The Basics of Understanding
Nutrition
Chapter 1
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Introduction
• Nutrition - the study of foods, their
components, & their interactions
• The evolution of nutrition science
• Manufacturers & media
Health fraud
Quackery
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
The Nutrients in Foods
• The energy-yielding nutrients
Carbohydrate (4 cal/g)
Protein (4 cal/g)
Fat (9 cal/g)
Alcohol (7 cal/g; not a nutrient)
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
The Nutrients in Foods
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Water
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Nutrition & Health Promotion
• Malnutrition
• Overnutrition
• Degenerative diseases
• Effects of diet & lifestyle on length
& quality of life
• “Eating to beat the odds” - Table
1-4
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Eating Pattern for Longevity
• Healthy habits of the Okinawans
• Enough is enough
• Moderation & a healthful lifestyle
are key cultural values
• Psychological & spiritual health
matters
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
A National Agenda for
Improving Nutrition & Health
• Healthy People 2010
Objectives related to
• Disease
• Nutrition
• Food safety
Lackluster progress towards goals
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Understanding Our Food
Choices
• Hunger vs. appetite
• Availability
• Income, food prices, &
convenience
• Advertising & the media
• Social & cultural factors
• Personal values or beliefs
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Understanding Our Food
Choices
• Other factors that affect our food
choices
Innate preferences
Associations/aversions
Stress/emotions
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
You Can Afford to Eat
Nutritious Foods
• Tips for supermarketing
Buy local & in season
Shop from a list
Read food labels
Notice “sell by” & “best if used by”
dates
Shop the perimeter of the grocery
store
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Good & Fast--A Guide to
Eating on the Run
• Don’t supersize
• Think grilled, not fried
• Hold the mayo
• Avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants
• “Just say no”
• Balance fast-food meals with other
food choices during the day
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
Good & Fast--A Guide to
Eating on the Run
• Split your order--share with a
friend
• Bring your lunch
• Choose grab-and-go foods
• If all else fails, go for the obvious
low-calorie choices
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
How Do You Tell if It’s Nutrition
Fact or Nutrition Fiction?
• Reasons for contradictory findings
presented by the media
• Identifying sources of credible
nutrition information
Scientific studies
• Implications of the First
Amendment
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
How Do You Tell if It’s Nutrition
Fact or Nutrition Fiction?
• Determining whether Internet
information is reliable
Credibility
Accuracy
Reasonableness
Support
• False advertising is illegal
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
How Do You Tell if It’s Nutrition
Fact or Nutrition Fiction?
• “Red flags” for bogus products
 Anti-establishment
 Testimonials & anecdotes
 Computerized questionnaires
 Claim of “easy” weight loss
 “Secret formula”
 Only available via non-scientific magazine,
mail order, infomercial, etc.
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth
How Do You Tell if It’s Nutrition
Fact or Nutrition Fiction?
• Identifying legitimate nutritionists
• Checking a nutritionist’s credentials
 Registered dietitian (RD)
 Dietetic technician, registered (DTR)
 2010 Cengage-Wadsworth