CCBMA Nutrition and Diet Therapy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medical assistant is educating a patient with hypertension about diet. Which diet plan is most evidence-based for lowering blood pressure?
- Paleo diet
- DASH diet (Correct answer)
- Ketogenic diet
- Atkins diet
Correct answer: DASH diet
The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is clinically proven to lower blood pressure through reduced sodium and increased potassium, calcium, and magnesium intake.
Question 2: Which fat is considered most harmful to cardiovascular health because it raises LDL and lowers HDL cholesterol?
- Monounsaturated fat
- Polyunsaturated fat
- Trans fat (Correct answer)
- Omega-3 fatty acid
Correct answer: Trans fat
Trans fats raise LDL ('bad') cholesterol and lower HDL ('good') cholesterol, significantly increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Question 3: A patient recovering from surgery requires increased intake of which nutrient to support wound healing and tissue repair?
- Carbohydrates
- Protein (Correct answer)
- Sodium
- Simple sugars
Correct answer: Protein
Protein provides the amino acids necessary for collagen synthesis, immune function, and tissue repair after surgery.
Question 4: Which water-soluble vitamin is synthesized by intestinal bacteria and is necessary for blood clotting?
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K (Correct answer)
- Vitamin E
Correct answer: Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin (not water-soluble) essential for activating clotting factors; it is partially synthesized by gut bacteria.
Question 5: A patient with chronic kidney disease should be educated to limit intake of which mineral to prevent dangerous accumulation?
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium (Correct answer)
- Magnesium
Correct answer: Potassium
Damaged kidneys cannot adequately excrete potassium, leading to hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Question 6: A patient with celiac disease must avoid which protein found in certain grains?
- Casein
- Gluten (Correct answer)
- Albumin
- Lectin
Correct answer: Gluten
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, causing intestinal damage.
Question 7: How many calories per gram does fat provide?
- 4
- 7
- 9 (Correct answer)
- 11
Correct answer: 9
Dietary fat provides 9 calories per gram, which is more than double the caloric density of carbohydrates or protein (each 4 cal/g).
CCBMA Nutrition and Diet Therapy 2
A medical assistant is educating a patient with hypertension about diet.
Which diet plan is most evidence-based for lowering blood pressure?