Diet and nutrition in adulthood and older age Flashcards
Choice of food
Age/ gender/ state of health/ mood
Cost/ availability/ personal preferences
Socio-economic factors/ geographical location/ culture/ religion
Socio-economic factors
Advertising, income, environment, transport, social status
Dietary habits
Long-standing preferences (adults) Opinions Effective advice for change -practical -acceptable -simple modification of existing habits -adopting a completely new diet - unreasonable/ impractical -knowledge, attitude, behaviour -environment, access
Adult nutrient needs: energy requirements
usually decline at end of teenage years
Due to decrease in lean body tissue (muscle)
Give rise to fall in basal metabolic mate (BMR)
Less active
Adult nutrient needs: nutrients
Fat, fibre and carbohydrate same
Vitamins and minerals mainly unchanged (except Fe until menopause, vit A, vit D, K)
Adult nutrient needs: overall
Less energy but unchanged vitamin and mineral requirements etc.
-more nutrient dense foods
GDAs women
2000 calories 230g carbs 50g of which sugars 70g Fat 20g saturated fat 45g protein 25g-30g fibre 6g salt
GDAs men
2500 calories 300g carbs 70g of which sugars 95g fat 30g saturated fat Protein 55g 25g-30g Fibre Salt 6g
High/ low per 100g (GDAs)
15g/ 5g carbs
20g/ 3g fat
5g/1.5g saturated fat
4g/0.3g salt
Fat recommendations
Total intake ~35% dietary energy
Reduced fat spreads and low-fat dairy
Saturated fat recommendations
Total intake <11% dietary energy
Replace saturated fats and oils with those low in saturated, rich in polyunsaturates
Complex carbohydrates recommondations
Increase by 50%
Increase consumption of fruit, vegetables, bread, potatoes
RDAs alcohol
Men and women <14 units per week; spread out
Unit: 1/2 pint, spirit measure; glass wine ~2 units
Abdo weight, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, liver disease, mental health; smoking
None in pregnancy (CMO, 2016)
RDAs Salt
6g (2.4g sodium)
75% in ‘bought’ food (processed)
Essential cholesterol
Structure and function of cell membranes
Precursor to steroid and adrenocortical hormones; bile acids and neural tissue
Source of cholesterol
1/3-1/2 made in liver, rest from diet (smoking, weight, activity)
HDL, LDL
If total increases due to HDL, little risk of CHD; LDL levels NB
Oxidise, form atheromas, narrowing
Dietary saturated fat raises LDL, polyunsats lower LDL and HDL
LDL cholesterol 2.3-6.1 mmol/l (suggested range <4mmol/l)
HDL cholesterol 0.8-1.7mmol/l, >1.15mmol/l
Total cholesterol
3.5-7.8 mmol/l
Suggested range <5.2mmol/l
Practical hints for diet
Eat more starch/ carbs - larger portions, thicker bread slices, incl. with pasta etc.
More fruit - have as between-meal snack, include in breakfast, base for desserts
More veg - put in sandwiches, add to stews, soups, serve >1 with meal
Less fat - bet aware of hidden fats, cut fat off meat, skin off poultry, avoid frying (grill, microwave), choose lower-fat milks, cheeses and spreads
Less sugar - don’t add, select sugar-free, fruit instead of pudding, tinned fruit in juice not syrup
Less salt - don’t add, flavour with herbs and lemon juice, buy tinned veg in water not brine ‘no added salt’
A healthy diet on a budget: guidelines
Plan >1 day ahead, shopping list; buy in quantities you will
use; supermarket brands
Try small amounts of new foods
Buy fruit and veg regularly (markets) and store carefully
Include generous helpings of starchy foods per meal (cheap, filling, healthy)
Buy leanest meat you can afford (mix with veg/pulses to
casseroles to go further); tinned/frozen fish and meat cheaper
Careful cooking re: fuel use e.g. water in kettle, toaster cf grill,
multiple dishes in oven, lids on saucepans, share (+shopping)
Beware processed foods (contents and cost)
Conception, pregnancy, breastfeeding
Maternal nutrient intake and birth weight correlation
Folic acid, vit A, oily fish
Iron
Males: zinc, alcohol, smoking
Menopause
Pre- and post-weight gain - risk of CVD, diabetes, cancer; often seen in African-Caribbean and Asian women
Osteoporosis (bone density fracture, Ca, activity, body shape, vit D)
<1.5mg day of vit A (bone fracture, liver/ products, supplements, including fish liver oil)
< vit D - Asian women susceptible, elderly, skin cancer
Soy protein (phytoestrogens) role: < symptoms (hot flushes) and heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer; less common in Japanese women
Adult gender differences: men
Conception, osteoporosis
50% over 40years will develop HD sometime during rest of life (50% of CV deaths) kills in 1 in 5 men
BMI calculation
W (kg) / hxh(m) Healthy weight for your height <18.5 underweight 18.5-24.9 = healthy 25-27.9 = overweight 28+ seriously overweight (obese) 40+ morbidly obese -overestimate with muscular build, underestimate in older and where muscle mass lost
Alternatives to BMI
Waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height
Obesity
Toxins such as DDT and pesticides accumulate in fat tissue - present for long time
Rapid weight loss –> release (500kCal/day)