Human Nutrition

• The pancreas secretes digestive juices into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct.
• Essential nutrients cannot be synthesised by the body, therefore they have to be included in the diet
• Dietary minerals are essential chemical elements
• Vitamins are chemically diverse carbon compounds that cannot be synthesised by the body
• Some fatty acids and some amino acids are essential
• Lack of essential amino acids affects the production of proteins
• Malnutrition may be caused by a deficiency, imbalance or excess of nutrients in the diet
• Appetite is controlled by a centre in the hypothalamus
• Overweight individuals are more likely to suffer hypertension and type II diabetes
• Starvation can lead to breakdown of body tissue
• Salivary glands secrete saliva into the oral cavity which contains enzyme amylase that breaks down starch
• The digestive system consists of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), large intestine (caecum, colon) and rectum
• Gastric juice from the stomach contains hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen which break down protein
• The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsinogen which converts to pepsin when activated by HCL
• Artificial supplementation ensures a population has sufficient access to essential nutrients
• Examples of dietary supplements include iodized salt and fluoridation of water