Special Issues in Human Nutrition

Special Issues in Human NutritionVidul Vithlani & Shukdev Fatania

What you need to be able to do by the end of

this section 1.) Distinguish between the composition of human milk and artificial milk

used for feeding babies 2.) Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding 3.) Outline the symptoms and causes of type II diabetes 4.) Explain the dietary advice that should be given to a patient who has

developed type II diabetes 5.) Discuss the ethical issues concerning eating animal products (eg.

Honey, milk, meat eggs etc.) 6.) Evaluate the benefits of reducing dietary cholesterol in lowering the

risk of coronary heart disease. 7.) Discuss the concept of food miles and the reasons for consumers

choosing foods to minimize food miles

Human milk or Powdered milk??

There are differences in human breast milk and powdered infant formula

Human breast milk has the following (these are not found in baby formula powder!)Enzymes amylase and lipaseWhite blood cells such as macrophagesAntibodiesHormones

Lactose and FatsHuman milk has 50% more lactose than cows milk

This is broken down into galactose and glucose to give the baby energy

Human milk also has more cholesterol which helps to build cell membranes

Rare Occurrence: Lactose Intolerant Babies! Some babies are naturally lactose intolerant (basically allergic

to milk) Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and abdominal pain For these babies, a different type of baby formula is used,

normally this baby formula is based on Soy Milk

ProteinHuman milk has less protein than cow

milkSimple reason: humans don’t need to grow

as much as calves do in the first yearThe amino acid Taurine:

There’s more of this in human milk than cow milk

Taurine is linked to brain development, something humans do better than cows (.....in most cases)

Protein ContinuedForms of Milk Protein

Two typesWhey Easy to digest and liquidCurd harder to digest white solid. Made of protein

called casein. (E.g. Tub of yogurt. The hard white yogurt is curd, the

watery clear stuff is whey)Human milk has 65% whey (liquid stuff) and

35% casein (solid white part)Cow milk has 18% whey and 82% casein

IronThere is more iron in baby formula

than in human milkWhy?

Its easier to absorb iron from human milk

SO the companies put more iron into the formula to compensate.

Is breastfeeding right for my baby

Breast milk is good for babies, it’s healthy and nutritious

BUT, sometimes doctors will advise mothers not to breast feed their kids if there is a good medical reason. Eg. If the mom cannot produce enough milk

or if there is a chance that the mom will pass on a pathogen (disease) like HIV or tuberculosis

Pro Breastfeeding :D Human milk is naturally made to suit our growth and requirements as

babies. It meets our specific dietary needs More whey and less casein makes it easier for us to digest the protein Human breast milk helps babies sleep The nutrients are more easily absorbed, like vitamins and iron Less risk of allergies Better bond between the mother and the baby (not scientifically

proven) Breastfeeding helps the mom to her weight (producing milk takes

energy) Less chance of getting sick. Human breast milk has more white blood

cells

Anti Breastfeeding D’:Can be painful (while feeding OR due to engorgement

(breasts become really large from the milk))Nipples can develop bacterial infectionsThe milk could transmit viruses like HIV if the mother

has suh diseases and infectionsNot accepted in some cultures to feed in publicHarder to manage breastfeeding and working in a

western society (feeding schedule)Dad feels left out

Type II DiabetesTwo types of diabetes

Type I Type II

Both mean the body cant break down sugar in the blood The body doesn’t produce or doesn’t respond to the

hormone insulin

Result: The person has a higher blood sugar level

This is called hyperglycaemia

Type II Diabetes continued

Other names: Adult-onset diabetes Diabetes mellitus type II Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Symptoms Being more thirsty than normal Urinating more than normal Fatigue More infections

Result of develeping an insensitivity to insulin over many years Found in obese people and people over the age of 40

Type II diabetes continued

Treated with exercise and a special diet. Not usually treated with insulin injections like with Type 1

Causes: Not just obesity and fitness, but also ethnicity Native Australians Native Americans Maoris

Also can be due to family history Can lead to problems with high blood pressure, eye

damage, kidney malfunction, nerve disease and chance of heart problems and stroke

Dietary Recommendations for

Type II DiabetesTake control of the glucose levels by having a

wholesome, well-balanced dietDecrease body mass and maintain a healthy BMIEat foods rich in fiber and complex carbohydratesLess saturated fats

Ethical Issues and Meat Consumption

Meat is not an absolute necessity for Humans unless you live in a place like the artic where there is not much else to eat

Vegetarians don’t eat the flesh of animals

Some vegetarians don’t eat animal products (milk, honey eggs), these are called vegans

Ethical Issues continuedThere are many reasons not to eat meat. The

ethical reasons includeKilling sentient beings is wrong, especially if it isn't

necessary for survival (sentient having a nervous system, feels pain and pleasure)

Raising animals for the sole purpose of slaughtering them is wrong

Intensive livestock production is a wasteful industry which misuses valuable resources such as water and land

Mass-production is cruel to animalsFishing industry pollutes the oceans and disrupts

ecosystems

Ethical Issues Continued

Arguments against vegetarianism include:Farm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs and

chickens would not exists if not raised for food

Without meat production and fishing, thousands of jobs would be lost

Meat and fish can be grown in decent conditions as in free-range, free-from-cruelty and organic practices

Certain nutrients are not available in vegetarian diets

The benefits of reducing cholesterol

Cholesterol is synthesized in the liver, type of lipid called a steroid

In moderate amounts, great for maintaining stability of the cell membranes

Too much though = heart disease and high blood pressure

The lipids can pile up in the artery limiting the blood flow and this increases the blood pressure. Then if a clot forms (stops blood going back to the heart) then a heart attack could happen

By reducing the amount of cholesterol you consume through your diet, you can reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure

Food Miles“Food miles” is used to describe the distance from

where the food was produced to where it was consumed. E.g. An apple picked at ACS Hillingdon is then shipped of to the States to be sold at Walmart

Foods which have traveled long distances have been transported by either boat or train or truck or car. The longer they travel, the more fossil fuels are burned in order to transport them and so more pollution is released in order to transport that food

This is an ethical issue To eat or not to eat something that has used so many

resources?

http://vimeo.com/11989278

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7rn5hH5XN8

Questions???

And.....QUIZ TIME!

1.)

All babies can drink breast milk

True or False?

2.)

All mothers should breast feed their babies

True or False?

3.)

What enzymes do breast milk contain?A.) Lipase and AmylaseB.) Endophase and glycogen C.) Homeostasis and ProteaseD.) Triglycerol and Axenol

4.)

Human Milk has less protein than cow milk

True or false?

5.)

Babies fed with breast milk are less likely to have more infections than babies fed with infant formula in the first year of life

True or false?

6.)

State 2 reasons why a doctor may suggest infant formula to nourish a baby rather than breast milk

7.)

Why is breast milk more easily digested by babies than baby formula?

8.)

What are the 2 forms of protein found in milk?

9.)

Why does baby formula have more iron content than human milk?

10.)

State 2 reasons for breast feeding

11.)

Give 2 reasons against breast feeding

12.)

Describe what diabetes is in simple terms? what happens when you have diabetes.

13.)

Diabetes can be fatal

True or false? Explain.

14.)

Eating meat is not necessary for survival

True or false? Explain.

15.)

Suggest 2 reasons against eating meat

16.)

Suggest 2 reasons for eating meat

17.)

Is cholesterol bad?Why?