Fitness for Life

1. Fitness for Life • Nutrition Image from Wikimedia Commons, USDA, public domain

2. Unit Objectives • 1) List the six nutrients. 2) Describe the caloric value of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.3) Describe the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats, and name some examples of each.4) Understand the difference between complete and incomplete proteins, and name some examples of each.5) Understand the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates, and name some examples of each.6) Describe the needs (% of total calories) of active individuals.7) Describe the food pyramid, the five major food groups contained within, and the number of recommended servings in each food group.8) Develop the skills needed to effectively read food labels. • 9) Perform and evaluate a personal nutrition analysis.

3. Assignments related to this unit 06.2.1 Restaurant Nutritional Analysis 06.2.2 Walking Off Your Fast Food Meal 06.3 Your Nutrition Analysis and Printout 06.4 Opinion Essay on Current Weight Loss Programs 06.5.1 Unit 6 quiz 06.5.2 Activity log 9

4. Nutrients Scientists have identified 45-50 different nutrients: food substances that are required for the growth and maintenance of your cells. These have been divided into six groups: Carbohydrates Proteins Fats Vitamins Minerals Water

5. Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates provide your body with energy that can be used during exercise. Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram, so a food with 10 grams of carbohydrate provides 40 calories of energy.   • 55% to 60% of your total calories should come from carbohydrates: • 15% or less of your total calories should come from simple carbohydrates. • 40-50% should come from complex carbohydrates.

6. Simple vs. complex carbohydrates 15% or less should come from simple carbohydrates (sugar, honey, fruit juice, white flour, potato, rice, candy, soda) (Note: fruits contain both simple and complex carbohydrates) Most of your diet (40-50% of total calories) should come from complex carbohydrates (whole grains, vegetables, fresh fruit, dill pickles, legumes).

7. Fiber Fiber is the tough stringy part of vegetables, fruits, and grains. It is not a ‘nutrient’, but is important because it helps move waste through the digestive system. Fiber prevents constipation, reduces risk of colon cancer, and reduces cholesterol levels. (Sources: Celery, peel of fruit/vegetables, leaves, stems, whole grain breads, nuts, and seeds).

8. Proteins Proteins are nutrients that help your body grow and repair itself. Proteins (like carbohydrates) contain 4 calories per gram, so a food with 20 grams of protein provides 80 calories of energy.   Approximately 12 to 15% of your total calories should come from protein.   We get protein from animals (meat, fish) and some plant sources. Proteins are made of amino acids.

9. Complete vs. Incomplete Foods that contain all eight of the essential amino acids are known as complete proteins. Complete proteins are found mostly in meat and dairy products.   Soy protein is the only complete protein that comes from a plant source.   Other proteins, called incomplete proteins , must be eaten in combination with each other to make complete proteins.   For example, beans are often eaten with corn tortillas to make a complete protein. This is especially important to know if you are a vegetarian.

10. Fats Fats, which contain nine calories per gram (about twice the amount of energy in carbohydrates or proteins), provide energy during sustained exercise and are sources of fat-soluble vitamins. No more than 30% of your total calorie intake should come from fat. Like proteins, fats can be found in both animal and plant sources.   Fats are classified as either saturated or unsaturated.

11. Saturated vs. unsaturated fat Saturated fats (which you should limit because they increase LDL cholesterol), which come mostly from animal sources, are solid at room temperature (bacon, hamburger fat, butter, and shortening). Unsaturated fats , which come mostly from plants such as corn, soybean, olives, and peanuts, are liquid at room temperature (olive oil, corn oil, vegetable oil).

12. Trans Fats Trans fats (or Trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Another name for trans fats is “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.” Look for the name on food labels and ingredients. Trans fat is most commonly found in fried foods, margarine, and shortening. Avoid eating very much of these foods.

13. Vitamins Vitamins are classified as "fat-soluble" or "water-soluble." Fat-soluble vitamins, which include A, D, E, and K, should be taken at recommended levels to prevent adverse side effects that can occur with taking too much. Water-soluble vitamins include B-complex vitamins and vitamin C.   Excessive amounts of B & C vitamins can be excreted in the urine, so adverse side effects are less common when taking water soluble vitamins.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and meats contain high levels of vitamins.

14. Minerals Minerals are nutrients that help regulate cell activities. Twenty-five minerals are needed for proper bodily function. Two common minerals that people often supplement are calcium and iron. Iron is a nutrient that the body needs to help build red blood cells. Foods rich in iron include meat, liver, peas, beans, spinach, whole grains, and eggs. Too much iron in the body, a condition called iron overload, can cause serious problems, including liver damage.

15. Calcium helps you develop strong bones and teeth and facilitates muscle contractions. Most individuals do not consume adequate calcium. Despite recommendations for female and male high school students of 1300 mg/day, most students consume only 600 to 800 mg/day. Good sources of calcium include yogurt, skim milk, low-fat cheese, and calcium-fortified orange juice, tofu, or soy milk. Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli or spinach also provide calcium. Images from Wikimedia Commons: Spinach (Nillerkd, CC attribution license; Milk (Stefan Kuhn, CC Share-Alike)

16. Calcium cont’d. When taking calcium, it is important to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages and soda pop because they can interfere with calcium absorption. Image adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Mikadiou and Yo, David Shay, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike

17. Water Water has many important functions including transporting nutrients to your cells, ridding your body of wastes, and regulating body temperature. Your body loses two to three quarts of water a day through breathing, sweating, and eliminating waste. Image from Wikimedia Commons, Uschick, Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

18. Water cont’d. If you take your body weight in pounds, and divide it in half, that is how many ounces of water you should drink in a day for optimal health. Example: 140 lb. person should drink 70 oz of water each day. Drinking at least ten, eight-ounce glasses of water a day is often recommended. Image from Wikimedia Commons, Derek Jensen (Tysto), public domain

19. Water cont’d. Fluid intake is critical during exercise because if you become thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated. You should consume fluids every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise and also after you finish exercising.

20. How many calories?How much should you eat a day? 1600 calories: primarily sedentary women 2200 calories: most children, teenage girls, active women, sedentary men 2800 calories: most teenage boys, active men, and very active women.

21. How much fat should I eat? 1,600 calorie diet - Limit fat to 53 grams2,200 calorie diet - Limit fat to 73 grams2,800 calorie diet - Limit fat to 93 grams Most experts agree that one of the main reasons why so many Americans are overweight is because of an increase in portion size.

22. Sugar Soft drinks and other sugar-added beverages have overtaken white bread and are now the main source of calories in the average American’s diet. The average person should have less than 40 grams of sugar per day, which is about six to nine teaspoons. The average teen consumes 34 teaspoons per day!

23. Sugar The average 12 oz can of soda has equivalent of 11 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories, and is about the same as a half cup of rich ice cream. Soda is pure sweetener and doesn’t have any balancing fat/protein… and you almost never feel “full” drinking sodas, so it’s very hard to stop.

24. Sugar You should have no more than approximately 32 grams of total sugar a day. Images: Wikimedia Commons: Strawberry cake (Claus Abeiter, CC Share-Alike); Chocolate pastries (Sonia Geffrier, public domain); Mousse (Gveret Tered, CC Attribution)

25. Sodium intake Fast food and processed foods are extremely high in sodium (mainly as salt). The Dietary Guidelines recommendation for sodium for most individuals is “less than 2,300 mg/day,” but for individuals with hypertension, African Americans, and middle-aged and older adults, the recommendation is “no more than 1,500 mg/day.” Image from Wikimedia Commons, BenB4, CC ShareAlike

26. How can I become healthy? • Make good choices • Eat organic foods (fruits/vegetables) • Limit fat intake (less than 70 grams) • Limit sugar intake (less than 40 grams) • Limit sodium intake (less than 2300 mg) • Eat a colorful variety of foods • Follow Food Pyramid • Read food labels • Drink at least 10 (8oz) glasses of water/day • Exercise

27. Why organic? Pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables Hormones put into soil and plants Corn fed beef / chickens / pigs / turkeys Hormones or antibiotics added to animal food, or given to animals via pills or shots... All of these may be bad for your health.

28. Key vocabulary Calcium is a mineral we need to build strong bones and teeth and facilitates muscle contraction.Carbohydrates provide your body with energy that can be used during exercise. Carbohydrates are divided into simple and complex types. Complete Proteins are foods that contain all 8 of the essential amino acids Complex carbohydrates are found in whole grain breads and vegetables. Fats are either saturated (solid at room temperature), or unsaturated (liquid at room temperature).Fat-soluble vitamins including A, D, E, and K, can be stored in body fat so intake should be closely regulated. Fiber is the tough stringy part of vegetables, fruits, and grains.Food Pyramid is the pyramid that provides guidelines for eating from the five basic food groups.Incomplete Proteins are those proteins, mostly from plant sources, that must be eaten in combination with each other to provide all essential amino acids.  

29. Key vocabulary cont’d. Nutrients are food substances that are required for the growth and maintenance of your cells. Proteins are nutrients that help your body grow and repair itself.Saturated fats come mostly from animal sources, and are solid at room temperature. Simple carbohydrates are found in fruit, molasses, honey, and anything sweet like candy, cookies, or cakes. Sodium is a mineral we need, but should consume less than 2300 mg daily. Sugar intake for the average woman should be no more than six teaspoons per day, and the average man should have only nine teaspoons per day . Trans Fats (trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Unsaturated fats come mostly from plants such as corn, soybean, olives, and peanuts, and are liquid at room temperature. Water has many important functions including transporting nutrients to your cells, ridding your body of wastes, and regulating body temperature.Water-soluble vitamins (B-complex vitamins and vitamin C) can be excreted in the urine when taken to excess.