Recommendations of the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion - Essay Example

Daily Food Intake Breakfast: 2 Slices wholegrain Bread, with natural Cheese Spread oz. ready-to-eat cereal in milk 1 Cup Fresh fruit juice 1 whole banana 1 boiled egg Lunch: 1 cup Rice ½ cup cooked Dry beans, peas, or lentils ½ slice grapefruit 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables Tea: 2 slices cucumber sandwiches 2 pancakes with muffins and jam 4-5 pieces peanuts Dinner: 1 cup chickpea soup ½ cup cooked vegetables with potatoes (with jackets) 5-6 carrot pieces 2 Pcs wholegrain wheat chapattis with peanut butter. Nightcap: 1 cup milk with cocoa Nutrition Recommendations of the CNPP (Center for Nutrition Policy And Promotion) The CNPP has adopted the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) which is aimed at measuring the overall quality of diet of the people in the USA. The HEI uses a total score of a sum of 10 Components: 1. Components 1-5 determine the extent to which a person’s dietary habits conforms to the serving recommendations of the CNPP. The Five Major Food groups are: Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Meat/ Beans. 2. Component 6 figures out the details of total fat intake as a proportion of total K (calories) consumption 3. Component 7 calculates the saturated fat consumption as a proportion of the total food intake 4. Component 8 indicates the total cholesterol intake 5. Component 9 details the total salt intake 6. Component 10 narrates the needed different types of foods included in the person’s dietary habits. The Score Index ranges between 0-10 and the maximum possible score is 100. A High component score indicates compliance to Recommended servings. Scores over 80 indicate high compliance to the recommended servings whereas a score between 51-80 suggests improvements are necessary whereas a poor diet is revealed by a score of 50 or below. (Basiotis, P. P., Carlson, A. et al. 2002). In the Hypothetical Food Indake Chart, the recommendations are: Grains – 9 ounces ; Vegetables – 3.5 Cups, Fruits – 2 Cups, Milk – 3 Cups and Meat/beans – 6.5 ounces As compared to the Hypothetical food Chart, the milk consumption needs to be increased from the present 1 Cup to 3 Cups per day. The other items do conform to the requirements of the CNPP. Since this is based on projections, it may not be subject to accurate calculations. Basic foods like wholegrain wheat, brown bread, natural cheese, peanuts, lentils, cocoa powder etc are a rich source of proteins required for the body. Children would be requiring the protein in greater proportions, compared to full grown adults, since they are in growing and need for development and growth. Non-Vegetarian food like Meat and meat products and other forms of birds/animal flesh are a great provider of total protein requirements for the body, which may not be the case in vegetarian food, where it would become necessary to have complimentary diet which would even out the protein requirements. The deficiencies in the protein content of one particular type of food could be compensated in another variety of food and thus total protein requirements may be met. The recommended average protein intake is protein intake is 50 grams of protein per day when one consumes the average 2,000-calorie diet for sedentary people. (Bio Synergy). However in the case of athletes and growing children, this recommended intake needs to be surpassed to cater to their mounting protein requirements. Protein intake within the recommended range is important because proteins break down in human body to produce essential amino-acids. There are bodily requirements for 20 types of amino-acids and the body, on its own, is just able to produce just 12 of them. The rest 8 has to be obtained from diet. Therefore it is necessary to have the protein intake as per the suggested norms. The vital amino acids received from the food combines with the natural ones produced by the body to ensure that the protein requirements are fully met. These are very essential for body’s upkeep and development and to ward off diseases. The protein deficiency or imbalances could lead to muscle wasting, hair losses, oedema, anemic conditions and also serious conditions arising out of malnutrition. Excess proteins would require additional intake of calcium to offset the increased load of protein in the system. . The excess would have to be excreted by the kidneys .and under normal situations, no serious harm is done by excess protein, except when combined with other health conditions. FIBER Fiber forms yet another essential nutrient in the diet. Fiber is not digested in the gastrointestinal tract but helps the digestion and waste evacuation process. There are two types of fibers, soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber found in beans, oats, barley, rye, etc, makes food ingestion more filling and thus decreases the food intake. Insoluble fiber holds the water contents in the body and thus the digested food more faster into the guts for assimilation. The good effects of fiber are that they decrease constipation, reduces the incidence of colon cancers, and does not allow fatty foods to assimilate thus reducing cholesterol. By providing the necessary roughage it aids the smooth flow of food into the digestive system. Wholegrain bread, peas, wholegrain chapattis, beans, peas provide most fiber in the day’s meal. Rice, pancakes carry the least fiber contents. The trend towards non-processed food would increase the fiber content in the diet. As would an affinity towards wholegrain and wholesome foods like pasta in pre-refined stage. In order to increase the fibre contents in food habits it is recommended that three different types of vegetables/fruits are included in daily diet and the fruits/vegetables, as afar as possible are eaten with their skins intact. (Healthy Eating for Life). Meat and milk products do not really add to the day’s fiber total and excess use could create constipation and related conditions. A good amount of vegetables and fruits should be added to create roughage which could lubricate the bowels and reduce the incidence of constipation. Moreover, fresh fruits and vegetables also lower cholesterol and blood fats. Insoluble fiber could hold body water and obviate need for untimely food intake since more fillings would alleviates the craving for unhealthy food. It is recommended that a sensible diet should include fiber rich beans and pea soup besides lentils. Fruits are a great source of natural sugar and provide fiber for food assimilation. Fruit juices, on the other hand, do not have any nutritional advantage over whole fruit, and a healthier alternative would be to consume whole fruit rather than fruit juices. The purchased fruit juice contains artificial sweeteners and life preservatives and, therefore, the sugar contents in the diet would step up. This, in turn, would increase the total calories in the diet, thereby raising the possibilities of weight gain of the consumer. Works Cited Basiotis, P. P., Carlson, A. et al. (2002). The Healthy Eating Index: 1999-2000. Retrieved May 15, 2007, from http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/publications/HEI/HEI99-00report.pdf Bio Synergy. FAQs. Retrieved May 15, 2007, from http://www.bio-synergy.co.uk/store/help.php?section=FAQ Healthy Eating for Life. KICSTART. Retrieved May 15, 2007, from http://www.kicstart.com.au/healthy_weight_wheel/healthy_eating_for_life.asp#fibre Read More