The Building Blocks of Life: A Nutrition Foundation for Healthcare Professionals

Description

Within the United Kingdom (UK), most mainstream healthcare practitioners receive little or no nutrition education during their years of training. As a consequence, the understanding of nutrition amongst primary care practitioners such as general practitioners, pharmacists, midwives, and practice nurses is limited and is largely focused on energy consumption and obesity. There is little knowledge of the wealth of micronutrients that underpin health, nor of the ticking timebomb of insufficient intakes of those micronutrients amongst a significant proportion of the population in the UK. The Building Blocks of Life: A Nutrition Foundation for Healthcare Professionals is a step towards redressing that balance. It sets out an informative and engaging narrative on how and why nutrition is the basis for good health. It discusses UK-specific issues with regards to diet and intakes of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other micronutrients. It also raises concerns about the potential negative health implications of the generally poor UK diet and suggests ways that healthcare practitioners can support patients in improving their long-term health outlook. Nutrition policy in the UK needs to be dragged into the 21st century and this book sets out evidence-based arguments which challenge current public health myths such as the idea that 10 micrograms of vitamin D is all anyone needs or the messaging around the consumption of saturated fat vs highly processed seed oils or that everyone can get all the nutrients they need from a varied and balanced diet. Although The Building Blocks of Life: A Nutrition Foundation for Healthcare Professionals focuses on concerns around poor diet and the consequent micronutrient inadequacies in the UK, the nutritional detail is relevant no matter where you are in the world. Everyone eats, all the time. It is time that mainstream medicine looked towards food as both a cause and a solution to many of the chronic degenerative conditions that plague modern life. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Author Introduction References 1. Nutrition Basics The basics Macro- and micronutrients Are split up into smaller and more complex groups Macronutrients Fats Proteins Carbohydrates Fibre Water Micronutrients Vitamins Minerals Omega-3 Fatty Acids Phytonutrients Deficiency or insufficiency Nutrient intakes - terminology National Diet and Nutrition Survey Government guidelines There Is nothing simple about nutrition References 2. Malnutrition What is malnutrition? Definitions Prevalence of malnutrition in the UK The difference between macronutrient and micronutrient malnutrition Undernutrition is part of malnutrition Vitamin D Omega-3 Fatty Acids What are the health implications of these nutrient shortfalls? Vitamin A Vitamin D Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Folate (Folic Acid) Calcium Magnesium Iron Iodine Selenium Zinc Omega-3 Real life Other issues Confusing public health messages Solutions? Education Social prescribing Clear messages A quick fix? References 3. Digestion Digestion and Absorption Fat Soluble Vitamins Water Soluble Vitamins Minerals Immunity The Microbiome The Microbiome in the Mouth The Microbiome in the Gut Fibre Short Chain Fatty Acids Fermented Foods The Second Brain The Nervous Systems in the Gut Neurotransmitters Glutamate and GABA The Centrality of the Gut to Health References 4. Obesity Obesity and poverty Ultra-processed food The glycaemic index How our relationship with food impacts obesity Insulin and carbohydrate Hunger and appetite Satiety value Fat is not the enemy Saturated fat - really not so bad Trans fats and omega-3 Obesity and the microbiome There is no single "best way" to lose weight References 5. Immunity Immunity requires both micronutrients and macronutrients Nutrients Fund Immunity Omega-3 and omega-6 Vitamins Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E The B Vitamins Vitamin C Minerals Iron Zinc Selenium Calcium Other factors β-glucans Flavonoids and Polyphenols The Microbiome and GALT References 6. Vitamin D Vitamin D from food Vitamin D from sunlight Safety Situation in the UK Vitamin D deficiency rates in the UK Bones Mental health Immunity Autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis Diabetes Inflammatory GI Diseases Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Some cancers Skin health To test or not to test Supplementing to protect References 7. Conception, Pregnancy and Foetal Development Mum and baby Folic acid Other Benefits of B Vitamins Fats and oils Trans Fats Omega Fats The microbiome Energy intakes Protein intake Finally ... for mum and baby Preconception for dad References 8. Tired All the Time Metabolism Energy substrates Energy production from glucose Glycolysis The Link Reaction The Krebs Cycle The Electron Transport Chain It gets more complicated... β-Oxidation of Fatty Acids Protein Metabolism Nutrients needed for energy production: Vitamins Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Niacin (Vitamin B3) Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Folic Acid Biotin Choline Vitamin C Nutrients needed for energy production: Minerals Calcium Iron Magnesium Manganese Phosphorus Other nutrients needed for energy production Coenzyme Q10 Vitamin D Water Nutritional management of fatigue Always read the label References 9. Different Ways of Eating Mediterranean diet The flexitarian diet Vegetarianism and veganism Junk Food Vegetarians Potential Nutrient Shortfalls in Vegetarian Diets Vitamin A B Vitamins Vitamin D Omega-3 Iron Calcium Iodine Selenium Zinc The keto diet Intermittent fasting The Palaeolithic (Paleo) diet Detox diets The Liver - Key to Detoxification Raw food diet Is there a "best" diet? References Conclusion References Nutrient "Cheat Sheets" References Index