Food & Nutrition

Intro to the Human Body…

You are what you eat:

Food supplies energy & raw materials for growth & repair

(including at least 45 substances your body needs but

cannot produce)

Calorie vs. calorie calorie- measurement of energy

(heat needed to raise the temperature of 1g of water 1 degrees Celsius)

Calorie = 1000 calories; measurement of the energy stored in foods

Nutrient – substance the body needs for growth, repair & maintenance.

nutrients in food: Water Carbohydrates Fats (lipids) Proteins Vitamins Minerals

Water – why is it so important? EVERY cell in the human

body needs water because many of the body’s processes, including chemical reactions, take place in water

Humans need to drink at least a liter of water a day (you must replace what is lost)

Carbohydrates: main source of energy for the body

Simple carbohydrates – sugar in fruit, honey, sugar cane

Complex carbohydrates – Starches in grains,

potatoes and vegetables

Polysaccharides Fiber (cellulose)

Fats (lipids):

Fats are formed from fatty acids & glycerol Fats are necessary to:

protect body organs, insulate the body, and store energy

make cell membranes, myelin sheaths, and hormones

Help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins

Types of Fats: Saturated – single bonds, maximum # of

hydrogen atoms, usually solid at room temperature (ex. butter & other animal fats)

Unsaturated – at least one double bond; usually liquid at room temperature (ex. vegetable oils)

Trans Fats (hydrogenated oils) – man made, hydrogen atoms have been added to unsaturated fats

Protein: Proteins are made of

amino acids. Your body uses amino acids from your food to build new protein molecules.

Extra amino acids are used for energy or converted to fat.

Vitamins: Organic substances

found in small amounts in food. Vitamins are needed for chemical reactions inside the body.

Vitamins cannot all be stored. You must take them in daily.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the fatty tissues of the body; large amounts can be toxic (Vitamins A, D, E, and K)

Minerals: Inorganic substances

needed by the body for building, chemical reactions and normal functions.

Minerals must be included daily in your diet!

Excess saturated fats can lead to heart disease!!!

Extra saturated fats in your diet can raise your blood cholesterol levels. High cholesterol in the blood can lead to

blocked arteries as the fat accumulates inside the walls of the blood vessels.

Complete blockages in major arteries can lead to a heart attack or stroke!!

Trans Fat (Hydrogenated Oil): Hydrogenated oils – Unsaturated fat with

added hydrogen atoms to make it solid. BAD FOR YOU!!

Saturated Fat -