CR2.2 Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health

Question 1

Explain five of the ongoing issues in respect to nutrition for Indigenous populations.

Answer 1

1. High energy density foods cheaper than fruit and vegetables
2. Overcrowding in houses and poor food prepration and storage facilities
3. 24% - 80% of the income of Aboriginal families in remote areas is needed to have a healthy diet
4. Higher costs of foods in rural / remote area
5. Weather or road conditions affect food supply

Question 2

Define metabolic syndrome and list risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Answer 2

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that raise the risk for heart disease as well as diabetes and stroke. At least three of these risk factors is criteria for metabolic syndrome:

• central (abdominal) obesity (i.e. excess fat in and around the stomach)
• raised blood pressure (hypertension)
• high blood triglycerides
• low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)
• impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or diabetes

Question 3

Explain the dyslipidaemia leading to an increased risk of atherosclerosis,

Answer 3

Serum total cholestrol = LDL + HDL

• High serum LDL cholestrol –> atherogenic
  
  • Combined genetic (e.g. reduced clearance due to defective or reduced LDL receptor) and dietary (i.e high saturated fat diet) causes.
• High serum triglycerides –> atherogenic
• Low HDL cholestrol –> atherogeneic
  
  • Diet and lifestyle effects (e.g. modest alcohol consumption increases serum HDL, low fat diet decreases serum HDL, exercise increases serum HDL)

Question 4

List animal and plat sources of saturated fats.

Answer 4

Animal-based sources of saturated fats:

• Dairy foods (e.g. butter, cream, regular-fat milk, cheese)
• Meat (e.g. fatty cuts beef, pork and lamb, processed meats)

Plant-derived saturated fats:

• Palm oil, cooking margarine, coconut oil, coconut milk and cream
• Deep fried take away foods, cakes, biscuits, pastries and pies

Question 5

Explain the protective effect of mono and polyunsaturated fats and list common sources.

Answer 5

Most foods contain a combination of different fats.

Foods high in mono unsaturated fats are:

• olive oil
• canola oil
• peanut oil
• sesame oil
• avocados
• peanut butter

Foods high in polyunsaturated fats (Omega-3–>anti-inflammatory and Omega-6–>pro-inflammatory) are:

• soybean oil (O-6)
• corn oil (O-6)
• sunflower oil (O-6)
• fatty fish (e.g. salmon) (O-3)
• canola oil (O-3)
• sunflower seeds

N.B. PUFA are essential because the human body cannot make them so they need to be sourced through diet.

Question 6

Explain the amount of salt needed daily for an adult and the risk of exceeding this amount.

Answer 6

An adult body only needs around 1-2 g of salt (460-920mg sodium) per day. Salt intake above 2,000mg per day is associated with hypertension –> risk factors for kidney disease and CVD.

N.B. Simple conversion –> salt = sodium x 2.5 (i.e. 5g of salt contains about 2,000mg sodium)

Question 7

Explain the link between potassium and sodium in respect to risk of hypertension and CVD.

Answer 7

Increasing consumption of potassium can mitigate excessive amounts of sodium in the blood. Some studies have found:

• Low potassium associated increase of BP
• Low potassium and increased prevalence of stroke
• Potassium depletion with diuretics and increased BP
• Urinary sodium:potassium ratio is a more accurate predictor of BP than sodium alone