Nutrition Study Guide
Let’s start.
• Nutrition is a study of the interactions occurring between you & food.
• Nutrients – about 45 substances that provide energy, structure or regulation of body processes.
• Essential nutrients- need them, but can’t make them or fast enough.
• Macronutrients- need in large amounts (carbohydrates, fats/lipids, proteins – provide energy/calories)
• Micronutrients – need in very small amounts (vitamins, minerals- no energy/calories)
• Phytochemicals- another category in plant food- not essential but have health promoting properties.
Metrics used in nutrition
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs
1 tsp hold about 4 g of sugar or salt and 5 ml liquid
1T = 3 tsp
1 L is a little more than 1 qt (4 cups)
Energy content(in kcal) : carb=4 /g; prot = 4; fat=9; alcohol=7
We need nutrients, but we eat food. Foods are not good or bad in themselves. Combined they make up a healthy (or not), diet. No one food by itself contains all the nutrients in the appropriate amounts needed for best growth and health. THERE IS NO ONE PERFECT FOOD. Everyone needs same nutrients. Do they need the same amount??
How healthy is the American diet??
How do we make food choices?? We eat the foods we like, can afford, food that is available, foods that are culturally acceptable and then what we think we should eat. Americans are influenced by what they see on TV and read in popular press. Availability of food is a big factor- can you get to the supermarket, $$$, storage place, place to cook, know how to cook, lift packages when get home, do you have allergies, health problems, HBP, diabetes? Scientific method: hypothesis, theory, experimental controls, control groups, placebo, double blind study, peer review.
Science is NOT based on anecdotal stories told to the popular press by someone who wants to sell you a book or a product.
"Good nutrition research studies should have at least 50 participants and control groups (and preferably thousands in the study).
• Nutrition is a study of the interactions occurring between you & food.
• Nutrients – about 45 substances that provide energy, structure or regulation of body processes.
• Essential nutrients- need them, but can’t make them or fast enough.
• Macronutrients- need in large amounts (carbohydrates, fats/lipids, proteins – provide energy/calories)
• Micronutrients – need in very small amounts (vitamins, minerals- no energy/calories)
• Phytochemicals- another category in plant food- not essential but have health promoting properties.
Metrics used in nutrition
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs
1 tsp hold about 4 g of sugar or salt and 5 ml liquid
1T = 3 tsp
1 L is a little more than 1 qt (4 cups)
Energy content(in kcal) : carb=4 /g; prot = 4; fat=9; alcohol=7
We need nutrients, but we eat food. Foods are not good or bad in themselves. Combined they make up a healthy (or not), diet. No one food by itself contains all the nutrients in the appropriate amounts needed for best growth and health. THERE IS NO ONE PERFECT FOOD. Everyone needs same nutrients. Do they need the same amount??
How healthy is the American diet??
How do we make food choices?? We eat the foods we like, can afford, food that is available, foods that are culturally acceptable and then what we think we should eat. Americans are influenced by what they see on TV and read in popular press. Availability of food is a big factor- can you get to the supermarket, $$$, storage place, place to cook, know how to cook, lift packages when get home, do you have allergies, health problems, HBP, diabetes? Scientific method: hypothesis, theory, experimental controls, control groups, placebo, double blind study, peer review.
Science is NOT based on anecdotal stories told to the popular press by someone who wants to sell you a book or a product.
"Good nutrition research studies should have at least 50 participants and control groups (and preferably thousands in the study).