Principles of Nutrition - HLT 230 at Rappahannock Community College
https://courses.vccs.edu/colleges/rcc/courses/HLT230-PrinciplesofNutrition
Effective: 2022-05-01
Course Description
Introduces students to the basic concepts of nutrition and its impact on personal wellness. Emphasizes an evidence-based approach to various topics, such as the nutrient components of food, the components of a healthy eating pattern, and the relationship between diet and health. Provides a behavioral approach to nutrient guidelines for the development and maintenance of optimum wellness. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through documented written reports.
Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits
The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.
General Course Purpose
HLT 230 introduces basic nutrition concepts and the relationship between diet and personal health.
Course Objectives
- Communication
- Communicate openly and accurately with others regarding nutrition issues
- Critical Thinking
- Discuss the impact of lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition and physical activity, on lifelong health
- Evaluate current individual nutrition practices and incorporate components of a healthy diet into personal nutrition choices
- Compare and contrast nutritional needs at various stages of the life cycle
- Social and Cultural Understanding
- Discuss the personal, cultural, social, and psychological factors affecting food choices
- Information Literacy
- Assess nutrition information for scientific reliability and evaluation current nutrition concepts and controversies
- Select and utilize credible sources of nutrition and health information
- Scientific Reasoning
- Identify the major nutrients, where they are found in foods, and their role in body structure and function.
- Describe the components of a healthy eating pattern based on current evidence-based guidelines
- Explain the physiological processes whereby the body breaks down food and absorbs nutrients
- Discuss the interrelationships of diet to development of obesity and specific chronic diseases, and other physical and mental illnesses and conditions
- Personal Development
- Discuss the role nutrition plays in the maintenance of health/wellness
- Construct and employ a personalized meal plan that meets individual dietary needs and incorporates sound nutrition principles
- Introduction to Nutrition Concepts
- Define nutrition
- Describe the body's need for calories, nutrients and other substances
- Explain the connection between diet and health
- Distinguish among the six classes of nutrients
- Explain the concept of essential nutrients
- Discuss the concepts of adequacy, balance, calorie control, moderation, and variety.
- Discuss the factors affecting individual food choices
- Explain the motivations for nutrition misinformation in the media
- Discuss ways to identify nutrition misinformation
- Discuss sources of scientifically reliable nutrition research and funding sources
- Analyze selected nutrition articles and websites for reliability and credibility
- Nutrition Standards, Guidelines, and Healthy Eating Patterns
- Define the five dietary reference intake (DRI) values
- Discuss the application of the DRIs to various population groups and individuals
- Discuss the key recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Explain the key recommendations for each food group based on the USDA Choose My Plate plan
- Discuss the key components of USDA Eating Patterns
- Demonstrate how various diet-planning tools can be used to plan a nutritious diet
- Identify strategies for healthy eating on a budget
- Identify and dispel common nutrition myths
- Explain the key elements of the nutrition label
- List the requirements/rules for each element of the nutrition label
- Explain the FDA's policy on health claims on food labels
- Discuss the differences between the nutrition label and the supplement label
- Analysis and compare various nutrition labels for required elements and health claims
- Body Systems and Nutrition
- Name six basic needs of the body's cells
- Explain the interaction among the endocrine, nervous, and cardiovascular systems, and digestive system health.
- Explain the role of nutrition in the functioning of the immune system
- List the main digestive organs and describe the function of each
- Describe the primary function of digestion enzymes
- Describe how fats, carbohydrates and proteins are digested
- List and describe the major digestive disorders to include possible causes and treatment
- Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats
- Discuss the role of carbohydrates, protein, and fat in the body
- Distinguish between simple and complex carbohydrates
- Discuss the health benefits of a high fiber diet
- Dispel the myth that "carbs are bad" and discuss the health benefits of eating complex carbohydrates
- Distinguish between complete and incomplete proteins
- Explain the concept of complementary proteins
- Discuss the consequences of too little and too much protein
- Distinguish among saturated, trans and unsaturated fats
- Discuss the health benefits of a diet rich in unsaturated fats and the adverse health effects of saturated and trans fats
- Distinguish between "good" and "bad" cholesterol
- List the recommended amount of calories from fat, carbohydrates and protein
- Identify food sources for carbohydrates, proteins and fats
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
- Distinguish between water soluble and fat soluble vitamins
- Explain the function of vitamins and minerals in the body
- Identify food sources for vitamins
- Describe recommendations for preventing vitamin deficiencies and toxicities
- Explain the health benefits of calcium, iron, and potassium
- Discuss the relationship between sodium intake and hypertension
- Discuss the role of water as an essential nutrient
- Discuss the health benefits of water
- Discuss the risks of water deficiency and water toxicity
- Energy Balance and Weight Management
- Define basal metabolic rate (BMR), non-exercise thermogenesis, exercise thermogenesis, and diet-induced thermogenesis
- Discuss the concept of energy balance
- Calculate energy needs based on the DRI method.
- Explain how weight status is defined in adults and children
- Calculate body mass index (BMI)
- Define BMI classifications in adults and children
- Discuss the influences of obesity on health status
- Distinguish between types and location of fat as it pertains to health risk
- List methods for measuring body fat
- Discuss various theories of obesity
- List the health effects of being underweight
- Discuss the strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight to include food and lifestyle choices
- Identify the pros and cons of popular diet plans
- Define medical treatment of obesity
- Diet and Disease
- Define the three types of diabetes
- Describe the characteristics of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Explain the health consequences of Type 2 diabetes
- Describe pre-diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
- Identify dietary and lifestyle factors to prevent and manage Type 2 diabetes
- Discuss the major risk factors for heart disease
- Distinguish between HDL and LDL cholesterol
- Identify strategies to prevent and manage heart disease
- Define acceptable blood lipid levels
- Define cancer and explain how it develops
- Identify the causes of cancer, genetic and environmental
- Identify cancers amenable to dietary intervention
- Describe a diet that will lower the risk of cancer
- Performance Nutrition
- Define physical activity and performance nutrition
- Explain the health benefits of physical activity
- List the physical activity guidelines for Americans
- Describe the components of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility)
- Identify the key nutrient needs for physical performance
- Identify healthy foods choices for various types of physical performance
- Life Cycle Nutrition: Mother and Infant
- Identify critical periods of fetal development
- Discuss the importance of pregnancy weight status and prenatal weight gain
- Discuss energy needs during pregnancy
- Identify key nutrient needs during pregnancy and the health implications of deficiencies
- Discuss the effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption during pregnancy
- Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding
- Identify nutrient needs for breastfeeding
- Discuss current infant feeding recommendations
- Life Cycle Nutrition: Children, Teens, and Older Adults
- Identify nutrient needs during each stage of childhood (early childhood, school-age, and adolescence)
- Discuss food preference development in children
- Discuss recommendations for healthy diets in children and youth
- Distinguish between food allergies and food intolerance
- Describe how food allergies and food intolerances develop
- Describe the most common symptoms of intolerance and allergic reactions to food
- List the foods most likely to cause intolerance symptoms or allergic reactions
- Discuss the effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption.
- Review the recommended nutrient intake ranges for older adults
- Discuss key nutrition issues for older adults
- Identify key nutrient needs for middle age and older adults
- Food Safety
- Define foodborne illness
- Distinguish between food infection and food intoxication
- Identify potential sources of food contamination
- Discuss the causes and risks of foodborne illness
- Discuss food safety regulations
- Discuss the consumer's role in preventing foodborne illness
- Explain regulation of food additives
- Discuss the benefits and potential risks of food additives
- U.S. and Global Nutrition Issues
- Define food insecurity
- Identify socio-economic factors that affect access to food, food choice and food quality
- Identify strategies for addressing food insecurity
- Identify the leading problem areas related to malnutrition and hunger
- Discuss strategies for tackling the global nutrition crisis
- Identify threats to the global food supply
- Discuss strategies for protecting the US and global food supply
Major Topics to be Included
- Introduction to Nutrition Concepts
- Nutrition Standards, Guidelines, and Healthy Eating Patterns
- Body Systems and Nutrition
- Carbohydrates, Proteins, & Fats
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
- Energy Balance and Weight Management
- Diet and Disease
- Performance Nutrition
- Life Cycle Nutrition: Mother and Infant
- Life Cycle Nutrition: Children, Teens, and Older Adults
- Food Safety
- U.S. and Global Nutrition Issues
Optional Topics
- Food as medicine, energy drinks/soda, sports nutrition, cellular respiration, specialty diets