Topic 7.1 / Diet

Question 1

Define a balanced diet.

Answer 1

A balanced diet must contain enough carbohydrates & fats to meet our energy needs, enough protein for amino acids and vitamins, minerals, water and fibre.

Question 2

Effects of malnutrition.

Answer 2

If intake of food isn’t necessary, it will lead the body to consume its own tissues and lead to weakness, weight loss, starvation.

If too much fat is consumed, it will accumulate in the arteries, forming blood clots and possibly a heart attack (coronary heart attack).

The body needs a good amount of each nutrient. With a deficit of Vitamin C, scurvy is caused. Scurvy patients have reduced resistance to infectious diseases.

Question 3

Importance of nutrients

Answer 3

Carbohydrates - energy
Protein - growth and repair
Lipids - insulation and energy storage
Fibre - helps intestine in digestion
Water - chemical reactions in cells

Vitamins -
C / makes skin, hair, gums and bones
D / makes strong bones and teeth, helps absorb calcium

Minerals -
Calcium / strong teeth&bones, preventing blood clotting
Iron / makes heamoglobin

Question 4

Causes & effects of Vitamin D and Iron deficiencies.

Answer 4

Vitamin D - lack of sunlight, lack of eggs and fish in diet / causes rickets

Iron - lack of vegetables and red meat / causes anaemia

Question 5

Causes and effects of Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Answer 5

Kwashiorkor - lack of protein / severely underweight

Marasmus - lack of protein & energy / emaciated look and underweight