Chapter 3 Summary
3.2 Major Food Groups
Food guides generally classify foods into groups according to their natural origins and key nutrients. Such guides usually feature major food groups. Some food guides also include groups for oils and empty-calorie foods or beverages.
3.4 Food Guides
Choosemyplate.gov is an online, interactive food intake and physical activity guide that is based on Dietary Guidelines. Most Americans do not follow the government's dietary recommendations.
3.5 Food and Dietary Supplement Labels"
Consumers can use information on food labels to determine ingredients and compare nutrient contents of packaged foods and beverages. The FDA regulates and monitors information that can be placed on food labels, including claims about the product's health benefits. Nearly all foods and beverages sold in supermarkets must be labeled with the product's name, manufacturer's name and address, amount of product in the package, and ingredients listed in descending order by weight. Furthermore, food labels must use a special format for listing specific information on the Nutrition Facts panel.
3.5 Food and Dietary Supplement Labels"
The Daily Values (DVs) are a practical set of nutrient standards for labeling purposes. The nutrient content in a serving of food is listed on the label as a percentage of the DV (%DV). Not all nutrients have DVs. A dietary goal is to obtain at least 100% of the DVs for fiber, vitamins, and minerals (except sodium) each day.
3.3 Dietary Guidelines
The Dietary Guidelines is a set of general nutrition-related lifestyle recommendations designed to promote adequate nutritional status and good health, and to reduce the risk of major chronic nutrition-related health conditions.
3.1 From Requirements to Standards
A requirement is the smallest amount of a nutrient that maintains a defined level of health. Numerous factors influence nutrient requirements. Scientists use information about nutrient requirements and storage capabilities to establish specific dietary recommendations. The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are various energy and nutrient intake standards for Americans. An Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is the amount of the nutrient that meets the needs of 50% of healthy people in a particular life stage/sex group. The Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) is used to evaluate a person's energy intake. The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals (97 to 98%) in a particular life stage/sex group. When nutrition scientists are unable to determine an RDA for a nutrient, they establish an Adequate Intake (AI) value. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the highest average amount of a nutrient that is unlikely to harm most people when the amount is consumed daily.
3.1 From Requirements to Standards
DRIs can be used for planning nutritious diets for groups of people and evaluating the nutritional adequacy of a population's diet. RDAs and AIs are often used to evaluate an individual's dietary practices. For nutrition labeling purposes, FDA uses RDAs to develop Daily Values (DVs).
3.6 Using Dietary Analysis Software
Dietary analysis software and websites can be quick and easy tools for determining nutrient and energy contents of a specific food.
3.5 Food and Dietary Supplement Labels"
Organic foods are produced without the use of antibiotics, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic improvements, or food irradiation. In general, organic food crops are not more nutritious than similar conventionally grown foods. More research is needed to determine whether there are health advantages to eating organic foods. A food product cannot be labeled "organic" unless its production meets strict national standards.
3.4 Food Guides
The Exchange System, a tool for estimating the calorie and macronutrient contents of foods, categorizes foods into three broad groups. The foods within each group have similar macronutrient composition. A specified amount of food in an exchange list provides about the same amount of macronutrients and calories as each of the other specified amounts of foods in that list. Carbohydrate counting is a method that people can use for planning menus.
3.5 Food and Dietary Supplement Labels"
The FDA permits food manufacturers to include certain health claims on food labels. However, the agency requires that health claims meet certain guidelines and, in some instances, use specific wording. A structure/function claim describes the role a nutrient plays in the body. Structure/function statements cannot claim that a nutrient or food can be used to prevent or treat a serious health condition.
3.7 Nutrition Matters: The Melting Pot
Traditional ethnic diets are often based on dishes containing small amounts of animal foods and larger amounts of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and unrefined grains. However, these foods are typically abandoned as people migrate to other countries and assimilate into the general population. After an immigrant population has assimilated fully, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure often increases among them, partly as a result of adopting unhealthy eating practices. Many religions require members to follow strict food handling and dietary practices that often include the prohibition of certain foods and beverages.
