lecture 2- overview of basic nutrition

Question 1

vitamins

Answer 1

• chemical substances (organic compounds) that perform specific functions in the body
• they are essential nutrients in the diet
• there are 13 vitamins; 4 fat-soluble and 9 water-soluble
• inadequate intake leads to deficiency disease

Question 2

what are some causes of malnutrition in venezuala?

Answer 2

poor economic/physical access to food, political unrest, discrimination, poor sanitation/hygiene

Question 3

how do people cope with food insecurity?

Answer 3

compassion, sharing food, cooperation, displacement, changing what they eat/how much they eat

Question 4

water-soluble vitamins

Answer 4

• only small amount stored in body
• intake beyond body’s need is excreted in urine
• deficiencies can develop rather quickly if intake is insufficient
  *only exception is B12 which recirculates in the body, so it takes years to develop a deficiency

Question 5

fat-soluble vitamins

Answer 5

• stored in body, primarily in fat and the liver
• deficiencies take much longer to develop if dietary intake is poor
• excess intake can lead to toxicity

Question 6

minerals

Answer 6

• elements that perform particular functions in the body
• human body contains 40 or more minerals, but only 15 are essential
• single atom of a mineral typically carries a charge, so they are quite reactive

Question 7

role of minerals

Answer 7

a) can combine with other minerals to form stable compounds that become parts of tissue (ie. hydroxyapatite)
b) their electric charge can also stimulate muscles to contract and nerves to fire
c) can combine with substances in food to form stable compounds that aren’t easily absorbed
- zinc binds to phytate in whole grains, decreasing absorption
- iron binds to tannic acid in tea, decreasing absorption

Question 8

bioavailability

Answer 8

% that is absorbed and used by the body

Question 9

why are the first 1000 days of life so crucial for proper nutrition?

Answer 9

increased nutritional needs to support rapid growth, more susceptible to infections, heightened sensitivity to biological programming and totally dependent on others for nutrition, care and social interactions

Question 10

fetal programming concept

Answer 10

poor fetal growth, SGA and continued poor growth in early life followed by rapid weight gain later in childhood raises the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and type 2 diabetes