Nutrition and digestion
What are the three macro nutrients?
Carbohydrates, protein and fats
What Australian documents provide recommendations for healthy eating for the population
Australian Dietary guidelines and AGHE
What is the main role of carbohydrates in the body?
To provide energy for cellular processes
What is the purpose of the AGHE?
It is a visual tool which classifies food into 5 main food groups based on the main nutrient they provide. It encourages people to choose a wide rasnge of foods from all 5 groups based on different proportions
Where does most nutrient absorption occur?
In the small intestine, through the villi
Why is fibre important for digestive health?
Fibre provides satiety. Dietary fibre is essential for digestive health because it passes through the stomach and small intestine mostly intact, supporting regular bowel movements, gut motility, and a healthy microbiome.
What is the role of bile in fat digestion?
Bile emulsifies fats into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for lipase to act. Bile is NOT an enzyme
Explain why calcium requirements may be higher for some groups of people compared to others. Name two groups that may need higher calcium and explain why
Pregnant women and older people may need higher calcium requirements because 1-Pregnant women need calcium for the developing bones of their baby. Older people may start to get brittle bones so calcium is needed to stop osteoporosis.
Explain how proteins are diegsted and absorbed by the body
The digestion of protein starts in the stomach with pepsin breaking the proteins into smaller peptides. Protease in the small intestine then breaks the peptides into amino acids which are abosrbed by the villi into the blood and transported to cells