Discussion topics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion topics - Assignment Example Hence, hydrolyzing protein means breaking it into its most basic units called the â€Å"amino acids† through aqueous medium with the help of enzymes which act to catalyze or speed up the hydrolytic process. Enzymes themselves are made of protein constituents which serve as biological catalysts that increase the rate of reaction (Ophardt, 2003). (2) Describe how energy is measured and the importance of energy balance for someone experiencing under-nutrition or over-nutrition. In your response, also address the implications of ideal versus healthy weight. In food, the energy (in calories) is measured by means of device called the ‘bomb calorimeter’ which subjects the food to combustion so that it burns with oxygen at a certain pressure. The heat generated is then analyzed in terms of calorific content originating from carbohydrates, protein, fats, and the rest of the food’s nutritional composition (Niedziocha, 2011). Individuals in the realm of over-nutrition expend energy much higher than the right or allowable amount whereas those experiencing under-nutrition consume energy in quantities below normal. Either case tends to cause metabolic activity that bring about diseases such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, burns, and cachexia that is why a balanced expenditure of energy must be maintained on a regular basis (Pi-Sunyer, 2000). Factors besides energy affect one’s determination of an ideal weight so at any rate, however, energy consumption ought to account for values within the range of a healthy weight. Pi-Sunyer, F.  Xavier M.D. (2000). â€Å"Over-Nutrition and Under-Nutrition as Modifiers of Metabolic Processes in Disease States 1’2’3.† The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Retrieved from http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/2/533s.full on October 6,