


Identify where the six classes of nutrients are found in foods.Įxplain how the six classes of nutrients are digested, absorbed, metabolized, and utilized.ĭistinguish between adequate nutrient intake, deficiencies, and toxicities and how these levels impact body systems and health outcomes.Īcknowledge the importance of a moderate approach when it comes to nutrition and weight management, recognizing all foods can fit into a healthful diet.Ĭritically evaluate and compare nutrition labels and determine the nutrient density of each food. Sugar: Food sources, health Implications, intakes, and label-reading to identify sugarĭefine and classify the six classes of nutrients. Glucose utilization and regulation in the bodyįiber: Benefits, recommendations, food sources, and whole vs. Topics Covered in this Unitįood sources of carbohydrates and guidelines for intakeĭigestion and absorption of carbohydrates In this unit, you'll learn to appreciate the nutrient-dense carbohydrate foods, identify which don't offer as valuable a nutritional package, and understand how a balanced diet can include all of them. Not all carbohydrate-rich foods are the same. But given that carbohydrates are in so many different types of foods, that's obviously an oversimplified message - and it's not fair to all of the awesome sources of carbohydrates in the world of food. The diet industry likes to sell us simple messages about "good" and "bad" foods, and these days, we tend to hear that carbohydrates are in the "bad" group. Examples of whole foods containing carbohydrates, including fresh fruit, legumes and grains, and cheese. They very well could be talking about a balanced diet focused on whole foods, like this:įig. In other words, if someone says they eat a high carbohydrate diet, that could mean many different things. And of course, carbohydrates are a key ingredient in desserts, sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, and many of the packaged snack foods that are readily available and - let's face it - can be hard to stop eating. But fruits and vegetables, dairy products, legumes, and nuts also have naturally-occurring carbohydrates.

Since the dawn of agriculture, human cultures have relied on staple grains, such as corn, rice, and wheat, as the foundation of their diets, and these foods are rich in carbohydrates. In fact, carbohydrates are the most abundant nutrient (except water) in the diets of most humans around the world. However, carbohydrates are found not just in grains, or in sweets and processed foods, but in every food group. When we ask this question in class, most students describe foods like the ones above. Examples of carbohydrate-rich snack foods. If someone says to you, "I love carbohydrates, and I eat them all day long!" what would you assume they're eating?įig. Carbohydrates Introduction to Carbohydrates
