chemical composition of foods
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Our bodies break down food through the digestive process. Let's investigate the chemical composition of the foods we eat. The USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory has posted a resource through which we can investigate the chemical composition of foods.
Analyze the nutritional components of the food you select and in your own words, answer the following questions using the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory website. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
What was the food and portion size you chose?
Describe its composition in terms of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
How many calories are in your food item? (Found in the Database as Energy - kcal)
List some of the most common vitamins and minerals in this food item.
Are there other important nutritional components of this food item? If so, list these. If not, say so.
How much of your food item is water? Provide one reason why water is important for life.
State the highest category of biological molecule in your food - Carbohydrates, Lipids, or Proteins. Describe the structure of this type of molecule, and its primary function(s).
After identifying the nutritional components discuss WHY you would or would not recommend this food item as part of a healthy diet. Use references and guidelines such as the Food Pyramid and Recommended Daily Allowances to support your recommendations. Here is a link to the USDA interactive Food Pyramid resource, http://www.mypyramid.gov/ to help you analyze nutritional needs.
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Solution Summary
This solution shows the nutritional breakdown of a common meal and relates it to the USDA recommended nutritional intake per day.
Solution Preview
The food I chose was a whole Papa John's 14" Cheese Pizza with Original Crust . The whole pizza consists of 307.1 g carbohydrate, derived from the bread base of the pizza, 86.77g lipids, mostly derived from the cheese topping and 108.15g protein. The pizza is rich in the mineral calcium (1557mg) and also contains the important minerals phophorus (1904mg) and potassium (1294mg). Vitamins C and D are absent, but there is 14258mcg of Lycopene, 2767IU of vitamin A and 1022mcg folate A high level of sodium is present in the pizza (5422mg), ...
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