WGU NUTRITION, DIETARY HEALTH & DRUG
AWARENESS FLASHCARDS 2025/2026 |
NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS & DISORDERS | 100%
190+ VERIFIED Q&A
Nutrition - provides the body with the nutrients it needs to perform its daily tasks
Undernutrition - implies that the individual is not getting enough nutrients. This can occur
even if the person is consuming more than enough calories
Malnutrition - an imbalance of proper nutrients
Anorexia nervosa - literally means loss of appetite, but this is a misnomer: A person with this
is hungry, but denies the hunger because of an irrational fear of becoming fat. Self-starvation,
food preoccupation and rituals, compulsive exercising, and often an absence of menstrual
cycles in women.
Untreated, can be fatal.
Bulimia - characterized by recurring periods of binge eating, during which large amounts of
food are consumed in a short period of time followed by purging (through self-induced
vomiting, abuse of laxatives and/or diuretics) or periods of fasting
Binge eating disorder (BED) - episodes of binge eating characterized by eating rapidly, eating
large amounts of food even when not feeling hungry, and feeling guilty or depressed after
overeating.
Obesity - 15 to 20 percent above normal weight. Poor dietary patterns; include increased
intake of sugars in sweetened soft drinks, foods, and meals of high energy, low nutrient
density, and large portion sizes. At risk for serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
,Minerals - inorganic material. Form body parts (teeth and bones), maintain acid-base
neutrality, regulate nerve impulses, osmotic pressure, and electrolyte balance
Major minerals - needed by the body:
• calcium—milk, cheese, sardines, salmon, green vegetables
• phosphorus—milk, cheese, lean meat
• potassium—oranges, bananas, dried fruits
• sulfur—eggs, poultry, fish
• sodium—table salt, beef, eggs, cheese
• chloride—table salt, meat
• magnesium—green vegetables, whole grains
Trace minerals - required in lesser amounts, and include iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium,
copper, iodine, fluorine, chromium, molybdenum, and manganese
HDL cholesterol (high density lipoproteins) - protect the body against heart disease. Often
called "good" cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins) - most cholesterol in the blood is of this type.
Often referred to as the bad cholesterol. high levels in the blood increases the risk of fatty
deposits forming in the arteries, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack
Lipoproteins - large molecules of fat and protein in the bloodstream; how cholesterol is
transported
Antioxidants - slow the aging process. Reduce cellular damage by binding with free radicals
produced during oxidation reactions
Oxidation reactions - the energy-yielding reactions in which either an oxygen atom adds an
electron to or a hydrogen atom removes an electron from a substrate (a group of atoms or
molecule)—the net result is a substrate that has had a partial or complete loss of a negatively
,charge particle, an electron. Two partially charged atoms or groups of atoms, one positively
charged and the other negatively charged, now exist
Free radical (Oxidant) - any atom or group of atoms that has an unpaired electron. Because
electrons typically function in pairs, these are very prone to binding to other substrates in an
effort to regain this paired status. When this happens in the human body, there is potential for
a great deal of damage.
Carbohydrates - produce 4 calories of energy per gram. Found in foods as monosaccharides,
disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Sources include fruits, vegetables, pasta, and rice which
consist of simple sugars and starches
Protein - produce 4 calories of energy per gram. Sources include meats and milk. Composed
of 8 essential(provided by the diet) and 12 nonessential(synthesized by the body) amino
acids. Perform many functions including building cells and tissues, forming blood and
enzymes, and fighting infection.
means primary, and no organism can live, and almost no biological process can take place,
without it
Lipids - produce 9 calories of energy per gram. Organic compounds that do not readily
dissolve in water; based on their solubility, they are classified into triglycerides (more
commonly known as fats), phospholipids, and sterols
Incomplete protein - proteins that are lacking one or more of the essential amino
acids
Glycogen - the polysaccharide form in which glucose is stored in the liver
Glucose - simple sugar. The only source of energy that brain cells use to function
Triglycerides (Fats) - Solid at room temperature. Group of chemical compounds that contain
fatty acids, often in very long strands. Most concentrated source of energy in the diet.
, Provides much of the stored energy of the body. Insulate body organs against changes in
environmental temperature. Protect the organs and underlying tissues by acting as a shock
absorber.
Water - essential component of body structure. Second only to oxygen in importance to body
functioning. Acts as a solvent for minerals and other physiologically important compounds.
In the body, it transports nutrients to and waste products from the cells and helps regulate
body temperature. Comes from fluids and solids in the diet and also is produced by the
metabolic processing of energy nutrients within the tissues
Oils - liquid at room temperature.
Vitamins - organic compounds required by every part of the body to maintain health and
prevent disease. Classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Do not become part of the
body. Only small amounts are needed, but must be provided by the diet because the body is
not able to synthesize them in the required quantities for proper nourishment and body
function. Foster growth, promote the ability to produce healthy offspring, maintain health, aid
in the normal function of the digestive tract and appetite, and help maintain immune system
functions.
Fat-soluble vitamins - found in the fatty parts of food and body tissues. Stored in the body
until needed, so it is not necessary to consume them every day. Transported by lipids through
the body; A, D, E, and K
Vitamin A - important in promoting growth and health of body tissues as well as enhancing
the function of the immune system. Enhances vision by helping the retina function properly,
permitting us to distinguish between light and shade and to see various colors distinctly. A
form of this is used by dermatologists to treat acne and other skin disorders. Overdoses may
result in yellowish, dry, scaly skin and dry, irritated eyes
Vitamin D - essential for calcium absorption and thus is needed to prevent and cure
rickets(deficiency disease in which bones fail to harden)
Vitamin E - an activator in certain enzyme reactions, and it protects vitamins A and C from
being used up too quickly
AWARENESS FLASHCARDS 2025/2026 |
NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS & DISORDERS | 100%
190+ VERIFIED Q&A
Nutrition - provides the body with the nutrients it needs to perform its daily tasks
Undernutrition - implies that the individual is not getting enough nutrients. This can occur
even if the person is consuming more than enough calories
Malnutrition - an imbalance of proper nutrients
Anorexia nervosa - literally means loss of appetite, but this is a misnomer: A person with this
is hungry, but denies the hunger because of an irrational fear of becoming fat. Self-starvation,
food preoccupation and rituals, compulsive exercising, and often an absence of menstrual
cycles in women.
Untreated, can be fatal.
Bulimia - characterized by recurring periods of binge eating, during which large amounts of
food are consumed in a short period of time followed by purging (through self-induced
vomiting, abuse of laxatives and/or diuretics) or periods of fasting
Binge eating disorder (BED) - episodes of binge eating characterized by eating rapidly, eating
large amounts of food even when not feeling hungry, and feeling guilty or depressed after
overeating.
Obesity - 15 to 20 percent above normal weight. Poor dietary patterns; include increased
intake of sugars in sweetened soft drinks, foods, and meals of high energy, low nutrient
density, and large portion sizes. At risk for serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes,
hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
,Minerals - inorganic material. Form body parts (teeth and bones), maintain acid-base
neutrality, regulate nerve impulses, osmotic pressure, and electrolyte balance
Major minerals - needed by the body:
• calcium—milk, cheese, sardines, salmon, green vegetables
• phosphorus—milk, cheese, lean meat
• potassium—oranges, bananas, dried fruits
• sulfur—eggs, poultry, fish
• sodium—table salt, beef, eggs, cheese
• chloride—table salt, meat
• magnesium—green vegetables, whole grains
Trace minerals - required in lesser amounts, and include iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium,
copper, iodine, fluorine, chromium, molybdenum, and manganese
HDL cholesterol (high density lipoproteins) - protect the body against heart disease. Often
called "good" cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins) - most cholesterol in the blood is of this type.
Often referred to as the bad cholesterol. high levels in the blood increases the risk of fatty
deposits forming in the arteries, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack
Lipoproteins - large molecules of fat and protein in the bloodstream; how cholesterol is
transported
Antioxidants - slow the aging process. Reduce cellular damage by binding with free radicals
produced during oxidation reactions
Oxidation reactions - the energy-yielding reactions in which either an oxygen atom adds an
electron to or a hydrogen atom removes an electron from a substrate (a group of atoms or
molecule)—the net result is a substrate that has had a partial or complete loss of a negatively
,charge particle, an electron. Two partially charged atoms or groups of atoms, one positively
charged and the other negatively charged, now exist
Free radical (Oxidant) - any atom or group of atoms that has an unpaired electron. Because
electrons typically function in pairs, these are very prone to binding to other substrates in an
effort to regain this paired status. When this happens in the human body, there is potential for
a great deal of damage.
Carbohydrates - produce 4 calories of energy per gram. Found in foods as monosaccharides,
disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Sources include fruits, vegetables, pasta, and rice which
consist of simple sugars and starches
Protein - produce 4 calories of energy per gram. Sources include meats and milk. Composed
of 8 essential(provided by the diet) and 12 nonessential(synthesized by the body) amino
acids. Perform many functions including building cells and tissues, forming blood and
enzymes, and fighting infection.
means primary, and no organism can live, and almost no biological process can take place,
without it
Lipids - produce 9 calories of energy per gram. Organic compounds that do not readily
dissolve in water; based on their solubility, they are classified into triglycerides (more
commonly known as fats), phospholipids, and sterols
Incomplete protein - proteins that are lacking one or more of the essential amino
acids
Glycogen - the polysaccharide form in which glucose is stored in the liver
Glucose - simple sugar. The only source of energy that brain cells use to function
Triglycerides (Fats) - Solid at room temperature. Group of chemical compounds that contain
fatty acids, often in very long strands. Most concentrated source of energy in the diet.
, Provides much of the stored energy of the body. Insulate body organs against changes in
environmental temperature. Protect the organs and underlying tissues by acting as a shock
absorber.
Water - essential component of body structure. Second only to oxygen in importance to body
functioning. Acts as a solvent for minerals and other physiologically important compounds.
In the body, it transports nutrients to and waste products from the cells and helps regulate
body temperature. Comes from fluids and solids in the diet and also is produced by the
metabolic processing of energy nutrients within the tissues
Oils - liquid at room temperature.
Vitamins - organic compounds required by every part of the body to maintain health and
prevent disease. Classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Do not become part of the
body. Only small amounts are needed, but must be provided by the diet because the body is
not able to synthesize them in the required quantities for proper nourishment and body
function. Foster growth, promote the ability to produce healthy offspring, maintain health, aid
in the normal function of the digestive tract and appetite, and help maintain immune system
functions.
Fat-soluble vitamins - found in the fatty parts of food and body tissues. Stored in the body
until needed, so it is not necessary to consume them every day. Transported by lipids through
the body; A, D, E, and K
Vitamin A - important in promoting growth and health of body tissues as well as enhancing
the function of the immune system. Enhances vision by helping the retina function properly,
permitting us to distinguish between light and shade and to see various colors distinctly. A
form of this is used by dermatologists to treat acne and other skin disorders. Overdoses may
result in yellowish, dry, scaly skin and dry, irritated eyes
Vitamin D - essential for calcium absorption and thus is needed to prevent and cure
rickets(deficiency disease in which bones fail to harden)
Vitamin E - an activator in certain enzyme reactions, and it protects vitamins A and C from
being used up too quickly
