Functional Nutrition for Hormone Health Flashcards
A diet is defined as what?
- The kinds of food that a person or community habitually eats
- A special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons
What is nutrition?
- The science of the interactions between a living organisim and its food
- The study of the biological processes used by the body to break down, absorb and utilize the nutrients contained in food
What is functional nutrition?
Encompasses the entire body, and how it processes and utilizes the foods that we eat.
What should you evaluate in a food journal?
- what foods their eating (and the quality)
- food proportions
- fluid intake
- what times they are eating throughout the day
- how long it takes for them to complete a meal
- their levels of hunger and satisfaction
- any supplements or pharmaceuticals they take
How many shifts in a client’s nutrition & diet should you recommend at a time?
1-3
What are the 3 basic ‘Macronutrients’ to focus on?
- Fats
- Proteins
- Carbohydates
What is the general ratio for macronutrients to be balanced in a meal?
- 30% fat
- 30% protein
- 40% carbohydates
What are the 3 basic categories of fats?
- Saturated
- Unsaturated
- Polyunsaturated
What are saturated fats?
Solid at room temp—butter, lard, tallow, etc. They can withstand heat and are considered stable.
What are monounsaturated fats?
Liquid at room temp, partially solid when cold—olive oil, avocado oil. They can withstand minimal heat but shouldn’t be heated over 350 degrees.
What are polyunsaturated fats?
Always liquid—flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, fish oil and vegetable oil. Should never be heated, should laways be consumed cold.
Is cholesterol a vital nutrient?
Yes, it is a necessary backbone to steroid hormone production, playing a key role in hormone balance and fertility, as well as heart health & healthy weight maintenance.
Which two polyunsaturated fats are absolutely essential for health?
- Omega 3 fatt acid (Alpha-Linoleic Acid - ALA)
- Omega 6 fatty acid (linolenic acid - LA)
- Necessary to help maintain the body’s anti-inflammatory processes, as well as proper brain/mental function, joint health, heart health, and blood sugar regulation.
What is ALA and where does it primarily come from?
Omega 3 fatty acid - plant based sources such as nuts, seeds, and their counterpart oils (aka vegetable oils)
What is LA and where does it primarily come from?
Omega 6 Fatty Acid found in sources such as hemp, walnuts, chia, and flax.
What do prostaglandin’s do?
Forms of lipids that have hormone-like properties that regulate inflammation, cellular communication, support blood clotting, vascular health, digestive function, ovulation, menstruation, childbirth, and more.
What does ALA (Omega 3 Fatty Acid) contribute to?
The anti-inflammatory prostaglandin, PGE3
What does LA (Omega 6 fatty acid) contribute to?
The anti-inflammatory prostagladin PGE1 and the more inflammatory prostaglandin PGE2, although some research shows PGE2 may have both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Is it bad when prostaglandins can have an inflammatory property?
No, inflammation is a healing response by the body and when allowed to respond to stressors and traumas appropriately, does not cause issues with overall inflammation.
When does the inflammatory response become a problem?
When the inflammatory response is continually triggered (typically through stress, injury, systemic dysfunction, or the over-consumption of rancid omega 6 fatty acids).
What can happen when there is an imbalanced inflammatory response?
Chronic inflammation and symptoms thereof includihng a higher prevalance for dysmenorrhea and loose bowels during menstruation.
What needs to happen for ALA to contribute to prostaglandin formation?
It must first be converted to Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). EPA can also be converted into Docosaheaenoic acid (DHA)
What does DHA do for the body?
Mostly commonly associated with brain health.Works with DHA to support the entire body as a whole, while also focusing heavily on those areas.
What does EPA do for the body?
Most commonly asociated with heart health. Works with DHA to support the entire body as a whole, while also focusing heavily on those areas.
Are EPA & DHA classified within the Omega 3 family?
Yes, and they are also considered conditionally essential, meaning they can be synthesized by the body when the right cofactors are present.
For most people consuming a westernized diet, how is the conversion rate of ALA to EPA & DHA?
It’s unfortuantely minimal, averaging only about 4-6%.
What sources should you recommend people consume EPA and DHA?
Fatty fish like sardines, mackerel, anchovies, herring, tuna, cod, salmon, as well as raw grass-fed dairy and egg yolks, as well as walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, wheat germ, and algae but the plant-based sources are less concentrated and can be accompanised by other anti-nutries like lectins and phytic acid and can be hard on the digestive systems of those with gastrointestinal issues.
Where are omega 6’s typically found?
In industrial grade seed oils (vegetable oils) such as sunflower oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, corn oil, canola oil, etc. Unfortunately these are subjected to a heating process at the point of extraction, which means they are oxidized from day one, rendering them unhealthy, denatured fats that must be avoidded.
What are healthier sources of Omega 6 fatty acids?
Borage oil, evening primrose oil, black current seed oil
What are the most consumed fat in America?
Omega 6 fatty acids
Do Omega 3’s and Omegaa 6’s need to be in balance in the diet?
Yes, perferably at a ratio of 1:1.
Is there a reason to supplement with omega 6?
No, unless for specific reasons (for some GLA from evening primrose oil and black current seed oil can be supportive of inflammation balance and hormone health
Is supplementing Omega 3 fatty acids necessary?
Yes, it may be needed to balance the omega 6 and omega 3 ratios and for supporting many areas of health.
If you client is vegan, can they take vegan Omega 3’s?
Yes, but they would have to take about 10 times the amount of flax oil than fish oil to get a comparable amount of EPA from ALA conversion. They should also reduce pro-inflammatory vegetable oil consumption, reducing stress on the liver and supplementing with Curcumin.
Does curcumin support the conversion rate of EPA from ALA conversion?
Yes
What is a contraindication for fish oil and curcumin?
Not recommended for those on blood thinners or with blood clotting disorders such as Von Willebrand Disease.
What kind of fats are harmful?
Trans fats, or man-made fats like hydrogenated fats and industrial grade seed oils (soybean, corn, safflower, grapeseed, canola, etc.). Found in baked goods, nut butters, dairy alternative foods, condiments, and cereals and granolas.
What are proteins important for?
Production of hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, antibodies, tissue repair and hemogloin.
How much protein should most people intake?
.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass, may want to increase this 5 - 10 grams for people like growing children and pregnant/lactating women.
What happens when there is too much protein in a diet?
- Too much protein can get converted into sugar via an enzymatic process in the liver called gluconeogensis.
- Can also contribute to formation of uric acid, which can increase the risk for kidney stones and gout.
- Can stimulate a stress response in the body, just like low protein can.
How many amino acids are there?
Roughly 20 amino acids. 10 of which are considered essential and the others are conditionally essential, meaning the body can produce htem on its own in the presence of the essentail amino acids.
What are complete proteins?
Proteins that contain all 10 essential amino acids.
Where can complete proteins be found?
Naturally within animal-based products. When it comes to plant-based proteins, they are technically considered incomplete because they are usually missing 1-2 essential amino acids.
When strategically pairing plant-based proteins together, can you form complete proteins through combination?
Yes