs) How does age affect your dietary needs

Answer 21

The amount of energy that young people need increases towards adulthood as this energy is needed for growth. Children need a higher proportion of protein in their diet than adults as this is required for growth. The energy needs of adults decrease as they age

Question 22

(Dietary Needs) How does someone’s activity levels determine their dietary needs

Answer 22

The more active, the more energy required for movement as muscles are contracting more and respiring faster

Question 23

(Dietary Needs) How does pregnancy determine dietary needs

Answer 23

During pregnancy, energy requirements increase as energy is needed to support the growth of the developing foetus, as well as the larger mass that the mother needs to carry around. Extra calcium and iron are also needed in the diet to help build the bones, teeth and blood of the fetus.

Question 24

(Dietary Needs) How does breastfeeding affect Dietary Needs

Answer 24

Energy requirements increase and extra calcium still needed to make high quality breast milk

Question 25

(Dietary Needs) How does Sex affect dietary needs

Answer 25

Male average energy requirements tend to exceed that of females due to them having a large proportion of muscle compared to fat.