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Understanding Nutrients and Diet

Chapter 2 discusses the importance of a balanced diet for humans and animals, highlighting essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. It emphasizes the role of food labels in making healthier choices and explains energy measurement in joules and calories. Additionally, it covers risk assessments related to food testing chemicals, detailing hazards and safety precautions.

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CHANDANI SHARMA
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
53 views7 pages

Understanding Nutrients and Diet

Chapter 2 discusses the importance of a balanced diet for humans and animals, highlighting essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. It emphasizes the role of food labels in making healthier choices and explains energy measurement in joules and calories. Additionally, it covers risk assessments related to food testing chemicals, detailing hazards and safety precautions.

Uploaded by

CHANDANI SHARMA
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chapter 2 – Nutrition

Topic 1: A Balanced Diet

Starting Point

You should already know that:

●​ Animals and humans need nutrition to survive​

●​ Humans eat a variety of plants and animals​

●​ There are dangers in doing experiments, so safety is important​

Diets and Nutrients

Your diet is everything you eat and drink. You need food for:

●​ Energy​

●​ Growth and repair​

●​ Good health​

A nutrient is a substance needed for energy or to help build and repair parts of the
body.

Your diet should include the following nutrients:

Nutrient Function
Proteins For growth and repair
Carbohydrates For energy
Fats (Lipids) For storing energy
Vitamins For health, growth, and repair
Minerals For health, growth, and repair
Water For dissolving substances, transport, and temperature control
(e.g. sweating)
Note:​
Fibre is not a nutrient because it is not digested or absorbed. However, it
is essential for healthy digestion.​
Good sources of fibre include: wholemeal bread, brown rice, cereals,
lentils, nuts, and fruits.

Key Terms

●​ Carbohydrate: Nutrient needed for energy (e.g. starch, glucose)​

●​ Fats (Lipids): Nutrients used for energy storage​

●​ Proteins: Nutrients needed for growth and repair​

●​ Vitamins: Nutrients needed in small amounts for health and growth​

●​ Minerals: Also called mineral salts; needed in small amounts for health​

●​ Fibre: Indigestible food that helps keep the intestines healthy​

●​ Constipation: When the intestines become blocked​

●​ Faeces: Solid waste produced by the body​

Questions

1. List three nutrients your body needs.

●​ Proteins​

●​ Carbohydrates​

●​ Fats (Lipids)​

2. a) Why is fibre not a nutrient?

Because fibre is not digested or absorbed by the body, it does not provide energy or
raw materials, so it is not classified as a nutrient.
2. b) Why does your body need fibre?

Fibre helps to keep the intestines healthy and supports proper bowel movements. It
helps prevent constipation by adding bulk to the stool.

2. c) List two good sources of fibre.

●​ Wholemeal bread​

●​ Fruits​
(Other correct answers: cereals, brown rice, lentils, nuts)​

3. Give an example of a carbohydrate.

●​ Glucose​
(Other correct answers: starch, sucrose, fructose)

Food Labels

Most countries require nutrition labels on packaged foods. These labels show the
amounts of nutrients and energy in the food.

Why are food labels important?

●​ They help people make healthier food choices​

●​ They show how much energy food provides​

Measuring Energy

●​ Energy is measured in joules (J) and kilojoules (kJ)​

●​ 1 kJ = 1000 J​

●​ You need about 8000–10,000 kJ per day (more if you're very active or still
growing)​
Energy is also measured in calories (cal) and kilocalories (kcal)​
1 kcal = 1000 cal

Example: Interpreting a Food Label


Nutrient Per 40 g serving Per 100 g
Energy 600 kJ (145 kcal) 1500 kJ
Protein 4.7 g 11.8 g
Carbohydrates 20.9 g 52.3 g
Fats 1.9 g 4.7 g
Fibre 9.9 g 24.8 g
Calcium 200 mg 500 mg
Iron 10.8 mg 27 mg
Vitamin C 10 mg 25 mg

Tip for comparison:​


Always compare the per 100 g values when choosing between foods.

2.2 – Look at the food label in Figure 2.2

a) How many grams of protein are in 100 g of the food?​


11.8 g

b) How large is one serving?​


40 g (from "Per 40 g serving")

c) How many grams of fat are in one serving?​


1.9 g

d) Give the name of one mineral in the food.​


Calcium

e) How many milligrams of calcium would be in 80 g of this food?​


100 g → 500 mg​
So, 80 g →​
(80÷100)×500=400mg(80 ÷ 100) × 500 = 400 mg(80÷100)×500=400mg​
Answer: 400 mg

f) How much energy is in 100 g of the food?​


356 kcal or 1500 kJ

g) Why does your body need energy?​


Your body needs energy to carry out life processes, such as movement, keeping
warm, growth, repair, digestion, and cell functions.

h) What process does your body use to release energy from food?​
Respiration

5. Give the name of a nutrient that is a good source of energy.

Carbohydrate (Fats are also a good source of energy.)

6. Explain why more active people need to eat more food.

Because physical activity uses more energy, so active people must eat more to
replace the energy used and support body functions and recovery.

7. Unit Conversions

a) What is 500 mg in grams (g)?​


500÷1000=0.5g​
Answer: 0.5 g

b) What is 4.7 g in milligrams (mg)?​


4.7×1000=4700mg​
Answer: 4700 mg

c) What is 25 mg in grams?​
25÷1000=0.025g​
Answer: 0.025 g
8. If you only ate this food, about how much would you need to provide your energy
for one day?

A typical daily energy requirement is around 2000–2500 kcal.

This food provides 358 kcal per 100 g.

Let’s assume the target is 2000 kcal.

2000 / 358= 5.5

5.6*100g = 560g

Answer: You would need to eat approximately 560 g of this food to meet your
daily energy needs.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Risk Assessments

●​ A hazard is the potential to cause harm.​

●​ A risk is the chance that the hazard will actually cause harm.​

●​ A risk assessment is the process scientists use to identify hazards,


understand who could be harmed, and plan how to reduce the risk.​

Steps in a Risk Assessment

1.​ Identify the hazards (e.g., harmful chemicals).​

2.​ Identify who could be harmed (e.g., students, teachers).​

3.​ Plan ways to reduce the risk (e.g., wearing goggles, using droppers
carefully).​
Risk Assessment Table – Food Testing Chemicals
Substance Hazards How to Control the Risk
Iodine solution Stains skin and clothes Use a dropper carefully, keep clothes
away
Biuret solution Stings eyes, corrosive to Wear eye protection, use a dropper to
skin avoid splashes
(Other food May cause eye damage or Always wear goggles, avoid contact
tests) skin irritation

Common questions

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Active individuals expend more energy and therefore require increased caloric intake to replenish used energy and support body recovery and function. Their diet should include higher amounts of carbohydrates for immediate energy and proteins for muscle repair, along with adequate hydration. Adjustments should ensure sufficient micronutrient intake to support increased metabolic demands .

Water is essential in a balanced diet as it supports critical physiological processes such as dissolving nutrients for absorption, facilitating nutrient transport in the bloodstream, and regulating body temperature through sweating. It also plays a role in excretion and maintaining cellular hydration levels, which are crucial for overall health and efficient functioning of metabolic processes .

A risk assessment enhances safety by systematically identifying potential hazards, such as exposure to harmful chemicals, and determining who might be at risk, such as students and teachers. It also involves planning strategies to minimize these risks, such as using protective gear or careful handling of substances, thereby preventing accidents and ensuring a safer learning environment .

A deficiency in fibre can lead to constipation due to insufficient bulk in the stool, which makes it difficult to pass. Persistent deficiency may cause long-term digestive issues, increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids, and potentially lead to more severe conditions such as diverticulitis. Overall, fibre plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal health and supporting efficient digestion .

Comparing nutrient values per 100 g on food labels is significant because it standardizes the nutrient content across different foods, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their dietary intakes. By providing a consistent basis for comparison, individuals can select foods that meet their nutritional needs, manage intake of calories, fats, sodium, etc., and ultimately make healthier choices that align with dietary guidelines .

A balanced diet is crucial because it provides all the essential nutrients needed for various physiological functions. Proteins are necessary for growth and repair of tissues; carbohydrates serve as a primary energy source; fats provide long-term energy storage and help in absorbing vitamins; vitamins and minerals are critical for immune function, bone health, and other cellular processes. Water aids in dissolving substances, transport of nutrients, and temperature regulation, while fibre, although not a nutrient, is essential for healthy digestion .

Minerals play vital roles in bodily functions. Calcium is important for bone health and muscle function, while iron is essential for oxygen transport in blood. The food label indicates that 100 g of the product contains 500 mg of calcium and 27 mg of iron, emphasizing their contribution to meeting daily nutritional requirements and supporting health .

Understanding the nutrient composition from a food label enables individuals to assess how a food product fits into their dietary plan based on nutrient needs and health goals. For example, selecting products lower in saturated fats and higher in fibre can promote heart health and digestive function. The specific nutrient breakdown per serving allows individuals to modify portion sizes and balance their diet across other meals to meet daily nutritional targets .

Preserving vitamin content during food preparation involves selecting appropriate cooking methods, such as steaming or microwaving, which minimize nutrient loss. Quick cooking and reducing water usage can also help retain vitamins. This is important because vitamins are crucial for various biological functions, including immune support, and antioxidant protection. Ensuring maximum retention supports overall health and prevents deficiencies .

The body uses respiration to release energy from consumed nutrients, primarily carbohydrates and fats. This energy is crucial for various bodily functions, including maintaining body temperature, supporting cellular processes, muscle contraction, and facilitating growth and repair. Without adequate energy, vital processes such as digestion, respiration, and movement would be compromised .

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