Nutrition Homework Help

About Nutrition

Nutrition is the study of food and what the body does with it: the nutrient classes, the tests that identify them, balanced diets and the disorders that follow deficiency or excess. Questions here often come with a case — a child refusing food, a patient with a particular need — or with a table of nutrient values to interpret.

Popular topics in Nutrition

• Nutrient Classes

  Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and roughage, and the function of each.

• Balanced Diet

  Proportions, factors affecting requirements (age, occupation, pregnancy), and planning a day's meals.

• Vitamins & Minerals

  Sources and functions of the main vitamins and minerals, and the deficiency disease each one prevents.

• Deficiency Disorders

  Kwashiorkor and marasmus, rickets, anaemia, goitre and night blindness: cause, signs and prevention.

• Digestion & Absorption

  Mechanical and chemical digestion, the enzymes involved, absorption in the ileum and assimilation.

• Food Tests

  Benedict's test for reducing sugars, iodine for starch, biuret for protein and the emulsion test for fats.

• Energy Value of Food

  Kilojoules and kilocalories, energy requirements, and the consequences of taking in more or less than is needed.

• Diet & Health

  Obesity, diabetes and heart disease, malnutrition and over-nutrition, and dietary advice.

How ScanSolve helps with Nutrition

ScanSolve answers with the nutrient named, its function, and its source — the three parts these questions are marked on — and gives the deficiency disease where one is asked for. Food-test answers state the reagent, the procedure and the colour change, in that order.

Case questions are answered for the person described: a growing child, a pregnant woman or a patient recovering from illness have different requirements, and the answer says why. Where a table of values is given, the answer reads it before interpreting it.

Study tips for Nutrition

1. 01

   Learn nutrients as a table of function, source and deficiency. Most short questions take one column from it.

2. 02

   Memorise the four food tests with their colour changes. They are guaranteed marks and easily confused.

3. 03

   Tie advice to the person in the question. "Eat a balanced diet" is not an answer to a question about a specific deficiency.

4. 04

   Keep kwashiorkor (protein) and marasmus (energy) apart. Examiners ask for the distinction directly.

Frequently asked Nutrition questions

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