NUTRITIONAL ASSESMENT Flashcards
Define Nutrition
“Nutrition is the study of food in relation to health of an individual, community or society and the process through which food is used to sustain life and growth.”
Define Food
“Food is any substance, organic or inorganic, when ingested or eaten, nourishes the body by building and repairing tissues, supplying heat and energy, and regulating bodily processes.”
means general features and criteria by means of which food is characterized considering its nutritional value, organoleptic quality, and safety for consumer health. it is defined as a set of food product features and factors shaping these features over the whole product life cycle, i. e. from primary production until serving.
FOOD QUALITY
A chemical compound (such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, or mineral) contained in foods. These compounds are used by the body to function and grow.
NUTRIENT
are organic catalysts that are protein in nature and are produced by living cells.
ENZYMES
are organic substances produced by special cells of the body which are discharged into the blood to be circulated and brought to specific organs or tissues that are remote from the source or point of manufacture.
HORMONES
is the condition of the body resulting from the utilization of essential nutrients.
NUTRITIONAL STATUS OR NUTRITURE
means that the body has adequate supply of essential nutrients that are efficiently utilized such that growth and good health are maintained at the highest possible level.
OPTIMUM OR GOOD NUTRION
is the opposite of good nutrition (mal-meaning bad). It is a condition of the body resulting from a lack of one more essential nutrients (nutritional deficiency) or it may be due to an excessive nutrient supply to the point of creating toxic or harmful effects (e.g. overnutrition and hypervitaminosis). Imbalanced Nutrition is the other term used for malnutrition.
MALNUTRITION
may be caused by a primary factor or secondary (conditioning) factors. The primary factor refers to a faulty diet., i.e., nutrient intake is lacking in qualitymand /or quantity for a given individual.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCES
The primary factor refers to a faulty diet., i.e., nutrient intake is lacking in qualitymand /or quantity for a given individual. The main factors that bring about faulty diet are as follows:
poverty, ignorance, poor food habits, limited food supply due to overpopulation or low food production, poor distribution of food, cultural taboos, and may other factors causing nutrient intake to be less that what is needed.
are multiple and include all conditions within the body that reduce the ultimate supply of nutrients to the cells after the food goes beyond the mouth. Stepwise, factors that interfere with normal digestion are: gastrointestinal disorder, lack of appetite, poor teeth, lack of digestive enzymes, etc. Factors that affect metabolism and utilization in the cells are: liver diseases, malignancy, some drugs, alcoholism, toxins, diabetes mellitus, etc. Factors that increase excretion and result in nutrient loss are: polyuria, excessive perspiration, certain drugs, etc.
THE SECONDARY FACTORS
The general methods to study nutriture are:
dietary surveys, physical methods (anthropometry), clinical examination, biochemical tests and functional assessment.
As early as before the birth of Christ, attempts have already been made to demonstrate the effect of food and exercise to one’s health. Hippocrates known as the “Father of Medicine” was the first physician to show an interest in nutrition. Several studies were performed in relation to chemistry, medicine, and physiology but the only had vague ideas about the relationship of the effects of these experiments on the body. Galen, Sanctorius, Harvey, Leuwenhoek were some of those who carried out experimental studies during this time.
NATURALISTIC ERA
Lavoisiern gained the name, Father of Nutrition, because of his respiration and oxidation studies, it was during this period that chemical studies were conducted which led to the discoveries of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and nitrogen. Later report disclosed studies on the different substances needed by the body, as carbohydrate, fat, protein and mineral.
CHEMICAL-ANALYTICAL ERA
there were more discoveries of factors with vitamin- like properties, which were identified as essential elements of the human diet and others for various aspects of animals. Later on, emphasis was made on the study of the relationship existing between nutrients and their biological roles and determination of human dietary requirements.
BIOLOGICAL ERA
the year 1955 to 1980 were characterized by the many discoveries in the field of cellular metabolism. The vast information available was mainly due to the use of more sophisticated equipment like radioactive isotopes, electron microscope and micro- technical techniques. More information was obtained regarding the role the different nutrients play in growth, development and maintenance of the cells and ultimately to the whole body so that a deficiency at any one point adversely affects the whole body.
CELLULAR ERA
the splitting of the atomic nucleus is to physical chemistry as the splitting of the cellular nucleus is to cellular biology. The latter development has led to a whole new world of genetic engineering or biotechnology. It has made possible the selection of genes for specific desired characteristics such as the improvement of livestock; improved resistance against diseases of crops: and improved quality of foods.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL ERA
is a study of the physiologic needs in terms of specific nutrients. Sometimes this introductory course is referred to as Normal Nutrition.
BASIC OR FUNDAMENTAL NUTRITION
is a study of the nutritional principles and application throughout the life cycle or it could be concentrated on infancy, childhood, pregnancy and lactation, which are the most vulnerable groups.
NUTRITION OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OR CHILD AND MATERNAL NUTRITION
Others still refer to dietetic practice in diseased conditions as Therapeutic Nutrition, which deal with the adequacy of nutrient intake and diet to meet the individual’s needs under pathological conditions. Still others refer to this special branch of nutrition as Clinical or Medical Nutrition.
MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY (MNT)
