Diet and Hormones

Question 1

What is needed to keep the body healthy?

Answer 1

Regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Question 2

What happens if someone has too little food in their diet?

Answer 2

They become underweight and can have a weakened immune system, fragile bones and feel tired.

Question 3

What happens if someone has too much food in their diet?

Answer 3

They become overweight and this can lead to diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.

Question 4

What are the different food groups required for a healthy diet?

Answer 4

Carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Question 5

Name some of the foods that come under the Carbohydrate food group.

Answer 5

Potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.

Question 6

Name some of the foods that come under the Proteins food group.

Answer 6

Meat, fish, eggs and cheese.

Question 7

Name some of the foods that come under the Fats food group.

Answer 7

Cheese, butter, margarine and oils.

Question 8

Why are Carbohydrates needed by the body?

Answer 8

They are a source of energy for life processes.

Question 9

Why are Proteins needed by the body?

Answer 9

They are needed for the growth and repair of cells.

Question 10

Why are Fats needed by the body?

Answer 10

They are a source of energy for life processes and they are needed to make cell membranes and insulate the body.

Question 11

Besides carbohydrates, proteins and fats, what else is important in a healthy diet?

Answer 11

Vitamins and Minerals. (In small amounts)

Question 12

What happens to someone if they have an imbalanced diet?

Answer 12

They become malnourished. It can also lead to deficiency diseases.

Question 13

What is respiration?

Answer 13

Respiration is a chemical reaction that allows cells to release energy from food.

Question 14

What is metabolic rate?

Answer 14

Metabolic rate is the speed that chemical reactions take place.

Question 15

What affects metabolic rate?

Answer 15

Age, gender and inherited factors.

It also affected by the proportion of muscle to fat in the body and the amount of exercise done.

Question 16

What happens to metabolic rate when we exercise?

Answer 16

It increases and stays high for a while afterwards.

Question 17

What is cholesterol and where is it made?

Answer 17

Cholesterol is needed for healthy cell membranes and is made in the liver.

Question 18

What happens if there is too much cholesterol in the blood?

Answer 18

It increases the risk of heart disease and diseased arteries.

Question 19

What are hormones?

Answer 19

Hormones are chemical substances that regulate processes in the body.

Question 20

How are hormones transported?

Answer 20

Hormones are secreted by glands and travel to their target organs in the bloodstream.

Question 21

Give an example of what hormones can be used for.

Answer 21

They can be used to control human fertility.

Question 22

What is the internal environment of the body controlled by?

Answer 22

The nervous system.

Question 23

What is homeostasis?

Answer 23

The maintenance of a constant internal environment.

Question 24

Give examples of some of the internal conditions that need to be controlled.

Answer 24

Water content
Salt content (Ion content)
Temperature of the body
Blood sugar levels

Question 25

Why and how is water content in the body controlled?

Answer 25

Water content has to be controlled to protect cells from either too much water entering or too much water leaving them. Water can leave the body through: -The lungs - when we exhale. -The skin - through sweating. -Passing urine - produced by the kidneys.

Question 26

Why and how are salt levels in the body controlled?

Answer 26

Ion levels are controlled to protect cells from too much water entering or leaving them. Ion is controlled by the loss of ions from: - The skin - through sweating. - Passing urine - produced by the kidneys

Question 27

Why and how is the temperature of the body controlled?

Answer 27

Temperature of the body is controlled to maintain the temperature at which enzymes work best. Body temperature is controlled by: - Sweating - Shivering - Controlling blood flow to the skin

Question 28

Why and how are the blood sugar levels controlled?

Answer 28

Blood sugar levels are controlled to provide cells with a constant supply of energy. Blood sugar levels are controlled by: -The release and storage of glucose controlled by insulin.

Question 29

What do hormones do?

Answer 29

They regulate the functions of many cells and organs.

Question 30

What do the glands in the brain do?

Answer 30

They contain a sensitive centre called the hypothalamus, which controls the pituitary gland.

Question 31

What does the thyroid gland do?

Answer 31

It produces thyroxine, which controls the rate of metabolism.

Question 32

What do the glands in the pancreas do?

Answer 32

They produce insulin which control the blood sugar levels.

Question 33

What do the glands in the testes do?

Answer 33

They produce testosterone which causes the changes at puberty and stimulates sperm production.

Question 34

What do the adrenal glands do?

Answer 34

It produces adrenaline which prepares the body for rapid activity by increasing the heart rate and level of sugar in the blood and diverting blood to muscles and the brain.

Question 35

What do glands in the ovaries do?

Answer 35

It produces oestrogen which causes changes at puberty and helps control the menstrual cycle.

Question 36

Which three hormones control the menstrual cycle?

Answer 36

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Oestrogen Luteinising Hormone (LH)

Question 37

How does FSH help the menstrual cycle?

Answer 37

FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland. It makes two things happen: - It causes an egg to mature in the ovary. - It stimulates the ovaries to release the hormone Oestrogen.

Question 38

How does Oestrogen help the menstrual cycle?

Answer 38

Oestrogen is secreted by the ovaries. Oestrogen makes two things happen: - It stops FSH being produced so that only one egg matures in a cycle. - It stimulates the pituitary gland to release the luteinizing hormone and triggers ovulation.

Question 39

What can knowledge of hormones help with?

Answer 39

It can be used to increase or decrease the chances of fertilisation and pregnancy.

Question 40

What is one way of reducing the chances of getting pregnant?

Answer 40

The oral contraceptive (the pill), greatly reduces the chances of mature eggs being produced. It contains oestrogen or progesterone. These hormones inhibit the production of FSH, which stops eggs maturing in the ovaries.

Question 41

What are the benefits and risks of oral contraceptives?

Answer 41

Oral contraceptives allow couples to choose when they want to start and stop having children. The first birth-control pills contained higher amounts of oestrogen than the pills taken today. This caused side effects such as changes in weight, mood and blood pressure. Modern birth control pills contain much less oestrogen. Some of them only contain progesterone, which also leads to fewer side effects.

Question 42

Why do some women have difficulty getting pregnant?

Answer 42

Because they do not produce enough FSH to allow their eggs to mature.

Question 43

What are some of the disadvantages of fertility treatments?

Answer 43

Because fertility treatments boost the production of mature eggs, multiple conceptions sometimes occur, with twins or triplets being expected. This increases the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth, and may lead to premature or underweight babies.

Question 44

Name a popular fertility treatment.

Answer 44

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

Question 45

What is IVF?

Answer 45

IVF is when a woman's egg is fertilised outside of her body and then implanted back into her uterus.

Question 46

What are some of the problems with IVF?

Answer 46

Some people are concerned that couples may want designer babies with desirable qualities.