Nutrition - Questions & Answers

Progress Check

1. Define malnutrition.
Malnutrition is the condition in which a person suffers due to an unbalanced diet. It includes both deficiency as well as an excess of nutrients in a person's diet.

2. Categorise the following items into carbohydrates and proteins : Cellulose, Starch, Egg albumen, Milk, Pea, Glycogen, Cane-sugar
Carbohydrates: Cellulose, Starch, Glycogen, Cane-sugar.
Proteins: Egg albumen, Milk, Pea.

3. Write the approximate requirement of calories for the following :
(i) An adult physical labourer.
(ii) A teenager.
(iii) A pregnant woman.
(i) 2800-3200 kcal/day
(ii) 1800-2400 kcal/day
(iii) 2200-2600 kcal/day

Review Questions

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE

1. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(i) Which one of the following pairs of nutrients includes both as simple sugars (monosaccharides)?
(a) Sucrose and glucose
(b) Glucose and maltose
(c) Fructose and glucose
(d) Maltose and lactose
Answer: (c) Fructose and glucose

(ii) Which one of the following is the correct matching of a nutrient mineral element and its one rich source?
(a) Calcium - Potato
(b) Sodium - Citruis fruits
(c) Iodine - Dairy milk
(d) Potassium - Banana
Answer: (d) Potassium - Banana

(iii) Marasmus is due to deficiency of :
(a) Vitamin C
(b) Carbohydrates, fats and proteins
(c) Fat
(d) Food
Answer: (b) Carbohydrates, fats and proteins

(iv) Fat soluble vitamins are :
(a) A, D and E
(b) B, C and D
(c) B, D and E
(d) A, B and C
Answer: (a) A, D and E

(v) Which of the following is the best source of Vitamin A :
(a) Apple
(b) Honey
(c) Carrot
(d) Peanuts
Answer: (c) Carrot

(vi) Ascorbic acid is Vitamin :
(a) C
(b) D
(c) B
(d) A
Answer: (a) C

(vii) Which of the following components of a balanced diet enables easy movement of the food through the intestines ?
(a) Fats
(b) Proteins
(c) Roughage
(d) Vitamins
Answer: (c) Roughage

(viii) Which of the following is popularly known as grape sugar ?
(i) Fructose
(b) Lactose
(c) Glucose
(d) Galactose
Answer: (c) Glucose

(ix) Which of the following consists of two molecules of glucose ?
(a) Maltose
(b) Sucrose
(c) Lactose
(d) Fructose
Answer: (a) Maltose

(x) The disease caused due to the deficiency of Thiamine is :
(a) Osteomalacia
(b) Beri beri
(c) Rickets
(d) Dermatitis
Answer: (b) Beri beri

(xi) Identify the mineral nutrients P and Q based on their roles in the human body.

Mineral nutrient	Role in the human body
P	Production of chemical energy (ATP).
Q	Process of blood clotting.

(a) P - Calcium Q - Phosphorus
(b) P - Phosphorus Q - Iodine
(c) P - Phosphorus Q - Calcium
(d) P - Iodine Q - Calcium
Answer: (c) P - Phosphorus Q - Calcium

B. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE

1. Given below is a photo of a child suffering from a deficiency disease. Read the information below and fill in the blanks.
Proteins are large chemical molecules which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Proteins provide the chemical materials for the growth and repair of body cells and tissues. Its deficiency leads to some severe diseases.
(a) Marasmus is a disease caused due to the deficiency of (b) carbohydrates, (c) fats and proteins in the diet. This disease usually affects infants below the age of (d) one year(s). In this disease, the skin becomes loosely folded and (e) ribs appear prominent.

2. Mention whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F)
(a) Cellulose in our food passes out undigested (T/F)
Answer: T
(b) Kwashiorkor is a severe vitamin deficiency disease (T/F)
Answer: F
(c) Iron is required for the proper working of thyroid. (T/F)
Answer: F
(d) Foods protect us from disease and therefore antibiotics which protect us from disease are also foods. (T/F)
Answer: F
(e) Mineral salts contribute in regulating body processes. (T/F)
Answer: T

3. Name the mineral element that is needed for the following respectively :
(i) Strong teeth
Answer: Calcium (or Phosphorus)
(ii) Proper working of thyroid
Answer: Iodine
(iii) Synthesis of haemoglobin
Answer: Iron
(iv) Production of chemical energy (ATP)
Answer: Phosphorus
(v) Cell permeability, especially in nerve cells
Answer: Potassium (and Sodium)

4. Name the nutrients whose deficiencies cause the following diseases in humans :
(i) Pernicious anemia
Answer: Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine) / Cobalt
(ii) Pellagra
Answer: Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
(iii) Night blindness
Answer: Vitamin A (Retinol)
(iv) Goitre
Answer: Iodine
(v) Kwashiorkor
Answer: Proteins

5. Mark the odd one out in each of the following cases and name the category to which the others belong:
(i) Xerophthalmia, Marasmus, Pellagra, Scurvy.
Answer: Odd one out: Marasmus. Category of others: Vitamin deficiency diseases.
(ii) Riboflavin, Thiamine, Folic acid, Iodine.
Answer: Odd one out: Iodine. Category of others: Water-soluble vitamins (Vitamin B complex).
(iii) Glucose, Fructose, Galactose, Lactose
Answer: Odd one out: Lactose. Category of others: Monosaccharides (Simple sugars).
(iv) Cellulose, Glycogen, Fructose, Starch.
Answer: Odd one out: Fructose. Category of others: Polysaccharides.
(v) Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Potassium.
Answer: Odd one out: Iron. Category of others: Macronutrients (needed in large quantity).

6. Match the terms given in column A with those of column B.
Column A                  Column B
(a) Tocopherol              (i) Vitamin C
(b) Phylloquinone         (ii) Vitamin D
(c) Retinol                     (iii) Vitamin K
(d) Ascorbic acid          (iv) Vitamin A
(e) Calciferol                 (v) Vitamin E
Answer:
(a) - (v)
(b) - (iii)
(c) - (iv)
(d) - (i)
(e) - (ii)

7. Name two diseases caused due to the deficiency of the following :
(a) Vitamin A
Answer: Night-blindness, Xerophthalmia
(b) Vitamin D
Answer: Rickets, Osteomalacia
(c) Vitamin B3
Answer: Pellagra, Dermatitis
(d) Iodine
Answer: Goitre, Cretinism
(e) Protein
Answer: Kwashiorkor, Marasmus

8. Identify the deficiency diseases with the help of the clues given below :
(a) Delay in blood clotting time.
Answer: Haemorrhage
(b) Swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck region.
Answer: Goitre
(c) Poor mental and physical growth in children.
Answer: Cretinism
(d) Poor vision in dim light.
Answer: Night-blindness
(e) Dryness of the cornea and ulceration in the eye.
Answer: Xerophthalmia

9. Complete the following :
(a) Glucose + Galactose → Lactose
(b) Glucose + Glucose → Maltose
(c) Glucose + Fructose → Sucrose
(d) (C6H10O5)n → Polysaccharide (Starch/Glycogen/Cellulose)
(e) Amino acid1 + Amino acid2 + Amino acid3 + Amino acidn → Protein

C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE

1. Define the terms :
(a) Balanced diet
Answer: A balanced diet is one which contains all the principal constituents of food in proper quantity for a particular person.
(b) Malnutrition
Answer: Malnutrition is the condition in which a person suffers due to an unbalanced diet, including both deficiency as well as an excess of nutrients.
(c) Food
Answer: Food is any substance which we eat or drink, and which contains the essential nutrients.
(d) Nutrients
Answer: Nutrients are the essential organic and inorganic chemical compounds (proteins, vitamins, salts, etc.) supplied to the body.
(e) Kwashiorkor
Answer: Kwashiorkor is a severe protein-deficiency disease usually affecting young children, typically caused when a mother stops breast-feeding at an early age, and the child is given a diet poor in proteins.

2. Give two examples each of the following and their usefulness, if any, in our body.
(i) Monosaccharides
Answer: Examples: Glucose and Fructose. Usefulness: They require no digestion and are straightaway absorbed into the body to release energy.
(ii) Disaccharides
Answer: Examples: Sucrose and Lactose. Usefulness: They are digested into simple sugars and absorbed to provide energy.
(iii) Polysaccharides
Answer: Examples: Starch and Cellulose. Usefulness: Starch is broken down to release energy. Cellulose provides roughage for proper functioning of the gut.

3. Write the important roles of the following food components in our body.
(a) Cellulose
Answer: It acts as roughage, which absorbs a lot of water and retains it, keeping faecal matter soft and preventing constipation. It also stimulates muscle contraction in the intestinal wall.
(b) Fat
Answer: Fats produce more energy than carbohydrates, serve as an important storage form of food, act as a solvent for fat-soluble vitamins, and protect the body against rapid loss of heat.
(c) Proteins
Answer: Proteins provide chemical material for the growth and repair of body cells and tissues. They can also be oxidized to release energy in times of emergency.
(d) Calcium
Answer: It is a constituent of bones and enamel, helping to strengthen them. It is also required for muscle contraction and clotting of blood.
(e) Phosphorus
Answer: It helps in strengthening bones and teeth, and is required in the synthesis of nucleic acids and production of chemical energy (ATP).

4. A doctor advises a bone patient to include more of milk and milk products in his everyday food. Why so?
Answer: Milk and milk products are rich sources of calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D. Calcium and phosphorus are essential components needed for the strengthening of bones and teeth, while Vitamin D helps the body to effectively absorb and use these minerals to form bones.

D. LONG ANSWER TYPE

1. Distinguish between the following pairs on the basis of the words indicated in the brackets :
(a) Monosaccharides and Disaccharides (Number of carbon atoms)
Answer: Monosaccharides (like glucose) have 6 carbon atoms (C6H12O6), whereas Disaccharides (like sucrose) are made up of two simple sugars and typically have 12 carbon atoms (C12H22O11).
(b) Kwashiorkor and Marasmus (Age)
Answer: Kwashiorkor usually affects children from 1-5 years of age, whereas Marasmus affects infants up to 1 year of age.
(c) Tocopherol and Pantothenic acid (Solubility)
Answer: Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is fat-soluble and can be stored in the body, whereas Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) is water-soluble and easily excreted.
(d) Malnutrition and Undernutrition (Definition)
Answer: Malnutrition is a general condition of suffering from an unbalanced diet (includes both deficiency and excess). Undernutrition specifically refers to suffering from poor nutrition due to not having enough food containing essential nutrients for growth and health.
(e) Iron and Iodine (Deficiency diseases)
Answer: Deficiency of Iron leads to Anaemia. Deficiency of Iodine leads to Goitre.

2. List the six main purposes for which food is required by the body.
Answer: (i) Growth (building up new cells). (ii) Repair (providing material for injured cells). (iii) Energy (providing energy for life functions). (iv) Maintenance (sustaining cellular chemical composition). (v) Provision of raw materials (for manufacturing enzymes, hormones, etc.). (vi) Protection (defending from disease and infection).

3. Why are proteins necessary in our food ?
Answer: Proteins are necessary because they provide the chemical building blocks for the growth and repair of body cells and tissues. They are crucial for producing enzymes and hormones, and in emergency situations, they can be oxidized to release energy.

4. Taking the examples of whole grain atta, fruit and green leafy vegetables, describe how roughage in our diet is useful.
Answer: Whole grain atta (chokar), fruits, and vegetables are rich in cellulose, which cannot be digested by our body and acts as roughage. This roughage is useful because it absorbs and retains water, keeping faecal matter soft and preventing constipation. It makes the movement of undigested food easier, stimulates intestinal muscle contraction, and helps in the removal of cholesterol and toxins from the digestive tract.

5. Give any four reasons why water is necessary in our body.
Answer: (i) It acts as a solvent for thousands of organic and inorganic substances. (ii) It helps in the transportation of digested foods and oxygen throughout the body. (iii) It is used in the excretion of soluble wastes (urine, sweat). (iv) It is involved in the maintenance of body temperature.

6. Prepare a balanced diet menu for a day specifying meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a teenager like yourself.
Answer: A teenager requires about 1800-2400 kcal/day.
Breakfast: 1 glass of Milk, 2 slices of whole wheat bread, 1 boiled egg, and an apple.
Lunch: 1 bowl of Rice or 3 Chapatis, 1 bowl of Dal (pulses), 1 serving of green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach), and a bowl of curd.
Dinner: 2 Chapatis, a mixed vegetable dish or lean meat/fish, and fresh salad (cucumber, carrots).

E. STRUCTURED/APPLICATION/SKILL TYPE

1. Complete the following table by filling the blanks.

Mineral	Function	Rich Source
Iodine	Required for proper working of thyroid	Iodised salt, water, sea foods
Iron	Formation of Haemoglobin	Whole cereals, fish, nut, egg yolk, liver, kidney
Calcium	Constituent of bones and enamel, required for blood clotting	Dairy foods, beans, cabbage
Potassium	Nerve and muscle activity, fluid balance	Banana, potato, citrus fruits

2. Given below is an incomplete table of vitamins, their rich sources and the related deficiency diseases. Fill in the blanks [(i)-(viii)] with only one suitable word for each.

Vitamin	Rich Source	Deficiency disease
(i) B1 (Thiamine)	Whole grain	Beri-beri
Niacin	Milk	(ii) Pellagra
(iii) C (Ascorbic acid)	(iv) Fresh citrus fruit	Scurvy
Calciferol	(v) Fish liver oils, milk, eggs	(vi) Rickets (or Osteomalacia)
(vii) A (Retinol)	Carrot, yellow fruit	(viii) Night-blindness

3. Akshay studied a flow-chart showing the role of nutrients in the human body. It shows that all the nutrients are important for various metabolic activities of the body.
(a) Mention the simplest form of carbohydrates which releases energy on its oxidation.
Answer: Glucose.
(b) Write two important roles of fat in our body.
Answer: Fats produce abundant energy in the body and provide insulation under the skin against rapid loss of body heat.
(c) Name the mineral element which is required for the synthesis of the hormone produced by thyroid gland.
Answer: Iodine.

F. ASSERTION - REASON TYPE QUESTIONS:

(Choose the answer based on the codes given below.)
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

(i) Assertion (A) : Cellulose is a kind of polysaccharide which provides roughage for proper functioning of the gut.
Reason (R) : Cellulose cannot be converted into simpler carbohydrates like glucose, etc. So, this polysaccharide remains as such in the gut and helps in the movement of the undigested food through the intestine.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Assertion (A) : The deficiency of iodine leads to goitre.
Reason (R) : Iodine is required for the proper growth and development of the thyroid gland.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

(iii) Assertion (A) : Haemoglobin is a respiratory pigment consisting of an iron containing part - haem and a protein - globin.
Reason (R) : The deficiency of iron causes anaemia because it is required for the formation of haemoglobin.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iv) Assertion (A) : Diet is the combination of food items which we eat in our meals every day.
Reason (R) : Diet must contain all the food components in the required amount for a particular person.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(v) Assertion (A) : Both galactose and lactose are sugars present in milk and soluble in water.
Reason (R) : Lactose is insoluble in water as it is a type of polysaccharide; while galactose being a disaccharide, is soluble.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false.

(vi) Assertion (A) : Both kwashiorkor and marasmus are caused due to the deficiency of fat. Usually, old aged people are affected with these diseases.
Reason (R) : Kwashiorkor and marasmus are protein deficiency diseases usually affecting children.
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true.

G. CASE STUDY BASED QUESTION

1. Before her annual sports day, Anaya often felt tired during practice and struggled to focus in class. When her mother reviewed her eating habits, she noticed that Anaya was skipping breakfast and relying mostly on packaged snacks. Anaya often visited her school nurse with many problems. One day, the school nurse made her aware about the importance of all the food components that should be present in every meal of hers.

(a) What are the six food components that should be taken by everyone in specific amounts to be fit and healthy ?
Answer: Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, mineral salts, vitamins, and water.

(b) Which of the above food components is considered as staple food ?
Answer: Carbohydrates.

(c) Name one micronutrient which is a component of the thyroxine hormone secreted by the thyroid gland.
Answer: Iodine.

(d) What are the two fluids through which water is regularly lost from the body ?
Answer: Sweat and urine.

(e) Write the technical term for a vitamin which can be synthesized in humans by ultraviolet rays.
Answer: Calciferol (Vitamin D).