Understanding Your Nutritional Intake

Question 1

Nutrient Intake

Answer 1

Compare personal data to national data

Plan meals based on nutrient needs

Question 2

Tools to Assess Nutritional Status

Answer 2

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Question 3

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Answer 3

Weight (kg) / height (m²)
General fat indication
Easy to use, but limited accuracy

Question 4

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)

Answer 4

Guidelines for nutrients by age and sex

Special guidelines for pregnant/breastfeeding women

Average intake assessed over time

Question 5

Key Components of DRIs

Answer 5

EAR= Estimated average requirement
Median intake for half the population

RDA= Recommended Dietary Allowance
Meets needs of 98% of people

AI= adequate intake
Used when RDA isn’t available

UL:= Tolerable Upper Intake Level
Maximum intake with no risk of harm

Question 6

Using DRIs

Answer 6

Typically used by health professionals
Look at intake over a period of time
You do not eat exactly the same amount of nutrients everyday but your overall average daily intake is a better measure

Question 7

Key Components of BMI

Answer 7

A very problematic way of measurement…does NOT actually measure individual health
General indication of the amount of fat on a person’s body

BEWARE:
BMI Does not differentiate fat from muscle; basic indicator only
It is used because it is easy for an average person to use