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HPE158

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Introduction to Nutrition

Exercise ScienceHealth & Human Services

Course Goals

This class will introduce the basic concepts of nutrition. The emphasis is on the students' diet and on eating healthy for a lifetime.

Core Course Topics

  1. The basics of nutrition

  2. Evaluating nutrition information

  3. Digestion, Absorption, and Transport of Nutrients

  4. Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins

  5. Vitamins

  6. Water and minerals

  7. Energy balance and weight control

  8. Nutrition and physically active lifestyles

  9. Food safety

  10. The role of nutrition in preventing chronic disease

  11. Eating disorders

  12. Nutrition at different life stages

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate how to evaluate nutrition health claims.

Practice using the various diet analysis programs available (e.g. MyPlate, Dietary Guidelines).

Compare and contrast the digestion of carbohydrates, lipid, and protein.

Distinguish between the good and bad fats. Plan meals and snacks that reduce animal protein intakes. Recognize the functions of carbohydrates, lipids, and protein.

Evaluate the use of vitamin supplements with respect to their potential health benefits and hazards. Recall the roles of the major vitamins. List food sources for the major vitamins.

Describe roles of minerals in achieving and maintaining good health.

Restate the principles of energy balance. Calculate weight gain, weight loss, and weight balance in a variety of subjects.

Design an individualized exercise program that includes all the components of health-related physical fitness. Summarize the role of exercise in weight management.

Describe procedures that can reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Differentiate between different pathogens that cause foodborne illness.

Paraphrase major health risks associated with excess body fat.

Outline major kinds of eating disorders, including risk factors and treatments for these conditions.

Compare the nutritional composition of infant formula with breast milk. Elaborate on the nutrition difference in nutrient composition at the different life stages.