Nutrients Flashcards
What are the 6 different nutrients.
- Protein
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- minerals
- vitamins
- water
Classification of nutrients
Macronutrients
Micronutrients
Composition of protein
- Carbon (c)
- Hydrogen(h)
- Oxygen(o)
- Nitrogen(n)
What is protein made up of?
A chain of smaller units called amino acids these are linked together by peptide links.
What are enzymes?
Substances that help chemical reactions. During digestion,enzymes break down amino acids.
Classification of protein
High biological value(HBV)proteins(contains all or most of the essential amino acids needed in the body.(essential amino acids can’t be made by the body)
Low biological value(LBV) proteins(proteins that do not contain many essential amino acids and usually come from plant sources(cereals)
Sources of protein
HBV(animal origin and meat alternatives)
Meat,fish,eggs,cheese,milk,yoghurt,soya beans and meat alternatives (textured vegetable protein and mycoprotein)
LBV(vegetable origin)
Peas,beans,nuts,cereals and lentils
Reference intake for protein
Adults:at least 50g of proteinor 0.75g for every 1kg of body weight
Children and teenagers need more because they are growing so quickly .
Protein deficiency symptoms
Poor/stunted growth with muscle wasting Slow healing of wounds Hair breakage and loss Poor general health Hormone and enzymes imbalances
Functions of protein
Needed for the growth and repair of all body cells(skin,blood,tissues and bones)
Produce heat and energy
It is necessary for the production of important substances in the body eg hormones,enzymes and antibodies(which fight disease)
Fats are also called
Lipids
Composition of fats
Fats are made up of three elements
Carbon (c)
Hydrogen(h)
Oxygen(o)
Fats contains twice as much carbon as protein or carbohydrates so they produce twice as much energy
Each fat unit is made up of three fatty acids and one glycerol
During digestion these are separated so that they can be used by the body
Classification of fats
Saturated (contains cholesterol)(generally found in foods from animals)
And unsaturated fats(do not contain cholesterol)(found in vegetable or plant sources and oily fish)
Sources of fat
Saturated fats
Butter,cream,fatty meats,hard margarines,pastries,cakes,biscuits,eggs,coconut oil
Unsaturated fats
Avocados,nuts,vegetable oils eg olive oil,seeds,some soft margarines eg flora,oily fish
Reference intake for fats
Adult:should not consume more than 70g of fat per day,no more than 20g of this fat should be saturated
No more than 30% of your daily energy intake should be from fats. It is better to get energy from carbohydrates and lean protein foods
Functions of fats
Fats produce heat and energy
Adipose tissue(a layer of fat stored under the skin) helps to keep the body warm
A layer of fat surrounds vital organs,such as the liver and kidneys to protect them from damage
Fats are a source of the fat-soluble vitamins A,D,E and K
Overconsumption of fats
There are two main health problems associated with having too much fat in the diet
Obesity:fats are all high in kilocalories.
Coronary heart disease: too much cholesterol in the blood causes it to stick to the artery walls,increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Reducing fat in the diet
Limit high-fat foods ,such as takeaways
Use low-fat cooking methods(e.g. use grilling,steaming or baking)instead of frying
Modify recipes to reduce fat content, e.g. use olive oil instead of butter for frying
Choose low-fat,fresh, unprocessed meats. Trim any visible fat from meat before cooking.
Choose low-fat products e.g. low-fat cheese,low-fat yoghurt
Always read food labels to check fat content(particularly saturated fats)
Composition of carbohydrates
- Carbon(c)
- Hydrogen(h)
- Oxygen(o)
These elements combine to form simple sugars e.g.glucose. 🛑
These simple sugars link or combine together to form long chains of starch
During digestion,these long chains are broken down by enzymes into simple sugars so that they can be used by the body
Classification of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates come from three different groups
1. Sugar
2.starch
3. Dietary fibre
Sugar:cakes, table sugar,honey,biscuits,jam,sweets,soft drinks,ketchup and fruit
Starch
Cereals e.g. wheat,rice Bread Pasta Flour Potatoes
Dietary fibre
Whole cereals
Wholemeal bread
Fruits and vegetable (particularly when the skins are eaten)
Functions of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates supply most of the body’s heat and energy.
Excess carbohydrates are stored as fat (adipose tissue),which insulates the body
Dietary fibre is vital for the movement of waste through the intestines,prevents constipation and helps prevents disease of the bowel e.g bowel cancer
Sugar
A form of carbohydrates that can be called different names e.g glucose,fructose,sucrose and maltose. Too much sugar in the diet can cause obesity and dental decay
High sugar foods - such as cakes,biscuits and fizzy drinks are called empty calorie foods as they provide kilocalories but few other nutrients. These foods should be avoided.