FN 225: Nutrition
Teresa McFerran, M.S., R.D.
Health Professions Division
Lane Community College
Eugene, Oregon
LECTURE 2A

Please also read your text book Chapter 2 AND pages 14-17 in Chapter 1



CORRECTIONS/HIGHLIGHTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

When you e-mail me in Moodle please make sure you tell me what class you are in.  Also please be specific about what questions you need to have corrected.

Great job using the forums to ask and answer questions, remember using the forums will be the quickest way to get an an answer to your question.

This term we will be talking about local foods, and sustainable food choices.  I wanted to bring to your attention the Learning Garden we have right here on campus:

LEARNING GARDEN EVENTS

Click on the above link to see current events taking place in the garden this term.  There are many great opportunities if you are interested in getting involved and learning more about gardening.


 

For Exam 1 during Week 3, you should study:
  •  Lecture Outline for Week 1
  •  Study Questions for Week 1
  •  Lecture Outlines for Week 2
  •  Study Questions for Week 2
  • How the organs of the digestive tract participate in digestion
  • Forums
  • Any other related activities
I have found in past terms that many times students miss exam questions that are taken directly from the study questions.  So make sure you view the correct answers to the study questions which are available after the due date.

Also there is a study guide posted and an extra credit online review quiz during Week 2 .



FORUM topics for Week 2

I hope you decide to participate.  I've really enjoyed your postings.  Remember there will be exam questions taken from the forums.  Each week in Moodle there is a forum titled, "Student Questions."  Please post your questions here that you have related to the content of the class instead of e-mailing me your questions or posting them in the other weekly forum.  If you are having trouble filling out the lecture outline, or answering study questions, or just need more explanation on a particular concept use this forum to get help from other students, and also the instructor.  You are doing a great job of doing this so keep up the good work!
 

These topics will be posted for you to discuss in Week 2:

1) Take a look at a label in your pantry or refrigerator for a snack item.  What is the product you looked at?  Look at the Nutrition Facts label. What is the serving size?  How many Calories per serving?  What would a reasonable portion be?  How many Calories in this portion?  What nutrients is this product a good source of (>10% DV)? 

Do you feel this product is a nutrient dense choice, or does it have a lot of empty calories?

2) Take a look at the link below regarding the new food label. Discuss one change to the label and how you think it will be helpful (or not helpful) to you.
https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/new-and-improved-nutrition-facts-label

 
Chapter 2: Designing a Healthful Diet


First look through the major headings of this lecture:

 

I  
(DRI) Dietary Reference Intakes (pages 14-17 in text book Chapter 1, and Appendix A in text book)

Definition:  Nutrient intake standards set for people living in the United States and Canada.

 

The DRI is an umbrella term for four possible values that is set for each nutrient: 

A.     Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) 

B.      Adequate Intakes (AI)                             

C.      Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)    

D.     Upper Intake Level (UL)                          

 

A.   (RDA) Recommended Dietary Allowances
 
  • Definition:  A set of suggested nutrient goals for individuals.
  • Recommendations vary based on life stage and gender.  Do not take into consideration activity level, height, weight, etc.
  • Meet the needs of nearly all (97%-98%) people in a given life stage and gender group.
  • Based on solid experimental evidence; set by a panel of nutrition experts, updated every 5-10 years.
  • They are recommendations for optimal intake, NOT minimum requirements.
  • Intended for healthy individuals, not for those with serious illness or malnutrition.

The RDAs (and the AIs) are usually used in clinical or outpatient settings, where a dietitian might use them to assess an individual's nutrient intake.  They also may be used to determine a formula prescription for a tube feeding.  You will use them in this class, when you assess your own nutrient intake when you analyze your diet using the MyPlate website. For the most part, individual's don't use the RDAs and AI's, because people eat FOODS not NUTRIENTS, so the MyPlate recommendations are a much more useful guide.

Now look at Appendix A in our text book.

What does it say for the IRON RDA for a 32-year-old female?


What does it say is the CALCIUM RDA for 32-year-old female?



B.    (AI) Adequate Intakes
Definition:  Also a set of suggested nutrient goals for individuals.


These are as scientifically based as possible, but they also involves educated guesses.  An AI is set when an RDA can't be set.  So nutrients either have an AI or an RDA not both.  This is clear if you look at the table in Appendix A of the text.   

Now look again at Appendix A in our text.      


What is the IRON AI for a 32-year-old female?



What is the CALCIUM AI 32-year-old female?


Setting RDA and AI Values

Nutrients- set so that they will meet the requirements of nearly all people. (97-98% of the population in a gender and age group)

Energy- set at the average so that half of the populations' needs will fall below and half will fall above the recommended level.



78rdanutrients

82rdaenergy

Above is how the RDA/AI for nutrients (iron, for example) is set. Above is how the RDA for energy (calories) is set.  Also called the EER (Estimated Energy Requirement).

The RDA/AI for NUTRIENTS (like protein, vitamins, and minerals) is NOT set at the average requirement, but instead at a level HIGHER than the average.  This is so that almost everyone's need are met if they consume the RDA/AI for a nutrient like iron.

The RDA for ENERGY (CALORIES) is set at the average requirement.  If someone actually requires a level of calories higher than their RDA, it's very likely that they'll eat more than their RDA for calories.  If my RDA for calories was set so that it covered almost everyone, I'd be happy to eat that extra pint of ice cream every day.  That would definitely not be the best thing for my overall health.

C.   (EAR) Estimated Average Requirements

Definition:  Average nutrient requirements for given gender and life stage groups.

This is a value used by researchers and nutrition policy makers to use in their work.  They may use them to assess nutrient intakes in populations.  The EARs form the basis upon which the RDAs are set.

D.    (UL) Upper Intake Levels (Appendix A in text)

Definition:  A standard that identifies potentially hazardous levels of nutrient intake when exceeded.

Not all nutrients have an UL due to insufficient data.  However, all vitamins and minerals can be toxic when taken in excess (usually from supplements or fortified foods).  Even something like Vitamin C, which is water soluble and the body can easily excrete, when taken in too large of a dose can cause gastrointestinal problems.


Being aware of ULs (Upper Intake Levels) is important for people who take supplements or eat fortified foods.

Look at Appendix A in our text.

What does it say is the IRON UL for a 32-year-old female?

What does it say is the CALCIUM UL for a 32-year-old female?


 


You might be thinking this all sounds a little too technical and IT IS!  Or you might be thinking: How do I know if my diet is giving me the nutrients I need?  How do I know if I'm getting enough calcium or iron?  As I mentioned earlier, the RDAs (and the AIs) are usually used in clinical or outpatient settings, where a dietitian might use them to assess an individual's nutrient intake.  They also may be used to determine a formula prescription for a tube feeding.  You will use them in this class to assess your own nutrient intake when you analyze your diet using the MyDietAnalysis website. For the most part, individual's don't use the RDAs and AIs, because people eat FOODS not NUTRIENTS, so the MyPlate and  MyDietAnalysis websites are much more useful guides.  That is what we are going to discuss soon, after we spend a few minutes on Daily Values. 

IIDaily Values (DV) 

NOTE: Daily Values are NOT part of the DRI.

Definition- A set of suggested daily intakes of calories and selected nutrients, developed to use on food labels.

They don't vary by age or gender; they are often the highest RDA for that nutrient.

Reflect the needs of an "average" person (someone eating 2,000-2500 calories a day).


Are not updated on a regular basis.


Find a food label in your kitchen that includes the DV footnote (lower part of the nutrition facts panel)
to fill these in for 2000 Calories.

Fiber DV ________________    Total carbohydrate DV ______________


Click here if the label says the dietary fiber DV is 15 g.

Click here if the label says the dietary fiber DV is 25 g.



Does the the label says the total carbohydrate DV is 130 g or 300 g?




spinachpopeyecan

Spinachpopeye

A DV on a food label lists what   %   of the 
  DV    serving  _ of the food supplies.

MAGIC DV-  we are going to say that the “magic” % Daily Value is 10%.  In other words, we will consider a food a "good source" of a nutrient if the label says a serving of it has 10% or greater of the DV(Daily Value) for that nutrient.

Using this definition and looking at the  spinach label above , what nutrients should we consider the spinach a "good source" of?

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Sodium.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Total Carbohydrate.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Dietary Fiber.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Vitamin A.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Vitamin C.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Calcium.

Click here if, using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Iron.


A NOTE ABOUT NUTRITION LABELS:

They are changing!  As of January1, 2020 there are some important changes that are aimed at helping consumers better utilize the label to make healthy food choices and enhance awareness of serving sizes and calories. For a while you will see the old label on some foods, and the new label on some foods. That is because only manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual sales were required by law to switch to the new label by January 1, 2020. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until January 1, 2021 to comply.

Both labels are out there so we will continue using the older label this term. For your information, below a picture of the new label: 

Newlabel2020


And below is a link to the old and new labels side by side:

https://www.fda.gov/media/97999/download

See this link for more information:  https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/changes-nutrition-facts-label


Next, we'll talk about the Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate, but you might need a stretch break first!
 Go ahead -- take a break.

stretch

STRETCH BREAK!


III  Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015 (see link, below)


2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

(NOTE: Your textbook has the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Below are the new, 2015 Dietary Guidelines)

The Dietary Guidelines are published and revised every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a guide to healthy eating for Americans.  Because we eat food, not nutrients, the guidelines are in place to help us figure out what and how much to eat to stay healthyThe DRIs (nutrient and energy needs) will be met for most people if they follow the dietary guidelines.


 
The 5 major topic areas of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines are:

1) Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan
2) Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount.
3) Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake.
4) Shift to healthier food and beverage choices.
5) Support healthy eating patterns for all.

Key Recommendations provide further guidance on how individuals can follow the five Guidelines:

  • The Dietary Guidelines’ Key Recommendations for healthy eating patterns should be applied in their entirety, given the interconnected relationship that each dietary component can have with others.
  • Consume a healthy eating pattern that accounts for all foods and beverages within an appropriate calorie level.
  • A healthy eating pattern includes:
  • A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups—dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other
  • Fruits, especially whole fruits
  • Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
  • Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages
  • A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products
  • Oils
  • A healthy eating pattern limits:
  • Saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium
  • Key Recommendations that are quantitative are provided for several components of the diet that should be limited. These components are of particular public health concern in the United States, and the specified limits can help individuals achieve healthy eating patterns within calorie limits:
  • Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from added sugars
  • Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from saturated fats
  • Consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day of sodium[4]
  • If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men—and only by adults of legal drinking age.[5]
  • In tandem with the recommendations above, Americans of all ages—children, adolescents, adults, and older adults—should meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Americans should aim to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. The relationship between diet and physical activity contributes to calorie balance and managing body weight. As such, the Dietary Guidelines includes a Key Recommendation to
  • Meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

We will be discussing the Dietary Guidelines throughout the term so I'm not going to say a whole lot more about them here.


IV MyPlate (USDA Food Guide)

Definition-  The plate is a visual representation of the USDA food guide. It was released in June of

2011, after going through a makeover from the previous MyPyramid. The overall

information of MyPlate is similar to MyPyramid, but the format has been modified from a pyramid to

a plate. It is a food guide to help Americans achieve the goals of the Dietary Guidelines

for Americans, as well as meeting the RDAs and AIs or (DRIs). 

For most people this means eating MORE:

  • whole grains

  • fruits

  • vegetables (especially dark green vegetables and red and orange vegetables)

  • legumes
  • seafood (to replace some meals of meat and poultry)
  • low-fat dairy

And LESS:

  • refined grains

  • added sugars

  • solid fats: saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol

  • sodium

 

Pyramid to
                    plate

Above is how the icon for the MyPyramid has transitioned to a plate and below is what it looked like when it was first released in 1992.  

32uspyramid

In all three icons above, foods are grouped into 5 different groups, based on their nutrient content.

  1. "Grain" group (bread, cereal, rice, pasta, crackers, tortillas, etc.)
  2. Vegetable group
  3. Fruit group
  4. "Dairy" group (also yogurt and cheese)
  5. "Protein" group (also poultry, fish, dried peas and beans, eggs and nuts)

 

There are other food guides in other countries, some in pyramid shapes, plate shapes, or other shapes. For example, here is Mexico's:


Mexico


For more food guides from other countries, see the following link:

http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-based-dietary-guidelines/en



The first U.S. Food Guide, shown below, was released in 1917.  



The short video clip below talks about it.

Food Guide Video Clip
(approximately 2-minutes)

1917 Food Guide video




History of U.S. food grouping systems:
        about 1917- 5 groups
        WWII to 1955- Basic 7
        1956 - 1992- Basic 4
        1992- Food Guide Pyramid
(You will not be tested on these dates)

Below are the Basic Four Food Groups and below that the Basic 7 that were still around  in 1950.




32uspyramid

Returning to the U.S. MyPlate (
http://www.ChooseMyPlate.gov,) MyPlate encourages people to take a balanced approach and to eat a variety of nutrient dense whole foods.  To help people control calories and prevent weight gain, the USDA promotes the concept of nutrient density and empty calories.

Controlling Calories:  Nutrient density and empty calories.

Nutrient density measures nutrients provided per calorie of food. For example, in the screen shot below, a 90% lean 3 ounce ground beef patty is considered more nutrient dense than a 75% lean patty. In the 90% lean patty,  for 184 calories you get protein, iron, and other needed nutrients. On the other hand, a 75% lean 3 ounce patty has 236 calories, but the extra 52 calories add only solid fats, and no other appreciable nutrients.

Nutrient density



See page 52 in Chapter 2 of your textbook the definition of empty calories.

The idea is to choose minimally processed foods in each food group that have few or no empty calories, as these are the most nutrient dense foods.

Examples of foods HIGH in empty calories:

  • doughnuts, cakes, cookies

  • sugared cereals

  • flavored yogurt
  • high fat meats

  • sweetened beverages and alcohol

Can you think of how empty calories might actually help you to eat nutrient dense foods?

I don't know about you, but I love putting butter on my cooked vegetables, or honey on my whole grain toast or oatmeal.  Adding a little fat and sugar sometimes can enhance the flavor of nutrient dense foods.  This is a great way to spend empty calories.  They will come packaged with other nutrients, unlike drinking a soda packed with calories and no other nutrients.


MyPlate Food Plan:


MyPlate makes recommendations for the number of servings to eat daily from each food group.  The number of servings from each food group and the maximum amount of empty calories recommended depends on energy (calorie) needs. Below is a screen shot of a food plan developed from the Dietary Guidelines/MyPlate for an adult who needs 1600 calories per day (why they didn't display the plan in a plate form is beyond me...):

1600
                                  food plan


As shown above , a person needing a 1600 calorie diet may need only 1480 calories of nutrient dense foods to get their needed nutrients.  The difference between calories needed to maintain weight and calories needed to provide needed nutrients (about 120 calories) are calories that can be spent on extras like solid fats, added sugars, foods low in nutrient density, or extra servings of nutrient dense foods.

When choosing your food selections from the different food groups, most of your choices should be nutrient dense in order to meet your nutrient needs with out exceeding your calorie needs.  For example when choosing dairy products they should be non-fat dairy products with no added sugar, like non-fat milk.  If instead you chose strawberry flavored, whole milk you would be consuming empty calories due to the fat content and the added sugar. 

In general the most nutrient dense food choices from the food groups are minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy, lean meat, fish and skinless poultry, beans, nuts, and seeds that do not have added fats or added sugars. 

 
 

Portion Distortion:

48triscuits
For grains, someone might need anywhere from 5-8 oz. of grains.  Sometimes people think that 6 "ounce equivalents" from the grain group might be a lot.  Keep in mind that an "ounce equivalent" is a small portion, like the one ounce crackers above.  An ounce equivalent is something that weighs an ounce in its dry form, like an ounce of dry cereal or an ounce of dry rice or dry pasta or an ounce of bread or an ounce of a tortilla.

The measurement of that ounce of dry weight varies.  You can see in the above image that an ounce of Triscuit crackers is about 5 of them.

An ounce is equal to about 30 grams.  Dry cereal usually gives the gram weight and the cup measurement.


Above is what the label says is a portion of granola.  Can you see that this 1/2 cup  portion weighs 57 grams, which would be about 2 ounce equivalents.

Notice the calorie content of that 1/2 cup  portion.
         
And above is what the label says is a portion of puffed rice cereal.  Can you see that the 1 cup  portion weighs 17 grams, which would be about 1/2 ounce equivalents




Here's what puffed rice cereal looks like if you've never tasted it.


There is now considerable "portion distortion" in what we think of a serving, as illustrated below.

52colossolburger

56colossolfries

58chips3_4oz
Compare the weight of this snack pack of potato chips to the one below. (30 grams is about an ounce.)


62fritosfront


66fritoscalories

4 1/4 oz. Bag Fritos: 4.5 servings per container

The Nutrition Facts are given for 1 serving.

Do you see where the label says Calories 160

160 calories times 4.5 servings per container=  720 calories/bag


67spaghettiabout1cup

If you're trying to cut down your portion sizes, one way to do it is to use smaller plates. These are each one-cup portions of spaghetti.



 
 
V  Beyond the nutrients of the twentieth century
A.    Phytochemicals.  

Definition- chemicals that plants make to help them survive and get ready to reproduce. Phytochemicals help them do that by helping
  • protect the plants from the environment (sun's heat, oxygen etc.).  Antioxidants are one type of phytochemical that can do this.
  • protect the plants from diseases, infections and pests
  • attract pollinators and seed-dispersing animals

Lycopene is an example of a phytochemical and food companies are anxious to use them to market their products.

86lycopenecatsup

It is estimated that there may be more than 100 different phytochemicals in just one serving of vegetables.

In her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Barbara Kingsolver says that a head of broccoli contains more than a thousand phytochemicals. (page 60)

Some companies selling supplements imply theirs is better than others because it has "whole food".  Nutrition Action, in December 2007, said that once dehydrated, a serving of fruit or vegetable (1/2 cup broccoli, for example) would fill some 15 capsules. ("Juice Plus Commission")

B.    Zoochemicals are the same thing in animals.

C.    Nutraceuticals- (term first used in 1989)-
a term that motivates companies to divide food into individual chemicals that may have medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.  These nutraceuticals are then sold at a much greater profit than what a farmer makes when selling a whole food.

Example: Benecol margarine

90margbenecol

94mrgbenecolstanols

The label says that “Plant stanol esters, the unique ingredient found only in Benecol products, are derived from natural plant components found in vegetable oils such as soy.
….its proven ability to lower cholesterol is supported by over 25 studies, including one reported in the New England  Journal of Medicine.”

I purchased this 1-cup tub of margarine so I could take a photo of it.  I eat butter because I love it's flavor and I'm very satisfied with just a little of it at a time.  So I gave this tub to a friend who uses margarine.  They returned it because they didn't like it.

Look at the price for this
this 1-cup tub (2006).



The Benecol implies that their plant stanols come from vegetable oils like soy, saying that they "are derived from natural plant components found in vegetable oils such as soy."  Plant stanols are also found in wood pulp.

C.  The best way to get phytochemicals is by choosing a variety of whole plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains.   I can't remember where I read or heard Michael Pollan (a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and a professor of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley) talking about this. He said that for quite a while we've been encouraged by companies to buy their

"meal in a pill".
98peapills

Now 
we're being encouraged by companies to buy their

"pill in a meal".



The end of Lecture 2A










































INCORRECT
  15 g is not the fiber Daily Value.
Click here to return to Lecture.






































CORRECT
25 grams is the fiber DV for someone who needs 2000 kcals.
Click here to return to Lecture.















































































































































CORRECT
: Using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Dietary Fiber because the label says a "serving" has 12% of the DV for fiber and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.















































CORRECT
Using this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Vitamin A because the label says a "serving" has 170% of the DV for vitamin A  and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.
















































CORRECTUsing this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Vitamin C because the label says a "serving" has 25% of the DV for vitamin C and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.
































































CORRECTUsing this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Iron because the label says a "serving" has 10% of the DV for iron and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.














































CORRECTUsing this definition, we should consider this spinach a "good source" of Calcium because the label says a "serving" has 20% of the DV for calcium and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.
























































INCORRECTUsing this definition, we should NOT consider this spinach a "good source" of Sodium because the label says a "serving" has 8% of the DV for sodium and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.





















































INCORRECTUsing this definition, we should NOT consider this spinach a "good source" of Total Carbohydrate because the label says a "serving" has 2% of the DV for Total Carbohydrate and the "magic DV" is 10%.
Click here to return to Lecture.

























































CORRECT:18 mg of iron is the RDA for iron for a 32-year-old female.
Click here to return to the Lecture.













































INCORRECT
8 mg of iron is NOT the RDA for iron for a 32-year-old female.
Click here to return to the Lecture.















































INCORRECT: 15 mg of iron is NOT the RDA for iron for a 32-year-old female.  15 mg of iron is the RDA for iron for a 14 to 18-year-old female.
Click here to return to the Lecture.



















































CORRECT: The RDA for calcium for a 32 year old female is 1000 mg. 
Click here to return to the Lecture.




























INCORRECT: 1200 mg of calcium is NOT the RDA for calcium for a 32-year-old female.  1200 mg of calcium is the RDA for calcium for a male or female > 50 years of age.
Click here to return to the Lecture.





























INCORRECT: 1300 mg of calcium is NOT the RDA for calcium for a 32-year-old female.  
Click here to return to the Lecture.