Nutrition and Metabolism Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are nutrients?

Substances in food that the body uses to promote normal growth, repair, and maintenance.

What are calories?

The unit of measurement of the energy stored in the chemical bonds of our food.

What are vitamins?

Organic compounds that help the body get the nutrients it needs.

What are minerals?

Inorganic chemical compounds found in nature; salts. Signup and view all the answers

What is metabolism?

All of the biochemical reactions in our body. Signup and view all the answers

What are anabolic reactions?

Reactions that link simple molecules to make complex ones; building up, causing an overall consumption of energy. Signup and view all the answers

What are catabolic reactions?

Reactions that break down complex molecules into smaller ones; tearing down, causing an overall release in energy. Signup and view all the answers

What is cholesterol?

Steroid made by the liver that is found in many body tissues and is a major component of the plasma membrane. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of water in the body?

Required for almost all biochemical reactions, and needed in amounts greater than our body can produce. Signup and view all the answers

Where do we get carbohydrates from in our diet?

Fruits, veggies, milk, and grains. Signup and view all the answers

Where do we get lipids/fats from in our diet?

Meat, eggs, dairy, avocados, nuts, and seeds. Signup and view all the answers

Where do we get proteins from in our diet?

Beans, nuts, eggs, dairy, and meat. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins?

Water-soluble vitamins include B-complex and C; fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K. Signup and view all the answers

How does digestion relate to the maintenance of homeostatic body temperature?

Digestion is a catabolic reaction, yielding an overall release in energy, which results in heat loss, helping maintain body temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three stages of processing food for energy?

<ol> <li>Digestion and absorption in the GI tract; 2. Nutrient processing in tissue cells; 3. ATP release in mitochondria.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

In the absorptive state, what happens in the body?

Nutrients move from the GI tract to blood, anabolism exceeds catabolism, and major energy fuel is glucose. Signup and view all the answers

In the post-absorptive state, what happens in the body?

The GI tract is empty, catabolism exceeds anabolism, and major energy fuel is body reserves. Signup and view all the answers

What roles does the liver play in nutrition and metabolism?

Processing/filtering nutrients, regulating cholesterol levels, and making lipoproteins for transporting lipids. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nutrients

Essential substances from food that support growth, repair, and maintenance of the body.

Calories

A measurement unit reflecting the energy stored in food's chemical bonds.

Vitamins

Organic compounds essential for nutrient absorption and utilization.

Minerals

Inorganic elements found in nature, essential for various biochemical processes.

Metabolism

Encompasses all biochemical reactions that sustain life in the body.

Anabolic Reactions

Processes that construct complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Processes that decompose complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Cholesterol

A liver-produced steroid, crucial for plasma membrane structure and function.

Role of Essential Nutrients

Water: Vital for biochemical reactions; intake exceeds body's production.
Carbohydrates: Source of glucose, powering ATP production in cells.
Lipids: Function in energy storage, insulation, cellular structure, and protection.
Proteins: Provide structural and functional roles, including enzymes and hormones.
Vitamins: Facilitate nutrient absorption.
Minerals: Strengthen structures and perform vital functions in body fluids.

Dietary Sources and Digestion

Carbohydrates: Found in fruits, vegetables, grains; digested by amylase in the mouth and small intestine.
Lipids: Sourced from meat, dairy, avocados; digested by bile salts and pancreatic lipases in the small intestine.
Proteins: Present in beans, nuts, meat; digested by pepsin in the stomach and enzymes from pancreatic juice in the small intestine.

Water-Soluble vs. Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Water-soluble: Includes B-complex and vitamin C; absorbed with water.
Fat-soluble: Includes vitamins A, D, E, and K; absorbed in the small intestine.

Digestion and Body Temperature Regulation

Digestion entails catabolic reactions that release energy as heat, aiding in body temperature maintenance.

Food Processing Stages

GI Tract: Digestion and nutrient absorption occur, transporting nutrients to blood.
Tissue Cells: Nutrients are synthesized into macromolecules or processed for energy via glycolysis.
Mitochondria: Pyruvate from glycolysis enters the Citric Acid Cycle and Electron Transport Chain to produce ATP.

Absorptive vs. Post-Absorptive States

Absorptive State: Approximately 4 hours post-meal; nutrient absorption occurs; anabolism surpasses catabolism; primary energy source is glucose, regulated by insulin.
Post-Absorptive State: Fasting phase; catabolism exceeds anabolism; body utilizes reserves for energy, regulated by glucagon and sympathetic nervous system.

Liver Functions in Nutrition and Metabolism

Filters and processes nutrients, regulates plasma cholesterol, produces lipoproteins for lipid transport, and manages nutrient entry and exit for target cells.

Organ Systems and Metabolic Interconnections

Digestive, circulatory, and other organ systems collaboratively support nutrient processing and energy metabolism.

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Description

Test your knowledge of essential nutrients and their roles in bodily functions with these flashcards. Each card provides definitions related to nutrition concepts, including calories, vitamins, and minerals. Perfect for students studying biochemistry or health sciences.