FNN111 Nutrition Chapter 1 NOTES

Health

The Role of Nutrition in Our

What is Nutrition?
Nutrition: The science that studies food and how food nourishes our body
and influences our health
- Includes how we consume, digest, metabolize and store nutrients and the
effects it has in our bodies.
- Nutrition is the discipline that contains everything about food
- Nutrition is a new scientific discipline (100 years)
- Early research focused on forming a link between nutrient deficiencies and
illnesses (ex. Scurvy, lack of vitamin C, early 1700s)
- Higher living after WWII led to improvement of Canadian diet, and nutrition
research pursued new objective; supporting wellness and preventing/treating
chronic diseases
Chronic Diseases: Diseases that come on slowly and can persist for years,
often despite treatment Ex. Obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes
How does Nutrition contribute to Health?
- You are what you eat; substances into body are broken down and
reassembled into brain cells, bones, muscles.
- Foods provide energy that is needed to function properly
- Proper nutrition can improve health, prevent certain diseases,
achieve/maintain desirable, and maintain our energy and vitality
Nutrition is One of Several Factors Contributing to Health
Health: A multidimensional, lifelong process that includes physical,
emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual health.
- Two critical aspects of physical health: nutrition and physical activity, both
are closely related
- Overall state of nutrition is influenced by the amount of energy used in
activity, and our level of activity impact our use of nutrients
- Nutritious diet + regular physical activity increase wellbeing and reduce
depression/anxiety
Poor diet + inadequate/excessive activity lethargic, lead to serious
health problems
Healthful Diet Can Prevent Some Diseases and Reduce its Risks
- Early nutrition research focused on the missing nutrients behind diseases

(goitre, scurvy, rickets) and its prevention

- Nutrition scientists successfully identified the missing nutrients that cause
the diseases, and have almost completely wiped out the majority of nutrientdeficiency diseases in developed countries
- Primary link between poor nutrition and mortality is obesity (consequence
of eating more calories than are expended). Obesity is a major risk factor for
heart-disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes
- Prevalence of obesity increased in Canada and US in the past 20 years.
17.5% obese compared to 13.8% obese in 1980s
- 50% of Canadians 18 and older were overweight/obese, 12-17 years of age
20% obese
- Nutrition plays a mild or strong influence to directly causing a disease.
Undernutrition: A diet that lacks energy or specific essential nutrients
Essential nutrients: Nutrients that must come from food or nutrient
supplements because they are not manufactured by the body at all or in
amounts sufficient to meet the bodys needs
Overnutrition: A diet that has an imbalance of fats, carbohydrates, and
proteins or simply just too much energy
Malnutrition: Any condition associated with under- or overnutrition
RECAP: Nutrition is the study of food and how it affects our body/health. It is
an important component of wellness and physical activity. Goal is to prevent
nutrient-deficiency diseases (scurvy, pellagra) and lower risk for chronic
diseases (stroke, type 2 diabetes)
What Are Nutrients?
Nutrients: Chemicals found in foods that are critical to human growth and
function
- 6 groups of nutrients found in foods: carbohydrates, fats and oils, proteins,
vitamins, minerals, water. Minerals and water are not organic.
Organic: A substance or nutrient that contains the elements carbon and
hydrogen (fundamental units of matter)
- Organic and inorganic nutrients are equally important for sustaining life but
differ in their functions and basic chemistry
Macronutrients Provide Energy
- Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are the only nutrients that provide energy
- These nutrients break down and reassemble into a fuel that supports basic
functioning and physical activity.
Macronutrients: Nutrients that our body needs in relatively large amounts
to support normal function and health. Carbs, fats, proteins.

- Energy is expressed as units of kilojoules or kilocalories. Every gram of fat

has twice the amount of energy than carbs or protein.
- Carbohydrates are a Primary Fuel Source
Carbohydrates: Compound made up of carbon, hudrogen and oxygen that
is derived from plants and provide energy
- Fats provide Energy and other Essential Nutrients
Fats: An important energy source for our body at rest and during lowintensity exercise
- Fats pack together more tightly because less oxygen than carbs. Therefore
more energy per gram. Body stores fat in inactivity
- Proteins Support Tissue Growth, Repair and Maintenance
Proteins: The only macronutrient that contains nitrogen, basic building
block of a.a.
- Dietary proteins broken down a.a. reassemble own body proteins
(muscles and blood)
- Although protein can provide source of energy, main role is to build new
cells and tissues
Micronutrients assist in the Regulation of Body Functions
Micronutrients: Nutrients needed in relatively small amounts to support
health and bodily functions. Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins: Organic compounds that assist in regulating body processes, vital
to metabolism
Metabolism: Process by which large molecules are broken down via
chemical reactions into smaller molecules that can be used as
fuel/stored/assembled into new needed compounds.
Fat-soluble Vitamins: Vitamins only soluble in fat. Vitamins A, D, E, K.
Water-soluble Vitamins: Only soluble in water. Vitamin C and B-vitamins.
Minerals: Inorganic substances that are not broken down during
digestion/absorption and not destroyed by heat/light. Minerals assist in the
regulation of many body processes and are classified as major minerals or
trace minerals
Major Minerals: Minerals that must be present in the body 5g or more,
consume 100mg/day
Trace Minerals: Minerals that must be present less than 5g, consume <
100mg/day

RECAP: 6 essential nutrients are found in carbs, fats, proteins, minerals,

vitamins and water. Carbs, fats and proteins are macronutrients, providing
body with energy. Carbs and fats are main energy source; proteins support
tissue growth/repair. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients. Vitamins are
organic compounds which assist in breaking down macronutrients for energy.
Minerals are inorganic and play critical role in all aspects of human
health/function. Water is critical for survival and important for nerve
impulses, muscle contractions, excretions, etc.
Use Dietary Reference Intakes to Check Nutrient Intake
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): A set of nutritional reference values for
the United States and Canada that applies to healthy people.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): Average daily nutrient intake
level estimated to meet requirement of half the healthy individuals in
particular life stage/gender group
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Average daily nutrient intake
level that meets nutrient requirements of 97-98% of healthy individuals
Adequate Intake (AI): Recommended average daily nutrient intake level
based on observed or experimentally determined estimates of nutrient
intake by a group of healthy individuals
Steps for Scientific Method (to confirm nutrition claims)
Observations Hypothesis Experiment Collect/ Analyze Conclusion
Repeat Hypothesis Theory
Hypothesis: Educated guess as to why a phenomenon occurs.
Theory: A conclusion drawn from repeated experiments.
Various types of Research Studies
Epidemiological studies: Studies the patterns, causes, and effects
of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Observational,
cannot prove cause and effect.
Model systems; Animal studies not human studies because life span too
long to control variables/observe/experiment
Human Studies; Case control studies and clinical trials (ex. Placebocontrolled study)
RECAP: Epidemiological studies involve large populations, model studies
involve animals, and human studies include case control studies and clinical
trials. Each type of study can be used to gather a different kind of data.

When evaluating media reports consider who is reporting the information,

who conducted and paid for the
research,
whether the research was published in
a reputable journal,
whether it involves testimonials or
makes claims that sound
too good to be true.
Quackery: The misrepresentation of a product, program, or service for
financial gain.
RECAP: Registered dietitians are professionals who have completed an
accredited undergrad program and dietetic internship. Look for professional
designation RD, PDt, RDt to ensure qualifications to provide nutritional
advice.
Dietitians of Canada, Canadian Society for Nutrition, Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society for Nutrition are excellent sources
of reliable nutrition info. Health Canada is the lead federal agency
responsible for protecting peoples health.