Nutrition Notes for NURN 153

Definition of Nutrition

• Nutrition is the process involving the body's intake, absorption, transport, utilization, and elimination of nutrients.

Importance of Nutrition

• Good nutrition is critical for promoting healthy outcomes.

• Approximately 60% of adults have one or more diet-related chronic conditions.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

• Utilizes the MyPlate Food Guide.

• Key goals:

  • Reduce excessive caloric intake.

  • Increase consumption of nutrient-dense foods to minimize chronic disorders.

MyPlate Essentials

• A healthy dietary pattern includes:

  • Vegetables:

  • Dark green, red, orange, beans, peas, lentils, starchy, and others.

  • Fruits:

  • Emphasis on whole fruit.

  • Grains:

  • At least half should be whole grains.

  • Dairy:

  • Fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free alternatives.

  • Protein:

  • Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds.

  • Oils:

  • Vegetable oils and oils from food sources like seafood.

Nutrition Facts Label Overview

• Key updates in the new Nutrition Facts label:

  • Larger, bold serving sizes and calorie counts.

  • Inclusion of % Daily Value (DV) and additional nutrients (vitamin D, potassium, added sugars).

• The DV indicates how much a nutrient contributes to a daily diet based on a 2,000 calorie intake.

Dietary Supplements

• Defined as products intended to supplement the diet:

  • May include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids.

• Regulated by the FDA and may contain active ingredients with potential harm.

Drug and Supplement Interactions

• Certain supplements can interact adversely with medications, including:

  • Calcium, Niacin, Vitamin D, and herbs like Garlic and Ginkgo biloba.

Food-Drug Interactions

• Some common foods that can interact with medications include:

  • Grapefruit juice, alcohol, leafy green vegetables, and tyramine-containing foods.

Factors Affecting Nutrition

• Various factors that influence individual nutrition:

  • Lifespan considerations (age-related nutritional needs).

  • Cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

  • Religious practices.

  • Medications and therapy effects.

  • Economic status.

  • Personal preferences and lifestyle choices.

Lifespan Considerations in Nutrition

• Infants/Toddlers:

  • Emphasis on breastfeeding for the first 6-12 months and introducing iron-fortified formula. Solid food introduction with responsive feeding is essential.

• Adolescents:

  • High metabolic demands necessitating increased intake of protein, calcium, iron, iodine, folic acid, and vitamins. Body image concerns and peer pressure influence dietary choices.

• Older Adults:

  • Decreased metabolic rates and thirst sensation, potential difficulties with chewing, increased calcium needs, sensory changes affecting food enjoyment.

• Pregnancy/Lactation:

  • Importance of prenatal vitamins and avoiding raw foods and alcohol during pregnancy.

Cultural Considerations

• African American Diets:

  • Usually high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium leading to concerns like obesity and diabetes.

• Hispanic/Latino Americans:

  • Traditionally low-fat, high-fiber diets but facing shifts towards higher fat intake and obesity prevalence.

Religious Dietary Practices

• Various religions impose dietary laws, such as:

  • Judaism: Prohibits pork, shellfish; restrictions on meat and dairy consumption.

  • Islam: Prohibits pork and alcohol; fasting practices.

  • Hinduism: Avoids beef and alcohol.

Therapeutic Diets

• Types of diets include:

  • Normal Diets, NPO (Nothing by Mouth), Modified Consistency Diets (clear liquids, pureed, mechanically altered diets), and diets tailored to specific medical needs (fat-restricted, sodium-restricted, renal).

Enteral Nutrition (Tube Feeding)

• Types of enteral nutrition:

  • Short-term: Nasogastric (NG) tube, Nasointestinal (NI) tube.

  • Long-term: Gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes.

Nutritional Assessment Techniques

• Regular monitoring for potential nutrition-related complications, including aspiration, malnutrition, and obesity. Use assessments like the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to identify risks.

Nutrition Exemplar: Malnutrition

• Diagnosis based on low BMI (<18.5), risks involving disease, mental health issues, and associated healthcare costs.

• Strategies for management include lifestyle modifications, exercise, and nutritional supplementation.

Nutrition Exemplar: Obesity

• Characterized by excessive body fat and associated with several health risks including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues. Management may include lifestyle changes and medical interventions.

This comprehensive set of notes covers the key concepts from the provided transcript on Nutrition. Each section outlines important definitions, dietary guidelines, cultural considerations, lifespan influences on nutrition, and specific therapeutic diets, ultimately aiming to provide a thorough understanding of nutritional principles and practices.