Life Cycle of Nutrition

   

 Discuss the nutritional recommendations across the lifespan – from pregnancy to childhood, and from adolescence to  adulthood. 

Throughout the lifespan of development our nutritional needs change from one stage to the next. It is important that we feed our bodies the recommended nutrition it requires for optimal health. During pregnancy, a woman’s nutritional needs have never been more important. Not only is she responsible for the health and welfare of her own body, she is also responsible for the nutritional needs of her unborn child. In order to maintain a healthy pregnancy with a good outcome for the child and mother it is important that pregnant women consume adequate nutrition to support the growth of her growing fetus, It is recommended that pregnant women eat a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods from all of the different food groups and increase her intake of vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, folic acid and iron. During infancy and childhood when a child is growing at a very rapid pace it is important that they eat a diet rich in vegetables, low-fat milk, lean proteins, and fruits high in vitamin C. During adolescence, eating a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals is very important during this stage of the lifecycle, because our bodies are going through so many physical changes. During this time it is important for teens to increase their iron and vitamin D requirements in order to support bone growth and lean body mass in males and menstruation in females. During adulthood, the nutrition and dietary guidelines include eating a nutrient rich diet that includes lean proteins, high fiber foods, and iron rich foods. As we age our energy levels decline and our bodies do not absorb as much vitamins and minerals from our foods as they once did.

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2012).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, MyPlate Update (12th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Healthy Body Weight

  Describe the role of diet in preventing underweight, overweight, and obesity. 
 

In order to maintain a healthy body weight it is important that we eat a nutritious diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. We need to avoid eating foods that are high in sugar, fats, and salt. Most people in our society are overweight at roughly 66 percent of the population, meaning that their weight is above the healthy level, but not obese. Those that are obese represent a third of the population, meaning that they are way above the ideal weight and have a BMI of 30 or higher. And those that are underweight represent the smallest population at around 2 percent (Sizer & Whitney, 2012, p.325).

In order to prevent overweight and underweight issues in our society and maintain a healthy body weight people must follow a healthy diet plan, exercise, and develop knowledge and a good attitude about achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. This can be accomplished by eating all of the essential nutrients required on a daily basis, cutting out or down on sugary and fatty foods, eating more whole foods, proteins, and low fat dairy products. Developing a weekly workout routine and reading up on the importance of nutrition and health and developing daily logs on what foods you are eating, so that you can make sure you are getting everything that your body needs for optimal survival. 

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2012).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, MyPlate Update (12th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

 

Digestion

Discuss how fats, proteins, and carbs are digested and absorbed in the body, and describe the benefits from a dietary perspective. What are the good fats, bad fats, etc.? Why is fiber so beneficial? 

Do you ever stop and think about what happens to the foods we eat after we consume them? Our digestive tract is responsible for the processing of all of the foods we eat. From the foods that eat certain nutrients such as fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed into the body and used for many different purposes such as used as energy, to build and repair muscles, bones and organs (“How does the body,” 2013). There are both “good” and “bad” fats in the foods that we eat. Fats are broken down by enzymes and absorbed into the intestinal tract and bloodstream and stored as fuel for when needed. In order to maintain a healthy diet it is recommended that we eat the right fats that help to provide energy to our bodies. The good fats include: monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, which protect your health by decreasing bad cholesterol. We can get these good fats by eating foods rich in polyunsaturated foods such as fish, nuts, olive oil, and avocadoes. The bad fats include: trans-fat and saturated fats. These types of fats raise our cholesterol and lead to chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Another important nutrient that our body needs to maintain a healthy diet is protein. Proteins are broken down in the stomach and sent to the small intestine where they are absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed to the rest of the body to help replace dying cells and repair injuries. Carbohydrates are also important nutrients that your body needs in order to sustain a healthy body. Carbohydrates supply our bodies with energy; they feed our brain and nervous system, and keep our digestive system in shape. Carbohydrates are also absorbed in the bloodstream and stored in the liver for later use. There are two types of carbohydrates; simple and complex. Simple carbs are derived from sugary foods and complex is derived from foods rich in fiber and starch. Complex carbs have a greater nutritional value to the body and simple carbs have very little if any. It is important that we eat the good carbs (complex) as part of a healthy diet, because it provides the body with much needed energy that it needs to function. Fiber which is found in carbohydrates is also an important nutrient that helps to normalize blood cholesterol and blood glucose by maintaining healthy bowel function (Sizer & Whitney, 2012, p.114). 

How does the body absorb carbohydrates, fats and proteins. (2013). Retrieved on March 4, 2013, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/489260-how-does-body-absorb-carbohydrates-fats-and-proteins/

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2012).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, MyPlate Update (12th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.