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Nutrition and Digestion

infoWhy this? Nutrition supplies the materials and energy needed for health, growth, and repair, while digestion breaks large food molecules into substances that can be absorbed and used by cells. Studying diets, food tests, enzymes, absorption, gut microbes, and drugs enables us to make evidence-informed connections between body systems, health, and lifestyle.

scheduleWhy now? Building on Year 7 Cells and Organisation, this unit traces how an organ system processes nutrients for use by cells. Earlier knowledge of diffusion supports explanations of absorption in the small intestine, while the unit prepares us to connect food molecules and energy release in later photosynthesis and respiration work.

neurologyYou need to know

  • The main food groups required for a healthy diet are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and water.
  • Carbohydrates provide energy.
  • Proteins are needed for growth and repair.
  • Fats provide energy and insulation.
  • Vitamins and minerals are required for various bodily functions.
  • Fibre aids digestion.
  • Water is essential for hydration and bodily processes.
  • The balance of food groups changes during a lifetime; for example, children need more protein for growth, and older adults may need more calcium and vitamin D.
  • Athletes require a diet higher in carbohydrates and protein, and may alter intake based on training or competition.
  • The recommended daily intake includes at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, meals based on higher fibre starchy foods, some dairy or alternatives, and some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat, and other protein sources.
  • Daily activities can be ranked by the energy they require; for example, running uses more energy than sitting.
  • Daily energy requirements depend on age, sex, activity level, and job.
  • Energy requirements increase with more physically demanding jobs.
  • Iodine solution tests for starch, changing from brown to blue-black when starch is present.
  • Biuret solution tests for protein, changing from blue to lilac when protein is present.
  • Benedict's solution tests for reducing sugars, changing from blue to green, yellow, orange, or brick-red when a positive sample is heated in a water bath.
  • The emulsion test for fats uses ethanol followed by water, producing a cloudy white emulsion when fats are present.
  • Positive results for each food test indicate the presence of the nutrient.
  • Food tests are qualitative and may not indicate the exact amount of a nutrient.
  • Three consequences of an unbalanced diet include obesity, malnutrition, and deficiency diseases.
  • Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) causes anaemia, bleeding gums, and exhaustion.
  • Rickets (vitamin D/calcium deficiency) causes weak bones and bone pain.
  • Anaemia (iron deficiency) causes tiredness and weakness.
  • Deficiency diseases can be treated by restoring the missing nutrient.
  • The main parts of the digestive system are the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.
  • The human stomach contains muscle tissue (movement), glandular tissue (secretes enzymes and acid), and epithelial tissue (lines and protects).
  • Each tissue in the stomach has a specific function.
  • Chemical digestion involves breaking down food with enzymes; physical digestion involves mechanical processes like chewing.
  • Carbohydrases (e.g., amylase) break down carbohydrates to sugars.
  • Proteases break down proteins to amino acids.
  • Lipases break down fats to fatty acids and glycerol.
  • Enzymes work best at specific pH and temperature.
  • The lock and key theory explains how enzymes are specific to their substrates.
  • A cheese roll is digested by mechanical and chemical processes, involving different enzymes at each stage.
  • Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase.
  • The small intestine absorbs nutrients; its adaptations include villi, microvilli, and a rich blood supply.
  • Adaptations of the small intestine increase surface area for diffusion and absorption.
  • Crohn's disease affects the small intestine, causing inflammation and absorption issues.
  • Bacteria in the gut help digest food, produce vitamins, and prevent harmful bacteria growth.
  • The relationship between gut bacteria and humans is mutualistic.
  • Scientists believe gut bacteria (the microbiome) influence health and disease.
  • Three legal recreational drugs are alcohol, nicotine (in tobacco), and caffeine.
  • Excessive alcohol can damage the liver, brain, and behaviour.
  • Withdrawal symptoms are physical or mental effects after stopping a drug.
  • Caffeine is a stimulant and can cause increased alertness, but also withdrawal symptoms like headaches.
  • Corticosteroids may be legally prescribed for medical treatment, while anabolic steroids are Class C drugs in the UK that may be possessed for personal use but cannot legally be supplied or imported by post or courier; anabolic steroids are also prohibited in competitive sport.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Identify and state the main food groups in a given diet.
  • Describe the function of each food group and explain how dietary needs change with age or activity level.
  • Design a balanced diet for different individuals, including athletes.
  • Rank daily activities by energy requirement using data or examples.
  • Calculate daily energy requirements from given data, such as using equations or tables.
  • Perform and interpret the four food tests, heating Benedict's test samples safely in a water bath, adding ethanol followed by water for the emulsion test, keeping ethanol away from flames, and recognising each positive result.
  • Identify an unknown food sample using results from food tests.
  • Describe and explain the symptoms and treatment of deficiency diseases.
  • Label a diagram of the digestive system and name the main tissue types in the stomach.
  • Explain the function of each tissue in the stomach and predict consequences if tissues fail.
  • Distinguish between chemical and physical digestion.
  • Name the main enzymes, state where they work, and identify the products of their action.
  • Explain the digestion of a cheese roll, step by step.
  • Explain the adaptations of the small intestine for absorption using knowledge of diffusion.
  • Describe how enzymes work using the lock and key theory.
  • Describe the role of gut bacteria and explain mutualism.
  • Describe the effects of legal recreational drugs and withdrawal symptoms.
  • Explain how to identify and treat deficiency diseases.
  • Distinguish prescribed corticosteroids from anabolic steroids, and explain the UK rules governing the personal possession, supply, postal or courier import, and competitive sporting use of anabolic steroids.


Revision Quiz

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