The role of nutrients in addressing the NHPAs

The role of nutrients in addressing the NHPAs

1. Overview

   • strong relationship
   • Risk Nutrients - any nutrient that increases the chances of developing certain conditions
     • contribute to ill health if over consumed
   • Protective nutrients - any nutrient that acts to protect a person from a certain condition
     • promote health
   • need to eat a balanced food diet. Individuals are at a greater risk of deficiency in protective nutrients

2. Risk Nutrients

   • Cardiovascular Health
     • Saturated/Trans fats
       • contains LDL cholesterol which is risk
       • stimulates liver to produce LDL which increase the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD
     • Carbohydrates
       • weight gain, obesity and associated conditions
     • Sodium
       • increase blood volume, contributing to hypertension
       • hypertension increase risk of heart attack
   • Diabetes Mellitus
     • Carbohydrates, Protein and Fats
       • weight gain, obesity increasing risk of type 2
     • Trans fats
       • interfere with cell membranes and contribute to high blood glucose
       • leads to impaired glucose reg and diabetes
   • Osteoporosis
     • Protein
       • excess intake can increase loss of calcium from bones
     • Sodium
       • excess causes calcium to be excreted in urine, decreasing bone density
   • Colorectal Cancer
     • Carbohydrates, Protein and Fats
       • weight gain, obesity increasing risk of colorectal cancer
   • Obesity
     • Carbohydrates, Protein and Fats
       • weight gain and obesity if not used for energy

3. Protective Nutrients

   • Cardiovascular Health
     • Water
       • no kilojoules. Reduce obesity and CVD
     • Fibre
       • increases feeling of fullness, reducing overeating, obesity and CVD
       • reduces blood cholesterol, reducing rates of atherosclerosis and CVD
     • Monounsaturated Fats
       • reduces LDL cholesterol, reducing atherosclerosis and CVD
       • May increase HDL levels, decreasing blood cholesterol
     • Polyunsaturated Fats
       • reduces LDL cholesterol, reducing rates of atherosclerosis and CVD
       • Omega 3 increases elasticity of blood vessels and prevents blood clots
         • reduces risk of heart attack or stroke
   • Diabetes Mellitus
     • Fibre
       • increases feeling of fullness, reducing overeating, obesity and type 2
       • reduces blood glucose levels which protects against impaired glucose regulation and diabetes mellitus
     • Polyunsaturated Fats
       • may decrease impact of impaired glucose reg and reduce risk of diabetes
       • Omega 3 increases elasticity of blood vessels and prevents blood clots
     • Monounsaturated Fats
       • may increase HDL levels decreasing blood cholesterol
       • reduces LDL cholesterol, reducing rates of atherosclerosis and CVD
     • Water
       • no kilojoules, can reduce obesity and associated conditions
   • Colorectal Cancer
     • Fibre
       • moves digested food through digestive track and absorbs water
         • bulks faeces making them easier to pass
       • decreases chance of colorectal cancer, unknown reason
     • Water
       • no kJ, reduce obesity and associated conditions
       • absorbed by fibre and assists in flushing wastes, decreases rates of colorectal can cancer
   • Osteporosis
     • Calcium
       • hardening agent for mineralisation of bones, increasing bone mass and reducing risk
     • Phosphorus
       • works with calcium to ossify bones, increasing bone mass and reducing risk
     • Vitamin D
       • absorption of calcium and phosphorus from intestine to blood stream, increasing bone density and reducing risk
   • Obesity
     • Fibre
       • increases feeling of fullness reducing overeating, obesity
       • reduces energy intake by decreasing absorption of glucose in the blood stream. Can mean glucose is not transformed into adipose tissue
     • Water
       • no kJ, reduce obesity and associated conditions