Nutrition From a Nutrition Perspective

Nutrition

From a nutrition perspective (not an ethical one) please explain whether a vegan diet or an omnivorous diet is best for our health. Be sure to address benefits, pitfalls and possible solutions for the pitfalls of each diet.

No two vegan or omnivorous diets are equal because no two individuals will eat the same foods whether vegan or omnivorous. Also, the effects of vegan vs. omnivore diets will be differ depending on the individual, his or her current state of health and his or her genetics. Therefore, it is impossible to determine absolutely whether one diet is preferable from a nutritional standpoint. Both can be beneficial when proper nutritional guidelines are followed. Balance is a key to solid nutrition whether vegan or not. Vegans must take care to acquire enough vitamin B12 and calcium from their diets. Protein is itself relatively easy to consume from vegetarian sources but animal products do offer nutritionally available calcium, B12 and other essential nutrients that are tougher to find from plant foods or even from dietary supplements. Therefore, vegans should supplement their diet when possible and take care to consume those nutrients that might be missing. Vegans do have distinct advantages over their omnivorous counterparts in terms of less cholesterol consumption. Also, vegans would tend to gravitate toward healthier food choices in general: those that are less processed.

Omnivores need to beware of eating too much processed foods, which are cheap and easy to consume but which are detrimental to overall health and well-being. When meats and other animal products are consumed with moderation and from fresh, organic sources when possible, an omnivorous diet offers a wealth of nutritional benefits. Omnivores who choose their foods wisely, avoid processed or fast foods, and who eat high-quality animal products in moderation are likely to enjoy good health.

2. Indicate TWO reasons why manufacturers hydrogenate their lipid-rich products. Provide ONE example of a hydrogenated food product, as well as a suitable healthy non-hydrogenated substitute for that product.

Manufacturers hydrogenate their lipid-rich products for several reasons, such as to make a lipid-rich vegetable oil solid at room temperature and easier to spread on breads or for baked goods. Another key reason to hydrogenate lipid-rich products is to lengthen shelf life, as hydrogenated fats deteriorate slower than if the same fat was not hydrogenated. Margarine is a common example of a hydrogenated food product, and its most suitable alternative spread is butter, which although high in saturated fat is wholesome and not hydrogenated. If animal fat is to be avoided, then olive oil is a suitable alternative to margarine for spreading on bread.

3.What is meant by the statement folate can mask a B12 deficiency? Be sure to describe the relationship between folate and B12 in order to get full marks.

Folate supplementation can disguise an underlying B12 deficiency, and B12 deficiency is linked to a number of health issues including depression, dementia, and anemia. However, folate and B12 are both B-complex vitamins and are metabolized similarly. Both are stored in the liver and both are essential components in homocysteine metabolism, which in turn reduces risk for cardiovascular disease ("Folate fortification may mask B12 deficiency"). Both folate and B12 deficiencies can cause similar problems like anemia but B12 takes longer to break down in the liver and B12 deficiencies take longer than folate deficiencies to manifest as health problems. Therefore, care must be taken to supplement with B12 as well as folate if a deficiency is suspected.

4.Based on understanding of proteins, why does insulin need to be injected rather than ingested?

Insulin is a hormone and a protein that regulates glucose metabolism in the blood. Individuals who do not manufacture insulin in their bodies naturally need insulin supplements to control levels of blood sugar but if ingested into the stomach insulin would not permeate the body's muscle and fat cells, which are most responsible for regulating glucose levels. As a protein, insulin must be absorbed directly through cellular membranes. If ingested, insulin disolves in the stomach faster than it can be absorbed into cell membranes.

5. Discuss 3 B. vitamin deficiencies which may affect individuals in North America. Be sure to discuss their deficiency symptoms and how/why these deficiencies can occur in a continent where over-nutrition is one of our greatest problems