Nutrition Overview

Imagine that...FUN is a food group! Okay, I do overlook the fact that the olives on a toothpick imply a martini...and I am neither advocating for nor abstaining from alcohol, but I just love the concept of fun being a part of food. When people learn that I am a nutritionist, I often get a groan, like, "oh, don't look at what I am eating...". There is often too much judgment in nutrition. What is your 'gut' reaction to the idea of nutrition? Think about that as we move through these modules.

Nutrition is the sum of the processes involved in taking in nourishment to sustain life- consumption, digestion, absorption, metabolism and elimination. We consume foods, beverages and substances that contain nutrients necessary to support life. Of course, we also consume substances that may not necessarily contribute to health and wellness.

Nutritional science is the study of nutrition and all the aspects related to nutrition- personal, population, planetary.

In the world of nutrition, we talk about diet but it is important to keep in mind that we are generally using the word diet to mean food intake or pattern of eating. When you come across the word diet, it is not always meant as a pattern of eating to lose weight, as popularly used.

In this course, we focus on the big picture- what is generally considered healthy and nutritious throughout aging, what can be generalized and what needs to be specialized or personalized. This course will not prepare you to diagnose or treat specific dietary issues that older adults may encounter. That's the work of trained dietitians and nutritionists.

You WILL have the opportunity to consider big picture questions that have the power to make a positive difference for all of us!

And now a word from your sponsor...

There are lots of opinions, approaches and beliefs related to nutrition. There is more than one 'right' way to eat healthfully. There are many many many influences on why anyone eats what they eat- far beyond health or nutrition. Some of these influences include enjoyment, values, religion, culture, economics, environment, access, government policy.

I come with my own set of biases and I intend to be as transparent as possible. I am a scientist who appreciates both the power and the limits of science.

It is my perspective that for the general North American population, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide a useful blueprint for healthful eating based on extensive research. There are many models that "make sense" but lack the research base. I use the DGA as a backdrop. Learn the DGA and ways to accommodate variations and you can evaluate any new research, diet or fad that comes along.

I also recognize that some of the influences on the DGA include politics and compromise. Yet, I challenge anyone to present alternate dietary guidance with as solid a research base. I invite you- I welcome and encourage you- to present credible sources that challenge nutritional concepts presented in this course. Feel free to use the [discussion topic] to lay out any challenges to material presented in this course. I'll do my best to respond promptly with resources that might be useful in the conversation. The only given is that we all use and cite credible references. Let's all learn together.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Early nutrition research in the modern era uncovered nutrient needs at the micro level. During the 1900s, researchers discovered and named dozens of nutrients (especially vitamins and minerals) that are necessary to prevent diseases caused by deficiencies and identified the amounts needed to promote healthy growth and development. This focus on specific nutrients led to the establishment of specific nutrient intake goals or Recommended Dietary Allowances. While we will look at these briefly, it is important to know that this "reductionist" approach to nutrition has limits and today, many nutritionists look at patterns of food intake rather than this micro approach to promote health and wellness. But, it is still important to know about the nutrients.