NUTRITION POWERPOINT ANSWERS
1. What is a nutrient?
A nutrient is a chemical substance in food that helps maintain the body.
2. What are the six (6) basic nutrients?
Fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water are the six basic nutrients.
3. What are the nutrients that have calories?
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins have calories.
4. How many calories are there in 1 gram of fat? Carbohydrate? Protein?
Fat = 9 calories; Carbohydrates = 4 calories; Proteins = 4 calories
5. What are three (3) things that affect nutrient needs?
Age, gender, activity level, climate, health & state of nutrition affect nutrient needs.
6. What is your BMR? Stands for basal metabolic rate. It is the minimum number of calories your
body needs just the stay alive (breathing, heart pumping, digestive activities, etc)
7. What are the two types of carbohydrates? Give 3 examples of each one.
Complex (starch) - grain products such as bread,, crackers, rice & pasta.
Simple - candy, sugary cereals, fruit, & milk.
8. What are carbohydrates' main function in the body?
Carbohydrates provide cells with sugar from the blood.
9. Why are complex carbohydrates better for you than simple?
They have more nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, and minerals.
10. What are 3 functions of fats?
Fats provide insulation, protection, part of cells (membranes), provide energy, store vitamins.
Ten to thirty percent of calories should come from fats.
11. What are the 2 types of fats and which is solid at room temperature? Why is this bad?
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature while unsaturated are not. Saturated fats are
bad because they cause cholesterol to build up in arteries - leading to heart attack/stroke.
12. What are proteins?
Proteins are blocks of amino acids.
13. What are 3 functions of protein?
Functions of proteins include being part of enzymes, acid-base balance, antibodies & hormones,
transport, blood clotting, connective tissue, visual pigments, growth & maintenance.
14. Why is water important? The human body is actually made up of 50-55% water! Need is 24 hrs
a day!
15. How much of your needs does your thirst response supply you with?
Supplies you with 1/2 to 2/3rds of your needs. You need to consciously drink water during the day.
16. What are the water-soluble vitamins? Fat soluble?
Water-soluble vitamins are the "C" and "B-complex" vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K.
For the Vitamin and Mineral Charts, please see the Nutrition Power Point.