AL-185 CHAPTER 12

Pū‘ali kalo i ka we ‘ole: Taro, a staple food, when deprived of water, grows misshapen.

By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

Describe the purpose and function of nutrition.
Describe steps towards building healthy eating patterns.
Interpret the Nutrition Facts labels.
Describe the purpose and use of various dietary guidelines such as the US Dietary Guidelines, the MyPlate Planner, SPC Guidelines, and the Pacific Food Guide.

Developing a healthful diet is rewarding, but attention must be paid to the principles to derive maximum health benefits.
Many Pacific Islanders struggle to maintain traditional diets due to environmental, social, and demographic challenges, leading to diets high in calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
Health Consequences: Inadequate or excessive nutrient intake can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Moderation and Portion Control: Essential for achieving lasting health benefits.

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI): A set of reference values used for guiding nutritional intake.
Used in the United States and Canada.
DRI system includes various recommendation types:
- Estimated Average Requirements (EAR)
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
- Adequate Intakes (AI)
- Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL)
DRIs serve as guidelines, not strict limits, intended for the general healthy population.

DRIs help average individuals assess their nutrient intake.
Health professionals use DRIs for formulating nutritional guidelines for specific groups in need.
DRIs are not tailored for those who are ill or maln