BIOL 1322 NOTES - EXAM 1
Nutrition basics, information, and diets
1. NUTRITION BASICS
● DIET: A pattern of food choices that determines their overall health
● NUTRIENT: a life-sustaining chemical in food
● ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT: a nutrient that causes a deficiency disease if it’s
missing in an individual’s diet
● SIX NUTRIENTS
○ FATS: Long-term storage of energy
○ PROTEIN: Building blocks that creates muscles, hormones, and
antibodies (i.e. enzymes)
○ CARBOHYDRATES: The body’s main source of energy; access to
glucose
○ WATER:
■ Maintains fluid balance and body temperature
■ Eliminates waste and transports substances
○ MINERALS & VITAMINS: Both regulates and maintain body processes
■ Minerals are also important for structural and functional
components
* Carbohydrates catalyzes chemical reactions, e.g. cellular respiration
* Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are MACRONUTRIENTS, so they are the only
ones that provide energy
● CELL: the smallest unit of life
● METABOLISM: the total of all chemical processes to provide energy
, ● DEFICIENCY DISEASE: when someone is lacking an essential nutrient
○ One way to test for it is through a blood test to measure the
amounts of essential nutrients in the body
● PHYTOCHEMICALS: A non-nutrient substance found in plants that may be
beneficial (but not essential) to humans.
○ Some examples of phytochemicals:
■ Carotenoids, Phenolics, Organosulfides (antioxidants)
■ Alkaloids (stimulant)
■ Capsaicinoids (pain relief)
■ Fructooligosaccharides (pre-biotic)
● ANTI-OXIDANTS: Protects cells from being damaged by free-radicals
○ An antioxidant is a stable molecule that can donate an electron to a
free-radical and neutralizes it.
○ A free-radical is an unstable molecule that can damage DNA and
other cells because it’s trying to steal electrons
● DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: Something that increases the total intake of a
micronutrient in a diet
○ Should NOT be used as a substitute for food
● MAIN RISK FACTORS for Chronic Disease:
○ Poor diet
○ Lack of physical activity
○ Drug/tobacco/alcohol
○ Genetics
○ Environmental
○ Psychological
● Kilocalorie / Calorie = Measure of food energy
○ Kcal is the heat energy needed to raise the temp of 1L of water 1
degree celsius higher
○ 1 Kcal = 1 Cal = 1000 calories
Nutrition basics, information, and diets
1. NUTRITION BASICS
● DIET: A pattern of food choices that determines their overall health
● NUTRIENT: a life-sustaining chemical in food
● ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT: a nutrient that causes a deficiency disease if it’s
missing in an individual’s diet
● SIX NUTRIENTS
○ FATS: Long-term storage of energy
○ PROTEIN: Building blocks that creates muscles, hormones, and
antibodies (i.e. enzymes)
○ CARBOHYDRATES: The body’s main source of energy; access to
glucose
○ WATER:
■ Maintains fluid balance and body temperature
■ Eliminates waste and transports substances
○ MINERALS & VITAMINS: Both regulates and maintain body processes
■ Minerals are also important for structural and functional
components
* Carbohydrates catalyzes chemical reactions, e.g. cellular respiration
* Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are MACRONUTRIENTS, so they are the only
ones that provide energy
● CELL: the smallest unit of life
● METABOLISM: the total of all chemical processes to provide energy
, ● DEFICIENCY DISEASE: when someone is lacking an essential nutrient
○ One way to test for it is through a blood test to measure the
amounts of essential nutrients in the body
● PHYTOCHEMICALS: A non-nutrient substance found in plants that may be
beneficial (but not essential) to humans.
○ Some examples of phytochemicals:
■ Carotenoids, Phenolics, Organosulfides (antioxidants)
■ Alkaloids (stimulant)
■ Capsaicinoids (pain relief)
■ Fructooligosaccharides (pre-biotic)
● ANTI-OXIDANTS: Protects cells from being damaged by free-radicals
○ An antioxidant is a stable molecule that can donate an electron to a
free-radical and neutralizes it.
○ A free-radical is an unstable molecule that can damage DNA and
other cells because it’s trying to steal electrons
● DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: Something that increases the total intake of a
micronutrient in a diet
○ Should NOT be used as a substitute for food
● MAIN RISK FACTORS for Chronic Disease:
○ Poor diet
○ Lack of physical activity
○ Drug/tobacco/alcohol
○ Genetics
○ Environmental
○ Psychological
● Kilocalorie / Calorie = Measure of food energy
○ Kcal is the heat energy needed to raise the temp of 1L of water 1
degree celsius higher
○ 1 Kcal = 1 Cal = 1000 calories
