Human Nutrition Worksheet

Human Nutrition Worksheet

1. Minerals used in the body differs from the use of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in that minerals serve the function of cofactors, which are crucial for any enzyme activity. (p.282.)
2. Minerals perform an array of both regulatory and structurally vital roles in our bodies. This ranges from the regulation of metabolic rate, influencing the structure and strength of bones, and regulating blood glucose levels. These aside, the most crucial role of minerals is perhaps acting as coenzymes required for all enzyme activities (p.282.)
3. Iron is one of the major components of hemoglobin which assist in oxygen transportation through the blood system (p.310.) Iodine regulates metabolic rates as it is a component of the thyroid hormones, while calcium and phosphorous affect the construction of bones. (p.281.)
4. The bone structure contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, fluoride (p.294.)
5. Iron can be divided into heme-iron and nonheme iron. Heme-iron can be found in proteins, while the nonheme variant can be found in vegetables, grains, and legumes. The best sources of iron are kale and spinach from the vegetable category and red and organ meats from the meat category. Supplements are also recommended, while tagging of iron content on packaged foods is a must. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, and as such, it is required that one watches their regular intake of this mineral (p.281.)

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6. Food processing and refining can affect the quantity and quality of plant products. Nutrients like minerals are lost during the processing and refining process when components of the plant products like the bran and germ of grains are removed. A good example is a zinc and copper being lost in the refining process of flour (p.281.)
7. Intake – Thirst center in the brain and Salivary glands. Outtake – Lungs, Skin, and Kidneys. (p.274.)
8. A diet that focusses on low energy increases the need for water as water losses increase to excrete ketones, which are the byproducts of fat. Diet high in sodium increases water needs as the excess salt will require excretion through urine. Caffeine high diet will increase the water need as well as caffeine increases water loss from the kidneys, which must be replenished. Diet rich in fiber will also result in an increase in water needs because more fluid is retained in the gastrointestinal tract. Lastly, the need for water will also increase in a high protein diet to combat the increase in nitrogenous waste. (p.279.)
9. The photo of a bowl of strawberries is used here to illustrate how osmosis occurs. Water molecules move from their area of high concentration to their area of low concentration.
10. The two mechanisms that regulate blood pressure are aldosterone mechanism and renin-angiotensin mechanism, with the former being faster than the latter.
11. Homeostatic mechanism (p.284.)
12. Parathyroid hormone is involved in the opposition of calcitonin in its regulation of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Their secretion is tied to the levels of calcium in the blood. (p.297.)
13. Minerals in the human body are regulated to maintain optimum fluid volume. If there is an increase in extracellular fluid volume, then there will be an increase in blood pressure. Regulation of mineral content in the body is associated with kidneys. As such, bad kidneys would result in a high concentration of potassium in the body. This will, in turn, warrant a diet which is low in potassium to maintain optimum fluid volume and avoid hypertension(p.286.)
14. The man might have been a vegetarian as iron absorption from plants is poor (p.312.)
15. The mineral source in a plant is tied to the mineral content of the soil and water where the particular plant is found. If certain minerals are scarce in soil and water, then the same will be mirrored in the given plant (p.281.)
16. The theoretical basis for this claim is chromium supplements are believed to decrease body fat while increasing lean body tissue. Yes, there is empirical evidence supporting this claim. Research has shown that chromium is required for insulin driven functions that promote protein synthesis. This, in turn, results in lean body mass, thus supporting the claims being made by the advertisements (p.329.)
17. Water balance ties to the salinity of bodily fluids and how they are regulated. When sodium concentration is high, water is absorbed, resulting in increased blood volume. Changes that affect blood volume can easily cause a reaction to blood pressure (p. 286.)
18. When the body sweats, the skin secretes wastes that are high in salts. This will minimize the quantity of salt in the blood system, thus reducing the blood pressure.