Proteins are digested into amino acids. Nutritionists consider some of these amino acids to be essential amino acids. A deficiency of protein in the diet can lead to significant damage to health.

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1. Explain why some amino acids are described as essential in the diet.

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2. Describe the consequences for a young child of a very restricted intake of protein in the diet.

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   The table tyi shows the daily energy requirements and some of the daily nutrient requirements y^for a woman aged 25 and a lactating (breast feeding) woman of the same age and body mass.

   energy or nutrients daily requirements woman aged 25 lactating woman energy / kJ kg-1 145 185 protein / g kg-1 0.75 0.93 vitamin A / µg 600 950 vitamin D / µg 0 10 calcium / mg 700 1250

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3. With reference to tablethe lactating woman. explain why the energy and nutrient intakes are greater for (In this question one mark is awarded for the quality of written communication.)

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4. State three further components of a balanced diet, other than digestible carbohydrate, that are not given in the table

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