WEEK 7 - PROTEIN/FOOD INSECURITY & HUNGER

Describe the general structure of proteins

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (unlike carbs/lipids)

Describe the 3 parts of an amino acid

Amine group (contains nitrogen), acid group, side chain (varies in size, shape, polarity/charge)

protein is the only macronutrient that contains _____

nitrogen

Amino acids =

building blocks of protein

State how many essential amino acids exist

9 essential amino acids (must be obtained from food)

why are adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids required for protein synthesis

6 amino acids are conditionally essential in certain situations (premature infancy, disease trauma) + 9 essential amino acids must be available in sufficient amounts for protein synthesis to continue

If one essential amino acid is missing/insufficient = protein synthesis , does what?

stops

what the 8 major roles of protein in the body

Supporting growth and maintenance + enzymes, hormones and other compounds + transport and recognition proteins + building antibodies (immunoproteins) + maintaining acid base balance + providing energy + used for energy storage (as fat or glycogen)

State the different paths an amino acid can take once it is in a cell

Build proteins + make another needed non-protein compound + make another type of amino acid + be burned for energy + be converted to glucose (can be burned for energy/stored as glycogen) + be converted to fat (can be burned for energy/stored in adipose tissue)

Describe protein digestion and absorption - mouth

Chemical digestion of protein does not begin here → chewing

Describe protein digestion and absorption - stomach

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) denatures proteins, and proteases begin breaking them down (mucus coating protects the stomach lining from the strong acid)

Describe protein digestion and absorption - SI

enzymes secreted by pancreas + intestinal cells to break down protein

Describe protein absorption

cells absorb in SI and amino acids are absorbed

Describe protein digestion and absorption - large intestine/colon

little to no digestion/absorption 

Describe the purpose of a nitrogen balance study

measure protein needs by comparing nitrogen consumed with nitrogen lost from the body

Method to conducting a nitrogen balance study

Measure nitrogen intake from food and compare it with nitrogen lost through urine, feces, sweat, and skin

formula for a nitrogen balance study

nitrogen intake − (nitrogen in urine + feces + sweat + skin)

nitrogen balance - positive

thee body is gaining body protein by 5 g/day or more (ex: growing children who develop more bone, blood, muscle, and skin cells)

nitrogen balance - negative

body is losing body protein by 5 g/day or more

nitrogen balance - equilibrium

body is maintaining its protein stores, with changes of less than 5 g/day

mutual supplementation

eating different plant protein sources together so that an amino acid present in a lower amount in one food is supplied in a higher amount by another food

why is mutual supplementation somewhat of a myth?

b/c all whole foods, including plant foods, contain all essential amino acids

Vegetarian/vegan meals with enough protein

Most plant foods provide substantial protein relative to their calories + mixed diet of whole foods with adequate total calories + foods like oatmeal, pasta, peanut butter, black beans, broccoli, spinach

Discuss reasons why consuming too much animal protein and amino acid supplements are not recommended

high intake is associated with kidney disease + kidneys may not be able to keep up with nitrogen excretion + diets high in animal protein tend to be high in saturated fat, low in fiber, lead to calcium loss, and are associated with chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's) + enough essential amino acids so taking supplements could be harmful to liver/kidneys as ur body has to do more filtering

State the health benefits of whole food, plant-based diets

May help reduce the risk of chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer, and diabetes)

State the nutrient considerations of whole food, plant-based diets

B12 (even vegetarians may need to supplement), Vitamin D, Riboflavin, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Omega-3’s

protein synthesis

process of making proteins from amino acids + all 9 essential amino acids must be present in sufficient amounts 

Polypeptide

chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds

Dipeptide

Two amino acids joined by peptide bonds

Tripeptide

Three amino acids joined by peptide bonds

HCI

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach → denatures protein so proteases can begin digestion

electrolyte balance

regulation of fluid/electrolyte balance in the body + protein helps maintain this balance

enzyme

substance that greatly speeds up chemical reactions

edema

swelling associated with fluid accumulation + in relation to fluid balance and protein energy malnutrition

protein quality - example

protein bar versus animal meat (“high quality”)

complementary proteins

proteins from different food sources that provide amino acids in complementary amounts

mutual supplementation

combining plant foods so that one food supplies more of an essential amino acid that another provides in a lower amount

high-quality protein

proteins that supply all 9 essential amino acids in adequate amounts  (ex: animal proteins such as milk/eggs)

whole foods, plant-based diet

diet based on whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes)

vegetarian - lacto-ovo

doesn't consume meat/poultry, fish, seafood but eats eggs + dairy products

vegetarian - ovo

eats eggs but avoids all dairy products

vegetarian - lacto

consume milk and dairy only derived from animals

vegan

diet based on plant foods (ex: fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes)

flexitarian

semi-vegetarian eating pattern that focuses primarily on plant-based foods while still eating meat/animal products in moderation

Globally, which groups are most susceptible to hunger?

women and children???? dr. alaimo email

What is the most common cause of death among malnourished children?

marasmus and kwashiorkor ???

Describe how food insecurity and hunger are measured in the U.S.

The U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module measures household food security through survey questions + food insecurity is measured by assessing limited or uncertain access to adequate, safe, and socially acceptable food

Very low food security =

at times during the year, eating patterns of one of more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced b/c household lacked money or other resources for food

What are the four dimensions of household food insecurity?

Poor food quality + food shortage (food may be insufficient, or unequally distributed among household members) + lack of stability (worry/uncertainty ab food supply + lack of control over the food situation

How big is the problem of food insecurity and hunger in the US?

Large problem but not sure of exact percentage of how big the problem of food insecurity is **** wait for dr alaimo****

Who is affected by the food insecurity/hunger problem in the US?

Households with children, people with lower socioeconomic status, people who work jobs and don't make a lot of money, college students + most food-insecure families with children are working families

Despite the fact that there are 40,000 food banks in the United States, there is still widespread hunger and food insecurity. Why is this?

Minimum wage + transportation + child care + access to medicine + housing + heat + water + underemployment 

How does the U.S. compare to other developed countries with regard to food insecurity?

???? dr. alaimo****

List reasons why poverty, hunger and food insecurity exist in the U.S.

Low wages, underemployment (skilled workers in low-paying jobs and part-time workers who want full-time hours), declining purchasing power of the minimum wage, racial wealth disparities, discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and assistance programs, historical land injustice/discriminatory lending practices, unequal access to supermarkets, high costs of housing, heat, transportation, childcare, medicine, and other essentials, financial stress and limited household resources

downstream solutions to hunger

address hunger at individual level

upstream solutions to hunger

focus on root causes and systematic barriers

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program):

food assistance program associated with food stamps and the Michigan Bridges Card

who is eligible for SNAP?

low income household + considered in the federal poverty level

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)

federally funded food assistance program (provides healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthcare referrals)

who is eligible for WIC?

low income household + pregnant or postpartum or breastfeeding children/infants under the age of 5

National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs:

provides free/reduced meals to children that require to participating schools

who is eligible for National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs?

all children that are either homeless/foster care qualify + below federal poverty levels

Emergency Food System:

provides energy food from food banks and food to low income families

eligibility for emergency food systems

low income families 

Define the Thrifty Food Plan

Used as the national standard for the cost of a healthy, budget-conscious diet

Thrifty food plan - used for:

lowest cost of the four US FDA food plans 

Thrifty food plan - how often it is updated:

every 5 years

Thrifty food plan - how it is used to determine the poverty line

it is tied with the SNAP benefit calculations + SNAP can spend up to 30% of net income on food

List categories of items that can be purchased with SNAP EBT cards

fruits and vegetables, meal, poultry, dairy products, breads and cereals, seeds, baby food and formula and bottled water

List categories of items that can be purchased with WIC vouchers

fruits and vegetables, meal, poultry, dairy products, breads and cereals, seeds, bottled water, baby food and formula (emphasis on this), protein products, post-partum women essentials 

Identify documented benefits of the SNAP and WIC program for infants and children

Access to stuff that they need that their parents may not be able to afford + baby/infant to be breastfed or have formula to survive/be fed

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - purpose

to study the effects of semi-starvation and prolonged/severe dietary restriction to rehabilitate victims of world war II

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - subjects

healthy college army adult men who did this instead of fighting in the war

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - results (list symptoms of semi-starvation)

Depressed immune function, fatigue, decreased basal metabolic rate (BMR) + muscle mass, gallbladder disease, heart arrhythmias, cold intolerance, anemia, sleep disturbances, preoccupation with food, obsessive thinking and behaviors, mood swings, anxiety/depression, irritability/personality changes, binge eating

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - what happened to the subjects eating patterns and weight during refeeding and when the study was over

lots of weight gain + binge eating + issues with eating for up to 2 years after

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - were supplements and extra protein important for rehabilitation?

no, not allowed (just about getting calories in)

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - food restriction:

during control phase= be between 3200 and 3500 calories a day, semi starvation = 1500 calories a day, re-feeding phase 1 = 2,000-3,000 , re-feeding phase 2 = unrestricted

Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study - re-feeding:

rehabilitation period with four groups that received different calorie levels (the lowest group received additional calories, and the calorie amounts increased across groups)

health consequences of food insecurity/hunger for global and US children/adults

Poor physical health, disease and disability, undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and wasting in children, overweight and obesity, depression/anxiety, suicidal thoughts, premature mortality, reduced work capacity

psychological consequences of food insecurity/hunger for global and US children/adults

Physical pain/discomfort from hunger + psychological suffering, alienation, and trauma + loss of dignity, shame, embarrassment, guilt, and frustration + worry/uncertainty about the food supply + risk-taking/negative coping strategies, such as alcohol and drug use + violence + distorted eating patterns, including overeating and underreating

academic consequences of food insecurity/hunger for global and US children/adults

Poor academic achievement, impaired concentration, inadequate nutrition that can affect children's growth/development

hunger

recurrent/involuntary lack of access to food with reduced intake causing family members to repeatedly experience physical sensation of hunger

low food security

households reduced the quality, variety, desirability of their diets, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns were not substantially disrupted

poverty line

income a threshold used to determine economic hardship throughout hardship

food stamps

depending on how many people u have in household + income determines how much u get 

Special Supplemental Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC)

Food assistance program

Summer Food Service Program

children/teens 18 and under can get free, nutritious meals/snacks during the summer months when school is out

Senior Nutrition Program (Home congregate)

People who are 60 and older + meal service that gives them hot meals

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

Provides families with monthly cash to help them pay for food, childcare, and home energy

Earned Income Tax Credit

Refunds from federal tax credits

Emergency Food Assistance

give emergency food to people in need (ex: food banks + community pantries)

Food recovery

Get food from farms, institutions, restaurants rather than throwing them away

Stunting

Result of food insecurity in children (ex: when a child has to low of a height for their age)

Wasting

Result of food insecurity in children (when kids have too low of a weight for their height)

Triple Burden of Malnutrition

Undernutrition, micro nutrient deficiencies, obesity all in the same household

Food apartheid

Unequal supermarket access across neighborhoods, lack of grocery stores in areas, reliance of convenience stores → not super nutritious options

Food sovereignty

Principle that people and communities should control food system (ex: how it is produced, consumed, and distributed)