Nutrition Basics Quiz

Nutrition Basics

• Nutrition is the process of taking in and utilizing food for bodily functions.
• Food provides essential energy measured in calories, which reflect the heat units used by the body.

Understanding Nutrients

• Nutrients are vital substances derived from food, necessary for growth, repair, and energy supply.
• There are two primary drives related to eating:
  • Hunger is a natural physical need that prevents starvation.
  • Appetite is a psychological desire to eat, independent of the body's actual needs.

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates consist of:
  • Sugars: Simple forms of carbohydrates that provide quick energy.
  • Starches: More complex carbohydrates that provide sustained energy.
  • Fiber: An indigestible form of complex carbohydrate beneficial for digestion.

Proteins

• Proteins are crucial nutrients needed for building and maintaining body cells and tissues.
• They are categorized into:
  • Complete Proteins: Contain all nine essential amino acids required by the body.
  • Incomplete Proteins: Lacking one or more essential amino acids, typically found in plant-based sources.

Fats

• Lipids are fatty substances that do not dissolve in water, essential for various body functions.
• Fat types include:
  • Essential Fatty Acids: Necessary for health but not synthesized by the body.
  • Saturated Fatty Acids: Fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.
  • Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Contain one or more unsaturated bonds, allowing for hydrogen addition.

Specific Fatty Acids

• Linoleic Acid is an essential fatty acid important for growth and maintaining healthy skin.

Cholesterol

• Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood that is vital for hormone production and cell membrane integrity.

Vitamins and Minerals

• Vitamins are compounds that regulate numerous body processes, including nutrient metabolism.
• Minerals are inorganic substances necessary for building strong bones and teeth and regulating body functions, which the body cannot produce on its own.