Chapter One

The Art of Understanding Nutrition

What is Nutrition?

The study of foods, their nutrients & other chemical components, their actions & interactions in the body & their influence on health & disease.

I. Nutrition & Health Promotion

A. General factors that influence health

B. Nutrition factors that influence health

C. Degenerative Diseases

D. Diet Recommendations

A. General Factors that Influence Health

Regular, adequate sleep Regularity of meals Regular physical activity Abstinence from smoking Abstinence or moderation

in alcohol use Weight control

B. Nutrition Factors that Influence Health Malnutrition: any

condition caused by an excess, deficiency, or imbalance of calories or nutrients

– Undernutrition: severe underconsumption of calories or nutrients leading to disease or increased susceptibility to disease

Cont’d

– Overnutrition: calorie or nutrient overconsumption severe enough to cause disease or increased risk to disease

C. Degenerative Diseases

Degenerative Diseases are chronic diseased characterized by deterioration of body organs as a result of misuse & neglect.

Environmental, behavioral, social, genetic & dietary factors combine to determine one’s likelihood of suffering from a degenerative disease.

Cont’d

Disease risk can be altered by changing habits that can be controlled.– Poor eating habits– Smoking– Lack of exercise– Alcohol consumption– Other lifestyle habits

The Ten Leading Causes of Death in the United States

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D. Diet Recommendations

Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition & Health

NRC’s Diet & Health Healthy People 2010: National Health

Promotion & Disease Prevention Objectives

a. Disease-related objectivesb. Nutrition objectivesc. Food Safety objectiveswww.health.gov/healthypeople

II. Fast Guide to Eating on the Run

Hold the mayo Don’t be fooled with

“chicken” & “fish” Frozen yogurt Hold the butter Side salad

III. Understanding Our Food Choices

A. Appetite vs. Hunger Appetite: the

psychological desire to eat, which is not always accompanied by hunger

Hunger: the physiological need for food

Cont’d

B. Social Influences Availability Income & Food

Prices Advertising &

the Media Social Groups

Social Groups

Cont’d

C. Cultural Influences Traditions Beliefs & Values Cultural Norms Religion

IV. Separating Nutrition Fact from Fiction

Reading About NutritionCommon Nutrition FraudsClues to QuackeryLikely VictimsHow to Find a Qualified Nutritionist

http://www.eatright.org/

www.wemarket4u.net/fatfoe

FTC on bogus weight loss claims