Nutrition and Enzymes Quiz

Study Notes

A balanced diet includes the correct proportions of nutrients to meet your daily needs
Nutrients help your body function properly
There are six different food groups: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber
Carbohydrates provide energy for the body
Protein is essential for growth and repair of cells
Fat is also a source of energy
Vitamins and minerals help regulate bodily processes
Fiber helps with digestion
Too much or too little of certain nutrients can lead to health problems

The amount of each nutrient a person needs depends on their age, gender, level of activity, and overall health
Athletes might require more energy than office workers
A person with a specific condition may need to adjust their diet
Iron is essential for red blood cell production
Calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth
Vitamin C is important for the immune system

Food tests are used to identify the presence of specific types of nutrients in food
The iodine test detects starch
The biuret test identifies protein
The Benedict’s test identifies reducing sugars
The emulsion test detects fats

The digestive system breaks down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream
The main organs in the digestive system are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine
Food is chewed and mixed with saliva in the mouth
The esophagus carries food to the stomach
The stomach mixes food with gastric juices
The small intestine absorbs digested nutrients
The large intestine absorbs water
Digestive enzymes help break down food, speeding up chemical reactions

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body
They have a specific shape and active site that binds to a specific substance (substrate)
Enzymes are affected by temperature and pH
The optimal temperature for enzyme activity is usually around 37°C
Each enzyme works best at a certain pH, outside of this range, the enzyme activity decreases
Denaturation is when an enzyme's shape changes and loses its function

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into simpler sugars
Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas
Experiments with amylase help understand the factors affecting enzyme activity
For example, measuring the time it takes for starch to break down at different temperatures can show the effect of temperature on enzyme activity

Respiration is a process that releases energy from food
Takes place in the mitochondria of cells
Glucose and oxygen are the reactants in respiration
The products of respiration are carbon dioxide, water, and energy
The energy released from respiration is used by the body for various activities, such as muscle contraction and growth