Nutrients
Nutrient Objectives
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Describe common nutritional misconceptions, including why they are incorrect.
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Explain how it is possible that there are dietary components that may be important to optimize health, but have no clearly defined recommended daily allowances.
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List the primary food groups, and their proportions, that are recommended for a general diet that provides nutrients and adequate calories.
The point of the digestive system is to break food down into smaller nutrients and absorb those nutrients into the blood for eventual use by cells.
A significant problem is starting with the “correct” dietary selections, which can vary significantly by individual needs. We’ll start with a few nutritional misconceptions. Consider: How do there nutritional misconceptions form? Is it due to insufficient information? Faulty reasoning? Or a combination of factors?
Our bodies need a wide range of nutrients, some are abundant in common foods. Others are more challenging to acquire, particularly if food is limited.
Nutritional research is still revealing potential benefits of substances found in our foods. Recent research strengthens the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, because of the significance of phytochemicals (“plant chemicals”). This has led to some nutritionists suggesting eating a “rainbow” of vegetables and fruits to ingest some of these phytochemicals on a regular basis. Research is still ongoing.
Necessary vs. Optimal
Determining RDA
Dietary fiber is not absorbed into the blood so it is technically not a nutrient, but it still plays a role in body health. Fiber increases peristalsis, strengthening the smooth muscles surrounding digestive organs.
Many governments support fortification of foods and oral products with nutrients that would otherwise be insufficient in the diet.
In order for our cells to have sufficient nutrients, we need to regularly consume water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, this is a challenging process, and many people eat an “unbalanced” diet with too much of some nutrients, too little of others.
One attempt to assist in visualizing human nutrient requirements is the food pyramid.
Proportions
Variety
Food Labels
The older “stacked” food pyramid was a bit easier to follow for many people, but it has had a major shift in what should be consumed in the highest quantity for proper nutrition.
One of the best ways to quickly visualize a general/generic meal that includes nutrients is to use the relatively new “MyPlate” guide.
Including and enjoying nutrient-rich foods on a plate may improve nutrition and reduce some of the negative associations and outcomes that occur with continual calorie counting or proportion measuring.
Measurement sometimes comes into play in determining portion sizes. After achieving a general nutrient-rich diet, some individuals may slowly increase potion sizes; other individuals may decrease portion sizes. All of this is best done with guidance from health professionals.
Instead of dramatic dietary changes, an individual eating a diet that provides needed nutrients and calories can subtly alter amounts, or forms of food, over time.
We’ll see why dramatic dietary changes work against us in an upcoming guide.
The next section explores a few significant issues that can relate to nutrition, digestion, and absorption.
Check your knowledge. Can you:
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describe common nutritional misconceptions, including why they are incorrect?
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explain how it is possible that there are dietary components that may be important to optimize health, but have no clearly defined recommended daily allowances?
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list the primary food groups, and their proportions, that are recommended for a general diet that provides nutrients and adequate calories?