final exam Flashcards
Nutrients
Diet = total food a person regularly eats
Our diet determines which nutrients we consume
Nutrients = food substances required for our maintenance, growth and survival
Some nutrients are essential
Essential nutrient = one that the body requires but that it cannot make itself
Ex. Essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, water
There are six categories of nutrients…
The Macronutrients
(needed in larger amounts)
Water
Carbohydrates
Sugars, starches, fibre
Organic (carbon-containing)
Lipids (fats)
Triglycerides, fatty acids, sterols, phospholipids
Organic
Proteins
Made of amino acids
Organic
The Micronutrients
needed in smaller amounts
Vitamins
-Fat soluble and water soluble
-Organic
Minerals
- Chemical elements
- inorganic
Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals = plant chemicals Hundreds of them Found in a wide variety of plants Responsible for their bright colours May have positive health effects
ex. Flavonoids – give plants bright blue, red or dark pigmentation
Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, antioxidant effects
Carotenoids – give plants yellow, orange, red pigmentation
Antioxidant effects
Toxins
Naturally occurring substances found in plants and animals
Can have harmful effects on body beyond a threshold of intake
Their levels are limited in foods
To reduce exposure throw out old/mouldy/foul-smelling food
Fortification of food
Fortified aka enriched foods - involves the addition of nutrients to foods by the food manufacturer
Can be
mandatory ex. iodine to table salt
voluntary ex. Added vitamins to breakfast cereals
Whole foods vs. Processed foods
Most foods have some degree of processing
Whole foods = least amount of processing, associated with reduced disease risk
Ultra-processed foods = higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mortality
Can use NOVA classification system to differentiate foods for degree of processing
4 NOVA food groups
NOVA Group 1: Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods
NOVA Group 2: Processed Culinary Ingredients
NOVA Group 3: Processed Foods
NOVA Group 4: Ultra-processed foods
Food Additives
Substances added to food to affect taste, appearance, safety, freshness etc.
Must first be approved through an evidence review
There amounts are controlled in foods
More common in processed, ultra-processed foods
Genetically Modified Food
GMFs = foods that have undergone alterations to their DNA
DNA can be altered through
Selective breeding ex. Seedless grapes, broccoflower
Use of a vector: ex. Golden rice, RoundUp Ready Soy
Do not change our DNA
“GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health” (World Health Organization, 2014)
Concerns/debates remain around biodiversity, allergic potential, ethics, labelling
why do we eat
Sustenance: the maintenance of our bodies and lives Nutrients contribute to Body structure Body function Energy provision Carbs, proteins = 4 kcal/g Lipids = 9 kcal/g Enjoyment Psychological Reasons
Gene-Diet Interactions
Genetics can influence nutrition in a number of ways
Ex. Genetic influences on appetite, nutrient absorption, nutrient use
Our diet can also influence the expression of genes (ie. Whether gene information leads to the formation of proteins)
=epigenetics
NOTE: diet does not change our DNA/genes!
Choosing a Healthy Diet
Balance = consuming nutrients and energy in the proportions that most promote health
Variety = consuming a diversity of foods
We are less likely to be deficient in nutrients if we consume a range of different whole foods.
Moderation = not too much, not too little
Nutrient density = amount of nutrients in a food/meal compared to a reference amount (ex. 100 kcal)
The Study of Nutrition
It is difficult to study nutrition for a number of reasons:
People change their diet constantly
We can’t force people to eat a certain way
It is difficult to know for certain what people eat
Other factors beyond nutrition also affect health
Difficult to establish causation
…..
The scientific method is used to study nutrition
Experiments and epidemiological research are the most common types of nutrition studies
Both use the scientific method
experimental Studies
randomized control trials
Usually involves two similar groups
Experimental group – undergoes the experimental treatment (ex. Dietary supplement)
Control group – does not undergo the experimental treatment; may use a placebo (ex. Sugar pill)
Only one factor is different between the two groups (ex. Experimental group received the supplement)
if there is a difference in the groups by the end (ex. Increase in perceived alertness in experimental group), it is most likely due to the factor being tested
Epidemiological Studies
Aka population-based studies: look at population trends without manipulating variables
Ex. Do Japanese people who eat a lot of fish have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than Americans who do not eat a lot of fish?
Ex. Nurses’ Health Study:
gathered information about nurses habits, medical history etc.
Checked in on them over time
Questions: what factors increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer etc.?
Limitations of Epidemiology
Association does not equal causation!
Results could be for other reasons too
People change their diet over time
Also, our methods of determining people’s diet all have limitations…
Impossible to for sure know what and how much people eat
Evaluating Nutrition Sources
VETO is it valuable is it eviendence based is it trustworthy is it opinion based
Nutritional Status
= condition of the body with respect to nutrition
i.e. Does a person have the appropriate level of nutrients to meet their needs?
No perfect measure, but we may use:
Diet analyses
Laboratory tests
Health or disease state of individual
The Four DRIs
Estimated Average Requirement(EAR):
the intake level which meets the needs of 50% of the population. (The RDA is determined by first determining the EAR)
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
consumption of this amount of the nutrient meets the needs of 97% of the population (set 2 standard deviations above the EAR)
Adequate Intake (AI): Nutrient intakes that are used as a goal when evidence is insufficient to set an RDA. AI values approximate the amount of nutrient that sustains health
Tolerable Upper Limit (TUL/UL):
The highest amount of that nutrient that will not promote symptoms of toxicity in the majority of healthy individuals. Intake should not exceed this value
Estimated Energy Requirement
EER = amount of energy required to maintain current energy state (ie. Where fat mass and weight do not change substantially)
Depends on sex, age, weight, height and activity level (PA)
Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range
AMDR = recommended percentage of energy that should come from each of the three energy-yielding nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids and protein
First Nations Healthy Food Guidelines
Make the community healthier by working together to change the nutrition environment.
Increase the use of traditional foods by protecting, restoring and relying on them more.
Decrease the use of sugar-sweetened beverages to help protect teeth and children’s health.
Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits.
Serve healthier foods in reasonable portions.
Increase number of community gardens to both provide nutritious food and bring the community together
Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy
= overhaul of Canadian food policy that began in 2013
Major changes
2019 Canadian food guide
Lowered sodium content in prepackaged foods
Reasonable sodium targets within food and hospitality industries
Expansion of vitamin D fortification program
Elimination of industrial trans fat from food supply
Changes to food labelling
Mandatory Features of Canadian Food Labels
Claims on Food Labels
Food packaging may contain certain claims to highlight a nutrient, health-associated factor or the nature of a food
There are different types of claims
Claims must meet standards set by Food and Drug Regulations