Health Flashcards

Basal metabolic rate is the energy expended by an individual at rest (when fasted and at thermoneutral temperature), as a result of normal cell and organ function within the body, and accounts for approximately 60–75% of total daily energy expenditure in individuals with a sedentary occupation.

A small calorie (cal) is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram (g) of water by 1º Celsius (º C).

What are carbohydrates? Carbohydrates, or carbs, are sugar molecules. Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of three main nutrients found in foods and drinks. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the main source of energy for your body's cells, tissues, and organs.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

What is fibre? Dietary fibre is found in wholegrain cereals and fruit and vegetables. Fibre is made up of the indigestible parts or compounds of plants, which pass relatively unchanged through our stomach and intestines. Fibre is mainly a carbohydrate. The main role of fibre is to keep the digestive system healthy.

The digestive system includes the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. It also includes the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, which make digestive juices and enzymes that help the body digest food and liquids.

Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge.

Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body cannot make itself. Fat helps the body absorb vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. These vitamins are fat-soluble, which means they can only be absorbed with the help of fats.

Carbohydrates, fat and protein are called macronutrients. They are the nutrients you use in the largest amounts.

Metabolism refers to all the chemical processes going on continuously inside your body that allow life and normal functioning (maintaining normal functioning in the body is called homeostasis). These processes include those that break down nutrients from our food, and those that build and repair our body.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed by the body in very small amounts.

Minerals are naturally occurring elements or compounds. Most are inorganic solids (apart from liquid mercury and a few organic minerals) and defined by their chemical composition and crystal structure. By weight, 99.5 per cent of minerals are formed from only 12 of the natural elements.

Nutrients are chemical substances required by the body to sustain basic functions and are optimally obtained by eating a balanced diet. There are six major classes of nutrients essential for human health: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Protein is a nutrient your body needs to grow and repair cells, and to work properly. Protein is found in a wide range of food and it's important that you get enough protein in your diet every day. How much protein you need from your diet varies depending on your weight, gender, age and health.

Saturated fats are found in butter, cheese, red meat, other animal-based foods and tropical oils. Decades science has proven that saturated fats can raise your “bad” cholesterol and put you at higher risk for heart disease. The more important thing to remember is the overall dietary pattern.

Trans fat is considered the worst type of fat to eat. Unlike other dietary fats, trans fats — also called trans-fatty acids — raise "bad" cholesterol and also lowers "good" cholesterol. A diet laden with trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, the leading killer of adults.

An unsaturated fat is a fat or fatty acid in which there is at least one double bond within the fatty acid chain. A fatty acid chain is monounsaturated if it contains one double bond, and polyunsaturated if it contains more than one double bond.

Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally.

Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H₂O. It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance.