Finding balance in foods Diet has a profound influence on a person’s general health. Too many or too few nutrients, hypervitaminosis (too many vitamins) or

Finding balance in foods
Diet has a profound influence on a person’s general health. Too many or too
few nutrients, hypervitaminosis (too many vitamins) or hypovitaminosis (too
few vitamins), and above-normal or below-normal concentrations of minerals
(inorganic nutrients) can adversely affect health. Subtle, long-term problems
can occur when the diet includes the wrong proportions or combinations of
nutrients. The average diet in the United States contains too much sodium, too
much sugar, and too many calories in general, and lipids (particularly saturated
fats) provide too great a proportion of those calories. Poor diets increase the
incidence of obesity, heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes
in the U.S. population.
Mrs. Henderson, who has a family history of cardiovascular disease, is
concerned about her health. A comprehensive blood test reveals elevated
levels of LDL (so-called "bad cholesterol") and decreased levels of HDL
(so-called "good cholesterol"), normal glucose, and adequate vitamin levels
except vitamin B . The physician orders a consultation with the registered
dietitian, who discovers that Mrs. Henderson’s semi-vegetarian diet is high
in carbohydrates and fats.
1
Why are vitamins and minerals essential components of the diet?
2
Explain the labeling of HDL as "good cholesterol" and LDL as "bad cholesterol."
3
Why are HDLs considered beneficial?
4
process in the liver increases after a high-carbohydrate meal?
5
is the significance of a pyridoxine (vitamin B ) deficiency?