Module 8: Food Chemistry, Nutrition, and Traditional Foods Food: Any substances that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue Types: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats & Oils Others: Vitamins, Minerals,
Module 8: Food Chemistry, Nutrition, and Traditional Foods
Food: Any substances that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue
Types: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats & Oils
Others: Vitamins, Minerals, Salts
Molecules of Food: Carbohydrates
6-C rings, 5-C ringsMono-saccharides (sugar, fructose)
Dissacharides (lactose, sucrose) Polysaccharides (starch, fibre, glycogen)
Carbohydrates are assimilated in the body as “mono-saccharides” following digestion
Glucose: Body’s Primary Fuels
Glycogens
(Branched polymers for short-term storage
in liver)
Glucose
(monomers) (soluble)
Lactic Acid + ATP + H2O
(anaerobic)
Pyruvic Acid CO2 + H20 + ATP
(aerobic)
• Glucose level in blood stream is highly regulated
• Aerobic respiration is releasing 90% of the energy stored in glucose
Glycogen
Anaerobic Metabolism
Aerobic Metabolism
Pyruvic Acid CO2 + H20 + 32ATP
Molecules of Food: Lipids and Fats
Fats: Large biological molecules, diverse compositions, insoluble in water (i.e. non-polar in nature)
Types:– Fatty acids (assimilable form)– Triglycerides (in blood)– Phospholipids (cell membranes)– Sterols (e.g. cholesterol)
Roles:– Source of energy (during sustained activity)– Structure of cell membrane
Free Fatty Acids (one chain)
• Saturated• Unsaturated (e.g. Omega-3, Omega-6)
Fatty Acids
• Long-chain fatty acids (12+ carbons) are abundant in meats and fish
• Short-chain fatty acids (12 carbons or less) are abundant in dairy products
• Cold-water fish are rich in essential omega fatty acids
• Unsaturated fatty acids, when cooked, change conformation to a “trans” shape (which tend to accumulate in blood vessels)
• Unsaturated fats are more prone to react with oxygen, causing rancidity (common in stored fish)
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
• Phospholipids are “modified” triglycerides where one fatty acid chain is replaced by a phosphate group
• Soluble in water• Important in cell membrane
Phospholipids
Sterols
• Multiple rings of carbon• Best-known sterols: cholesterol (the
building block for all other sterols)• Bile acids, some hormones, Vitamin C
Sterols
Cholesterol Sitosterol (the most abundant and common plant
sterol)
Absorption of Lipids
• Fat breakdown occurs in intestines• Smaller units: fatty acids, glycerol, and
sterols• Cholesterol and triglycerides are non-polar,
hence need “lipoproteins” to carry them in the bloodstream
Molecules of Food: Proteins
• Chains of Amino Acids• Diverse roles: enzymes, hormones,
regulators, molecular transports, antibodies, building tissue like muscles, and energy
• Made up of C, H, O, N, other ions
Amino Acids
• Four components around a central carbon (C)
• One hydrogen• An amino group (-
NH2)
• An acid (-COOH)• A functional group
Glycine
Essential Amino Acid: Leucine
Non-essential Amino Acid: Asparagine
Amino Acids
Molecules of Food: Vitamins
• Essential organic compounds to ensure proper metabolism
• Little caloric value• Water-soluble vitamins (enter directly into
bloodstream)• Fat-soluble vitamins (must be transported
by carrier proteins)• Several diseases are associated with vitamin
deficiencies
Caloric Contents of Food Molecules
Food Type Caloric Content (Cal/g)
% Recommended Caloric Intake
Fats and Oils 9 30
Carbohydrates 4 58
Proteins 4 10
Vitamins Trace Not Applicable
Subsistence Food Provisioning
• Nutrition for indigenous people in the Arctic is changing rapidly; from 100% to <50% “country food”.
• Presence of larger communities, presence of “Co-op” or “Bay” stores, and an increasing cash economy contribute to changes in feeding habits.
• Lastly, hunting activities are costly when modern technologies are used the “pay off” of traditional food provisioning is decreasing.
Concepts
Subsistence activities: The hunting, fishing, and gathering of local foods for consumption, sharing, and trade or barter.
e.g. caribou, whales, seals, marine birds, waterfowls, eggs, fruits (largely a carnivore diet)
Note: Commercial trapping or fishing is generally not viewed as traditional food gathering; although they could be traditional activities.
Example of Subsistence Food Economy
Inupiat households in Barrow, Alaska
Production vs. Sharing
• Food provisioning is crucial, but sharing is an intricate part of subsistence
• Sharing touches upon all members of a community, and represents a way of establishing and maintaining ties to family and within the community at large (e.g. support of elders, non-hunting members)
• Sharing is viewed as part of the “culture” of indigenous society
Body Part Meat Skin Head Eggs
Excellent Source
(25% or more of
daily need)
Protein, Iron Protein, Iron, Calcium, Fat
Protein, B Vitamins
Protein, Vitamin C, Fat, Iron, B
Vitamins
Good Source (15-
24% of daily need)
B Vitamins Calcium
Fair Source (5-14% of daily need)
Vitamin C Vitamin A, Fat, Iron
Calcium
Quality Food: Arctic Char
Quality Food: Beluga
Body Part Meat Blubber Skin
Excellent Source (25% or
more of daily need)
Iron, Protein Fat Protein
Good Source (15-24% of daily need)
Protein, Omega-3 fatty acid
Fair Source (5-14% of daily
need)
Fat Iron Fat, Vitamin A
Quality Food: CaribouBody Part Meat Blood Liver Bone
MarrowStomach Contents
Fat
Excellent Source (25%
or more of daily need)
Protein Iron Protein, Iron,
Vitamin A
Fat
Good Source (15-24% of daily need)
Iron, B Vitamins
Protein Iron, Fat Iron, Vitamin A
Iron
Fair Source (5-14% of daily need)
Fat, Calcium
B Vitamins
Fat, Calcium
Protein, Fat, Vitamin A
Protein, Fat, B
Vitamins, Calcium
Protein
Quality Food: Muskox
Body Part Meat
Excellent Source (25% or
more of daily need)
Protein, Iron
Good Source (15-24% of daily need)
B Vitamins
Fair Source (5-14% of daily
need)
Vitamin C
Quality Food: Polar BearBody Part Meat Blubber
Excellent Source (25% or more of
daily need)
Iron, Protein Vitamin A, Fat
Good Source (15-24% of daily need)
Omega-3 fatty acid
Fair Source (5-14% of daily need)
Fat Iron, Protein
Quality Food: Ring SealBody Part
Intestine Liver Blubber Meat Brain Eyes
Excellent Source
(25% or more of
daily need)
Protein Iron, Protein,
Vitamin A
Fat, Vitamin A, Omega-3 fatty acid
Iron, Protein, B Vitamins
Iron, Protein
Vitamin A, Protein,
Iron
Good Source
(15-24% of daily need)
Iron Vitamin C Iron, Vitamin C
Fat
Fair Source (5-
14% of daily need)
Fat Fat Protein Fat
What is special about a subsistence diet in the North?