Food Choices and Human Health PDF

Food Choices and Human Health Introduction to Human Nutrition Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Can I Live on Just Supplements? Elemental diet: Composed of purified ingredients of known chemical composition Intended to...

Food Choices and Human Health Introduction to Human Nutrition Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Can I Live on Just Supplements? Elemental diet: Composed of purified ingredients of known chemical composition Intended to supply all essential nutrients to people who cannot eat foods (e.g., severely ill) These supplements are Not superior to real food Do not enable people to thrive over long periods Do not support optimal growth and health Can lead to medical complications Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Can I Live on Just Supplements? The intestine responds to food by releasing hormones that send messages to the brain The eater then experiences a feeling of satisfaction Eating offers physical and emotional comfort Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Can I Live on Just Supplements? Foods contain: Non-nutrients: Compounds other than the six nutrients present in food that have biological activity in the body Phytochemicals: Non-nutrient compounds that confer colour, taste, and other characteristics on foods Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry The Challenge of Choosing Foods All foods once looked but now many foods like this... often look like this... Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Glossary of Food Types Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry “Nutritional optic neuropathy, researchers worry, may become more prevalent because of mass consumption of junk food and the “rising popularity of veganism” that isn’t regularly supplemented with B12.” Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry How Exactly Can You Recognize a Nutritious Diet? The A, B, C, M, V principles It is important to recognize that ALL five principles must be applied to obtain a nutritious diet Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Components of a Nutritious Diet Adequacy Balance The dietary characteristic of The dietary characteristic of providing all of the essential providing foods of a number of nutrients, fibre, and energy in different types in proportion to sufficient amounts to maintain each other, such that foods rich health and body weight in some nutrients do not replace foods that are rich in other nutrients Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Components of a Nutritious Diet Calorie control Moderation Control of energy intake The dietary characteristic of Energy intakes should not providing constituents within set exceed energy needs. limits This diet characteristic ensures Nothing in excess that energy intakes from food Intakes of certain food balance energy expenditures in constituents such as fat, activity. cholesterol, sugar, and salt Eating such a diet helps control should be limited for health’s body fat content and weight. sake. Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Components of a Nutritious Diet Variety Variety increases the likelihood A monotonous diet may deliver that the diet will be adequate in large amounts of toxins or contaminants. Each such nutrients. undesirable item in a food is Some nonnutrient food diluted by all of the other foods components are probably eaten with it and is even further diluted if the food is not eaten important to health; some foods again for several days. may be better sources of these Variety adds interest—trying new than others. foods can be a source of pleasure. Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Why People Choose Foods Cultural and social meanings are attached to food Traditional cuisines and foodways Cuisines: Styles of cooking Foodways: Sum of a culture’s habits, customs, beliefs, and preferences concerning food Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Why People Choose Foods Ethnic foods: Associated with a particular cultural subgroups within a population Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Why People Choose Foods Factors that drive food choices: Convenience Advertising Availability Economy Emotional comfort Habit Personal preference and genetics Faculty of Science | Department of Biochemistry Why People Choose Foods More factors that drive food choices: Positive associations Region of the country Social pressure Values or beliefs Weight Nutritional value