NUTRITION: Nutrition and Diet Flashcards
Why is it important for nurses to know about diet and nutrition?
What a person eats has a major impact on their current & future health.
Diet is at least partly responsible for many common diseases.
Diet may be an integral part of treatment of many diseases.
Diet has a major impact on the prevention or treatment of many diseases and medical conditions
give examples of diseases affected by diet?
- Obesity
- Eating disorders
- Protein-energy malnutrition
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Some cancers
- Coeliac disease
- Osteoporosis
- Anaemia
- Deficiency diseases
- Oral health
- Renal disorders
- GI disorders
- Allergies
- Wound healing
give 9 things that can effect food choices?
- Age
- Sex
- Genetic makeup
- Occupation
- Lifestyle
- Family
- Cultural background
- Sensory influences
- Cognitive influences: habits, comfort foods, cravings, advertising, social factors, health beliefs, cultural traditions, religion etc
why do we need nutrients?
- to provide energy to fuel physical & metabolic work
- for growth and development
- for maintaining & repairing cells and tissues
- for regulation of body processes
give examples of macronutrients and micronutrients?
Macronutrients (macro g) -Carbohydrates (CHO) -Proteins -Lipids (fats and oils) -(Alcohol) Micronutrients (microug,mg) -Vitamins -Minerals
why do we need carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential fuel for the brain, growing foetus, and energy for muscles
what are the 2 types of carbohydrates + examples?
Carbohydrates can be simple (monosaccharides {fructose and glucose} e.g. fruit and sugar) or complex (polysaccharides {starch and cellulose} e.g. grains, plants).
what does having a diet high in carbohydrates prevent?
- Prevention of obesity, Type 2 DM, CVD,
* Diets high in fibre reduce risk of diverticular disease, ?bowel cancer
why do we need protein
For growth, structure and function of cells
All cells and tissues contain protein - mainly collagen, haemoglobin, myosin and actin
Dietary protein broken down into amino acids: essential/non-essential. These are precursors for DNA, ATP, neurotransmitters, haem compounds, thyroid hormone, etc
when may we be in a protein deficient state?
- Increased demand e.g. infection, stress
* Increased loss e.g. haemorrhage, burns
What are the 3 types of fat? give examples
- Saturated (raises LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and reduces HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol), e.g. meat, cheese, butter, pastries, biscuits, foods fried in lard
- Monounsaturated (lowers LDL) e.g. olive and rapeseed oils
- Polyunsaturated (n6 or n3) (lowers LDL), e.g. rapeseed oil, nuts, soya, oily fish, some eggs, o Sunflower oil
why do we need vitamins
Required in tiny amounts
Involved in many cell and tissue functions
what is vitamin A needed for? what are food sources?
Eyesight, mucous membranes, bone health, skin health, immune function
cheese, milk, liver, egg yolk
carrots, dark green leafy veg, orange and yellow fruit and veg
Why do we need vitamin E? what are food sources?
antioxidant
Deficiency may develop in diseases involving fat malabsorption
Food sources: fats and oils
Why do we need vitamin K? what are food sources?
role in blood clotting
Prevention of Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn
Bone health
Food sources: Green leafy veg (broccoli and spinach, vegetable oils
Why do we need vitamin K? what are sources?
Promotes absorption of calcium
Bone health
Prevention of osteoporosis, Type 2 DM?, some cancers?, MS?
Made in our bodies as a result of skin exposure to UV light
food: liver, butter, margarine, fish liver oils, some fortified foods
why do we need B vitamins?
Role in energy metabolism
Deficiency of Folate or Vit B12 causes megaloblastic anaemia
why do we need vitamin C? what are food sources?
Antioxidant
Promotes iron absorption & wound healing
Synthesis of collagen
Deficiency state: scurvy
Food sources: fruit juice, fruit and veg, potatoes (crisps are a major source of vitamin C in teenagers)
What are dietary reference values (DRVs)?
Estimates of the amount of energy and nutrients needed by different groups of healthy people in the UK.
Depend on age, sex, health, pregnancy, lactation, genetics, activity.
Nutrient requirements for UK have been worked out.
what is estimated average requirement?
The estimated average requirement of a group for a particular nutrient.
50% of group will need more than EAR; 50% will need less.
This is the DRV used for energy.
what is reference nutrient intake?
Amount of a nutrient which will meet requirements of nearly all healthy people within a group (~98%).
More than most people actually need. RNIs are used for protein, 9 vitamins & 11 minerals.
If regularly consuming RNI, unlikely to be deficient in that nutrient.
what is lower reference nutrient intake?
Minimum nutrient requirement.
Only sufficient for 2.5% of population with low needs & not enough for most people
Regular intakes < LRNI likely to be inadequate
why is a balanced diet important?
No single food contains all the essential nutrients required for health.
A balanced diet must include a wide variety of foods so adequate intakes of all nutrients are achieved.
who may the Eat Well Guide (previously eat well plate I think!) not be appropriate for?
• Frail elderly with poor appetites
• Malnourished individuals
• Babies!
• Individuals with certain medical conditions with
increase requirements for particular nutrients
