Use Sophia to knock out your gen-ed requirements quickly and affordably. Learn more
×

Nutrition and Health

Author: Amanda Soderlind
Video Transcript
Terms to Know
Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measurement ratio of your height and weight to assess a person’s body composition that is often used as a health and disease indicator.

Carbohydrates

A class of organic compounds that are the body’s main source of energy; carbohydrates are sugars that can be found as monosaccharides (glucose), disaccharides (sucrose), and polysaccharides (starch).

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids we cannot naturally synthesize are called essential amino acids; since we cannot synthesize them, we must consume them in our diet.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids we cannot naturally synthesize are called essential fatty acids; since we cannot synthesize them, we must consume them in our diet.

Lipids

Long hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains that act as the body’s main source of stored energy along with other secondary functions.

Minerals

Inorganic elements (often found in salts) that are involved in almost every metabolic process of the human body.

Obesity

Having too much body fat. This is not to be confused with being overweight, which means weighing too much. Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases such as hypertension, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.

Protein

Large, complex polymers of amino acids that have diverse functions (structure, communication, identity, immunity, carriers, etc.)

Vitamins

A diverse class of organic compounds that usually assist enzymes (in pretty much every metabolic function).