30319 Nutrition Therapy

Course overview

Discussion of nutrition therapy, including identifying characteristics, patients who could benefit, the ways macronutrients impact the structure and function of the body, and the difference between processed and whole foods. The standard American diet SAD includes low intake of vegetables and fruits, and consists of large amounts of processed foods, sugars, and saturated fats. The SAD is linked to multiple disease states, including an increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimers disease, among many other chronic diseases. Approximately 50% of American adults have one or more preventable, diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and/or obesity. Chronic diet-related diseases have increased in the United States, due partially to changes in lifestyle behaviors and poor eating habits. Incorporating plant-based and whole foods into diets may help prevent and possibly reverse some of these chronic illnesses. This program discusses the negative health consequences of the standard American diet, and how elimination of processed foods and incorporation of nutrient-dense whole foods can decrease the prevalence of chronic diseases.