Balanced Diet

Question 1

What are the necessary food groups

Answer 1

Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Dietary fibre
Vitamins
Minerals (mineral ions)
Water

Question 2

Causes and effect of starvation

Answer 2

Causes: taking in less energy than is used (over a long period)
Effect: Body starts to break down energy stores - first fat and then muscle tissue, leading to severe weight loss and eventually damage to heart and immune system, increasing the risk of many diseases

Question 3

Causes and effect of coronary heart disease

Answer 3

Cause: Diet too high in saturated fat and cholesterol
Effect: Fat deposits build up in arteries supplying the heart, reducing flow of blood to the heart muscle cells which do not work properly due to lack of oxygen. Can lead to heart attacks and death

Question 4

Causes and effect of constipation

Answer 4

Causes: Lack of fibre in the diet
Effect: Food Lacks bulk for muscles to
push it through the alimentary canal and so risk of diseases such as bowel cancer are increased

Question 5

Causes and effect of obesity

Answer 5

Cause:taking in more energy than is used
Effect: Extra energy stored as fat, weight increases and contributes to development of many diseases such as heart
disease and Type 2 diabetes

Question 6

Carbohydrates

Answer 6

Function: source of energy
Sources: bread, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes

Question 7

Protein

Answer 7

Function: growth and repair
Sources: meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts

Question 8

Lipid

Answer 8

Function: insulation and energy storage
Sources: butter, oil, nuts

Question 9

Dietary fibre

Answer 9

Function: provides bulk (roughage) for the intestine to push food through it
Sources: vegetables, whole grains

Question 10

Vitamins and minerals

Answer 10

Function: needed in small quantities to maintain health
Sources: fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy products

Question 11

Water

Answer 11

Function: needed for chemical reactions to take place in the body
Sources: water, juice, milk, fruits and vegetables

Question 12

Vitamin D

Answer 12

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and is required for strong bones and teeth
Vitamin D can be found in oily fish and dairy products, and is also made naturally by the body in sunlight
A severe deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets, a condition in children characterised by poor bone development

Question 13

Calcium

Answer 13

Calcium is needed for strong teeth and bones and is involved in the clotting of blood
Calcium is found in milk, cheese, and eggs
A deficiency can lead later in life to osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become less dense and more fragile, making them more likely to break (fracture)

Question 14

Vitamin C

Answer 14

Vitamin C forms an essential part of collagen protein, which makes up the skin, hair, gums, and bones
A deficiency can cause scurvy. It is found in citrus fruits and some green vegetables

Question 15

Vitamin A

Answer 15

Vitamin A is needed to make the pigment in the retina for vision
It can be found in meat, liver, dairy, leafy green vegetables like spinach, and eggs

Question 16

Iron

Answer 16

Iron is needed to make haemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that helps to carry oxygen
It can be found in red meat, liver, leafy green vegetables, and spinach