Biology 1 Part 1- Diet and Health

Balanced diet- contains the right amount of different foods and the right amount of energy to keep healthy

Carbohydrates- for slow releasing energy
Fats- for fast releasing energy, insulation
Proteins- to build cells and repair tissue
Mineral ions and vitamins- keeps body functioning

Fibre- prevents constipation and bowel cancer

Cholesterol is a waxy substance. It is only present in animal tissues. Some is needed because:

It helps strengthen the cell membranes
The body uses it to make sex hormones and vitamin D

However, having too much cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of heart disease.
Some cholesterol is taken from directly eating animal products, like meat, prawns and eggs. The liver also makes it from saturated fats eaten, like butter, chocolate and fatty meat.
Some people have a lot of cholesterol in their blood due to their genes. Their liver makes too much cholesterol. They can take drugs called statins to reduce cholesterol made by the body. They take the statins in the evening because the body makes cholesterol during sleep. Statins inhibit an enzyme involved in making cholesterol.

State one health problem linked with being underweight
Immune system fails

What does obese mean?
Very overweight- BMI of 30 or above

What are statins?
Drugs which inhibit an enzyme involved in making cholesterol to reduce the amount of cholesterol made in the body

Why is some cholesterol needed in the body and how does the body get cholesterol?
Strengthens cell membranes, makes sex hormones and vitamin D.
Made in the liver or from saturated fats or animal products

Explain how statins work
Statins inhibit an enzyme involved in making cholesterol to reduce the amount of cholesterol made in the body. They are taken in the evening as cholesterol is made during sleep

	Created by morgihowler almost 10 years ago

GCSE Biology (Mine) Note on Diet and Health, created by morgihowler on 17/02/2015.