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Health and Hygiene - Balanced Diet and Nutrients

Grade 6ICSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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Nutrients are chemical substances in food that provide energy, aid growth, and protect the body from diseases. The main classes are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, and Minerals.

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Carbohydrates are the primary energy source. Glucose, a simple sugar, has the chemical formula C6H12O6C_6H_{12}O_6.

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Fats provide more than double the energy of carbohydrates per unit mass and help in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

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Proteins are 'Body-building foods' made of amino acids, essential for growth and repair of damaged tissues.

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Vitamins and Minerals are 'Protective foods'. For example, Iron (FeFe) is needed for hemoglobin, and Calcium (CaCa) is required for strong bones and teeth.

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Roughage (Dietary Fibre) adds bulk to the food and prevents constipation, while Water (H2OH_2O) acts as a solvent for biochemical reactions and helps in temperature regulation.

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A Balanced Diet contains all the essential nutrients in the correct proportions required for the normal growth and maintenance of the body.

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Deficiency Diseases occur due to the lack of specific nutrients: e.g., Scurvy (Vitamin C), Rickets (Vitamin D), and Anaemia (Iron or FeFe).

📐Formulae

Total Energy (kcal)=(Mass of Carbs×4)+(Mass of Protein×4)+(Mass of Fat×9)\text{Total Energy (kcal)} = (\text{Mass of Carbs} \times 4) + (\text{Mass of Protein} \times 4) + (\text{Mass of Fat} \times 9)

C6H12O6 (Glucose)C_6H_{12}O_6 \text{ (Glucose)}

H2O (Water)H_2O \text{ (Water)}

BMI=Weight in kg(Height in m)2\text{BMI} = \frac{\text{Weight in kg}}{(\text{Height in m})^2}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

A snack contains 20 g20\text{ g} of carbohydrates and 5 g5\text{ g} of fat. Calculate the total energy provided by this snack in kilocalories (kcal).

Solution:

(20 g×4 kcal/g)+(5 g×9 kcal/g)=80+45=125 kcal(20\text{ g} \times 4\text{ kcal/g}) + (5\text{ g} \times 9\text{ kcal/g}) = 80 + 45 = 125\text{ kcal}

Explanation:

Carbohydrates provide approximately 4 kcal/g4\text{ kcal/g} and fats provide approximately 9 kcal/g9\text{ kcal/g}.

Problem 2:

Identify the mineral deficiency if a person has a swelling in the neck region (Goitre) and state the chemical symbol of that mineral.

Solution:

The deficiency is of Iodine, and its chemical symbol is II.

Explanation:

Iodine is essential for the thyroid gland to function correctly; its lack causes the gland to enlarge, leading to Goitre.

Problem 3:

A student eats a meal consisting only of polished rice and water. Which vitamin deficiency is the student most likely to develop?

Solution:

Vitamin B1B_1 (Thiamine) deficiency.

Explanation:

Polishing rice removes the outer husk which contains Vitamin B1B_1. Prolonged deficiency can lead to a disease called Beriberi.