NASM NUTRITION CERTIFICATION FINAL STUDY
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ Trans Fat. Answer: An artificial fatty acid that occurs when
hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils (unsaturated fat) to make
them more solid (saturated fat) and have a more stable shelf life.
◉ Low-Density Lipoproteins. Answer: Lipoprotein that carries
cholesterol from the liver to the cells, known as bad cholesterol.
◉ High-Density Lipoproteins. Answer: Lipoprotein that carries
excess cholesterol away from the cells to the liver where it is turned
into bile or excreted, known as the good cholesterol.
◉ Endothelial Dysfunction. Answer: Damage that occurs to the
endothelium, the thin layer surrounding blood vessels.
◉ GRAS. Answer: An acronym for the Generally Recognized as Safe
list of any substance that is intentionally added to food - a food
additive that has been recognized as safe by a group of experts.
◉ FDA. Answer: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety,
efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological
,products, and medical devices, and by ensuring the safety of our
nation's food supply.
◉ Dietary Fat. Answer: The fat and oils found in food that is
consumed.
◉ Adipose Tissue. Answer: The loose connective tissue composed of
fat cells for stored energy.
◉ Hydrophilic. Answer: Water loving - will dissolve in, and react
with, water.
◉ Essential Fatty Acids. Answer: Fatty acids that cannot be
synthesized, or not in adequate amounts, and, therefore have to be
consumed in the diet - they include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids.
◉ Fat-Soluble Vitamins. Answer: Fat soluble means that a compound
or molecule can be dissolved into fat. Fat-soluble vitamins include A,
D, E, and K.
◉ Omega-3s (a-Linolenic). Answer: Named based on the position of
the first double bond in the carbon chain, Carbon 3, an essential
polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in fish, seafood, flaxseed oil,
and walnuts.
,◉ Omega-6s (a-Linoleic). Answer: Named based on the position of
the first double bond in the carbon chain, Carbon 6, an essential
polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found primarily in plant oils such
as corn, soybean, and safflower.
◉ EPA. Answer: Abbreviation for eicosapentaenoic acid, essential
omega-3 fatty acid found in marine sources including fish and krill,
serves as a precursor to various compounds that have anti-
inflammatory activities in the body in addition to serving as
structural components of the brain and eye tissue.
◉ DHA. Answer: Abbreviation for docosahexaenoic acid, the
essential omega-3 fatty acid found in marine sources including fish
and krill, highly abundant in the human brain, eyes, and sperm cells.
◉ Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Answer: The recommended
intake of various nutrients as determined by the Food and Nutrition
Board of the Institute of Medicine - the DRIs include
recommendations like the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR).
◉ Adequate Intake (AI). Answer: The recommended average daily
intake level based on observed or experimentally determined
estimates of nutrient intake by groups of apparently healthy people
, that are assumed to be adequate - the AI is used when an RDA
cannot be determined.
◉ Membrane. Answer: A thin, soft, pliable layer that acts as a
boundary, lining, or partition around an organism or cell.
◉ Selective Permeability. Answer: Monitors what materials enter
and exit a cell.
◉ Adipocytes. Answer: Cells specialized in the storage of fat that
makes up adipose tissue.
◉ Emulsifier. Answer: A substance used to bind a hydrophobic and
hydrophilic compound.
◉ Enzymes. Answer: A protein molecule that acts as a catalyst to
bring about a biochemical reaction, thus speeding up the process.
◉ Digestion Process. Answer: 1. Mouth - chewing
2. Stomach
3. Small Intestine
4. Portal Vein/Liver/Circulation
GUIDE 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ Trans Fat. Answer: An artificial fatty acid that occurs when
hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils (unsaturated fat) to make
them more solid (saturated fat) and have a more stable shelf life.
◉ Low-Density Lipoproteins. Answer: Lipoprotein that carries
cholesterol from the liver to the cells, known as bad cholesterol.
◉ High-Density Lipoproteins. Answer: Lipoprotein that carries
excess cholesterol away from the cells to the liver where it is turned
into bile or excreted, known as the good cholesterol.
◉ Endothelial Dysfunction. Answer: Damage that occurs to the
endothelium, the thin layer surrounding blood vessels.
◉ GRAS. Answer: An acronym for the Generally Recognized as Safe
list of any substance that is intentionally added to food - a food
additive that has been recognized as safe by a group of experts.
◉ FDA. Answer: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety,
efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological
,products, and medical devices, and by ensuring the safety of our
nation's food supply.
◉ Dietary Fat. Answer: The fat and oils found in food that is
consumed.
◉ Adipose Tissue. Answer: The loose connective tissue composed of
fat cells for stored energy.
◉ Hydrophilic. Answer: Water loving - will dissolve in, and react
with, water.
◉ Essential Fatty Acids. Answer: Fatty acids that cannot be
synthesized, or not in adequate amounts, and, therefore have to be
consumed in the diet - they include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids.
◉ Fat-Soluble Vitamins. Answer: Fat soluble means that a compound
or molecule can be dissolved into fat. Fat-soluble vitamins include A,
D, E, and K.
◉ Omega-3s (a-Linolenic). Answer: Named based on the position of
the first double bond in the carbon chain, Carbon 3, an essential
polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in fish, seafood, flaxseed oil,
and walnuts.
,◉ Omega-6s (a-Linoleic). Answer: Named based on the position of
the first double bond in the carbon chain, Carbon 6, an essential
polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found primarily in plant oils such
as corn, soybean, and safflower.
◉ EPA. Answer: Abbreviation for eicosapentaenoic acid, essential
omega-3 fatty acid found in marine sources including fish and krill,
serves as a precursor to various compounds that have anti-
inflammatory activities in the body in addition to serving as
structural components of the brain and eye tissue.
◉ DHA. Answer: Abbreviation for docosahexaenoic acid, the
essential omega-3 fatty acid found in marine sources including fish
and krill, highly abundant in the human brain, eyes, and sperm cells.
◉ Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Answer: The recommended
intake of various nutrients as determined by the Food and Nutrition
Board of the Institute of Medicine - the DRIs include
recommendations like the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR).
◉ Adequate Intake (AI). Answer: The recommended average daily
intake level based on observed or experimentally determined
estimates of nutrient intake by groups of apparently healthy people
, that are assumed to be adequate - the AI is used when an RDA
cannot be determined.
◉ Membrane. Answer: A thin, soft, pliable layer that acts as a
boundary, lining, or partition around an organism or cell.
◉ Selective Permeability. Answer: Monitors what materials enter
and exit a cell.
◉ Adipocytes. Answer: Cells specialized in the storage of fat that
makes up adipose tissue.
◉ Emulsifier. Answer: A substance used to bind a hydrophobic and
hydrophilic compound.
◉ Enzymes. Answer: A protein molecule that acts as a catalyst to
bring about a biochemical reaction, thus speeding up the process.
◉ Digestion Process. Answer: 1. Mouth - chewing
2. Stomach
3. Small Intestine
4. Portal Vein/Liver/Circulation
