ACF Nutrition Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary function of dietary fiber in the large intestine?
- Providing energy through direct absorption
- Serving as substrate for beneficial gut bacteria (Correct answer)
- Inhibiting absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- Stimulating gastric acid secretion
Correct answer: Serving as substrate for beneficial gut bacteria
Soluble and insoluble fibers are fermented by colonic microbiota, producing short-chain fatty acids that nourish colonocytes and support gut health.
Question 2: Which mineral is essential for oxygen transport in red blood cells?
- Zinc
- Calcium
- Iron (Correct answer)
- Magnesium
Correct answer: Iron
Iron is a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle, both of which bind and transport oxygen.
Question 3: The thermic effect of food (TEF) is highest for which macronutrient?
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Alcohol
- Protein (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Protein
Protein has the highest thermic effect (20–30%), meaning the body expends more energy digesting and metabolizing it compared to fat (0–3%) or carbohydrates (5–10%).
Question 4: Which compound gives chile peppers their pungency and has been linked to thermogenic effects?
- Lycopene
- Capsaicin (Correct answer)
- Quercetin
- Allicin
Correct answer: Capsaicin
Capsaicin activates TRPV1 receptors and can temporarily increase metabolic rate and fat oxidation.
Question 5: What does the glycemic index (GI) measure?
- The insulin response to a food compared to pure glucose
- How quickly blood glucose rises after consuming a food relative to glucose (Correct answer)
- Total carbohydrate content per serving
- The fiber-to-sugar ratio in a food
Correct answer: How quickly blood glucose rises after consuming a food relative to glucose
GI ranks foods on a 0–100 scale based on how rapidly they raise blood glucose compared to pure glucose, which is set at 100.
Question 6: Which lipid transport particle carries dietary fat from the intestine to peripheral tissues via the lymphatic system?
- LDL
- HDL
- Chylomicron (Correct answer)
- VLDL
Correct answer: Chylomicron
Chylomicrons are large lipoprotein particles assembled in intestinal cells to transport dietary triglycerides through the lymph before entering the bloodstream.
Question 7: An ACF chef needs to reduce sodium in a recipe without sacrificing perceived saltiness. Which technique is most effective?
- Adding sugar to balance flavor
- Finishing with a small amount of salt just before serving (Correct answer)
- Replacing all salt with potassium chloride
- Increasing cooking time to concentrate flavors
Correct answer: Finishing with a small amount of salt just before serving
Adding a small amount of salt at the end of cooking maximizes perceived saltiness, allowing overall sodium reduction while maintaining flavor impact.
ACF Nutrition Principles 3
What is the primary function of dietary fiber in the large intestine?