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

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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 objectives b. Nutrition objectives c. Food Safety objectives

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

Cont’d C. Cultural Influences Traditions Beliefs & Values Cultural Norms Religion

IV. Separating Nutrition Fact from Fiction Reading About Nutrition Common Nutrition Frauds Clues to Quackery Likely Victims How to Find a Qualified Nutritionist

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