Download LESSON 5.3 WORKBOOK Researching Your Project Topic

LESSON 5.3 WORKBOOK
Researching Your Project Topic
Now it's your turn to try your hand at evaluating a
nutrition or dietary claim! Prepare a presentation
using one of the topics below. Be sure to use the
rubric created in Unit 5 to evaluate the claim. Use
the QMDC and CRAAP methods as you read
through scientific resources regarding the topic.
For more information about searching for credible
scientific resources, visit the following research
guide via this unit on the student site or clicking
the link below:
■■ Great Diseases Guide to Searching for
Claims
Diets
Topic
Paleo Diet
Claim
Explanation
What is this related to?
Eating a diet similar to our ancestors
leads to weight loss.
A nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and
Obesity
animals. This diet is high in grass-fed meats, fruits and vegetables, and low
in processed foods, carbohydrates and dairy.
South Beach Preventing spikes and drops in insulin A diet designed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon Obesity
prevents weight gain.
originally to prevent heart disease. This diet focuses on low glycemic index
Diet
foods and consists of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
Wo r k b o o k
Lesson 5.3
Blood Type
Diet
People with different blood types need Popularized by the book Eat Right 4 Your Type, the blood type diet is actuto follow different diets to lose weight. ally a series of types of diets that vary based on blood type.
Obesity
195
PROJECT TOPICS
Topic
Vegetarian
Diet
Gluten Free
Diet
Diets cont.
Claim
Explanation
What is this related to?
Eliminating meat from the diet
increases overall longevity.
A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is high in fiber, vitamins,
minerals and typically low in fat and calories.
Obesity; overall health
Gluten sensitivity causes fatigue,
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease is a
headaches, abdominal discomfort and diagnosable disease that affects about 10% of the population. Gluten
other symptoms.
sensitivity is harder to diagnose, though many people feel a relief from
symptoms by removing gluten from their diet.
Digestion disorders;
overall health
Nutrition through the lifecycle
Topic
Claim
Folic acid in Reduction in neural tube birth
pregnancy defects in offspring.
Wo r k b o o k
Lesson 5.3
Explanation
What is this related to?
Women who take a folic acid supplement during pregnancy have
a lower chance of having a baby with a spinal cord malformation,
called spina bifida.
Methylmercury in seafood can build to toxic levels in women who
are pregnant.
Neural tube birth defects
Eating nitrates leads to cancer in
offspring.
Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are preservatives used in deli
meats. They are converted into nitrosamine in the body, a carcinogen. Fetuses may be more susceptible to nitrosamines.
Cancer
Eating fish
during
pregnancy
Nitrates
during
pregnancy
Probiotics
in infant
formula
Babies exposed to methylmercury
in the womb can suffer from brain
damage.
Probiotics prevent infection and
inflammation in infants
Breastfed infants will be exposed to beneficial microorganisms from Infectious diseases
their mothers. Probiotics in formula provide similar exposure even
when the infant is not breastfed.
Vitamin D
supplements
for infants
Calcium
supplements
in teenagers
Breastmilk does not contain
enough vitamin D for infants, so
supplementation is necessary
Consuming extra calcium during
adolescence reduces osteoporosis
later
Longterm caffeine consumption
reduces the cognitive declines
associated with aging
Babies in northern climates or those not regularly exposed to skin
cannot make enough vitamin D, and breastmilk can be low in
vitamin D if the mother is deficient.
Up to 90% of the peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and
age 20 in boys, so adolescence is the best time to invest in calcium
storage.
Habitual users of caffeine have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease and cognitive decline during aging. Caffeine
may increase concentrations of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Caffeine
and aging
Nervous system defects
Rickets and possibly
muscle development
Osteoporosis
Neurological disorders
196
PROJECT TOPICS
Topic
Protein
powder
and muscle
building
Creatine
and muscle
building
Weight loss
supplements
Vitamin B12
in energy
drinks
Non-skeletal
benefits of
Vitamin D
Claim
Explanation
Consuming extra protein will
increase muscle growth
New muscles are built in response to increase need for strength. An Muscular development
adequate supply of amino acids is required for new muscle growth,
so some believe consuming extra amino acids will allow muscles to
grow quicker.
What is this related to?
Taking creatine supplements helps Creatine is used in the muscles to supply extra energy when
muscle gain
needed by increasing the formation of ATP.
Muscular development
Taking weight loss supplements
will expedite weight loss
Weight loss supplements commonly contain caffeine for energy,
fiber to keep you feeling full, and "extracts" that promise to burn fat.
Obesity
Consuming extra vitamin B12
increases energy
Vitamin B12 is needed for proper function of blood cells, brain
and nervous system. Some food producers claim that vitamin B12
increases energy and athletic performance.
Energy and cognition
Vitamin D supplements promotes
overall health and reduces
infections
Blood levels of vitamin D are lowered in people with heart disease,
some cancers, an infectious disease and other illnesses relative to
health people.
Infectious diseases;
overall health
Omega 3
fatty acids
supplements
and heart
disease
Taking fish oil supplements lowers
your risk for heart disease
Fish oil is high in omega 3 fatty acids, which may lower blood lipids
including LDL.
Heart disease
Vitamin C
and prevention of colds
Caffeine
and athletic
endurance
Taking Vitamin C supplements
reduces the risk of getting a cold
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant and has been linked to preventing colds Infectious diseases
for decades.
Consuming caffeine increases
athletic endurance
Caffeine is a stimulant and provides energy, which may be able to
increase an athelete's performance.
Athletic performance
It may seem like a daily dose of vitamins and minerals can only
be beneficial, but several studies have recently shown that daily
multivitamin use either has no benefits, or is actually linked to death
at an earlier age than non-vitamin users.
Infectious diseases;
overall health
Multivitamins Taking a daily multivitamin
and overall
prevents illness and increases
health
overall longevity
Wo r k b o o k
Lesson 5.3
Dietary Supplements
197
PROJECT TOPICS
Topic
Food
coloring
Caramel
coloring
Artificial
sweeteners
MSG
BPA
Wo r k b o o k
Lesson 5.3
Food Additives
Claim
Explanation
What is this related to?
Consumption of artificial food
coloring increases hyperactivity in
children
Consumption of caramel coloring
increases risk of cancer
Artificial food colorings are synthesized chemicals added to
processed foods and may have negative health effects.
Neurological disorders
Caramel coloring is an artificial color used in sodas and some baked Cancer
goods. It contains methylimidazole, a carcinogen.
Consumption of some artificial
Aspartame and sucralose are both artificial sweeteners that have
sweeterns increases risk of cancer been blamed for causing cancer.
Cancer
MSG is linked to migraines,
nausea and weakness.
BPA causes developmental and
behaivoral disorders
Neurological disorders
Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that may may alter
chemical signalling in the brain.
BPA is a synthetic plastic that when consumed may alter hormonal
signaling that harms the brain and the reproductive system.
Neurological disorders;
Reproductive disorders
198