CHAPTER 9DIET AND NUTRITIONThis chapter is concerned with the nutritionalrequirements for the healthy person, and for the sick,wounded, and convalescing patient. Research hasconfirmed that good health depends in part upon theavailability of essential nutrients the body requiresthroughout life. The well-nourished individual isusually mentally alert, is at a maximum of physicalcapability, and has a high resistance to disease. Thedaily basic minimum nutritional requirements must bemet and often supplemented during periods of illnessto meet the changing needs of the body and its ability touse foods. Therefore, the diet is an important factor inthe therapeutic plan for each patient.The important role of nutrition in overall health iswidely recognized. As a member of the Navy, you mustbe healthy to perform your professional duties. Part ofmaintaining a healthy lifestyle starts with eating awell-balanced diet and maintaining a good fitnessregimen. Many people in the Navy and Marine Corps donot maintain a proper daily diet. As a HospitalCorpsman, you may be responsible for providingnutritional counseling and, perhaps, even motivation.You have an added responsibility to observe foradditional nutritional needs and omissions and to adviseyour shipmates when necessary. If you stay healthy andenergetic, the knowledge and experience you share andthe example you set may help your shipmates adopt andmaintain a healthier lifestyle.Balancing energy intake and expenditure can bedifficult, both when activity levels are high as well aswhen they are very low. Typically, body weight remainsconstant when energy intake equals expenditure (fig.9–1). The energy balance equation can be “unbalanced”by changing energy intake, energy expenditure, or both.To gain or lose 1 pound requires that approximately 3,500extra calories be consumed or burned.FOOD CLASSIFICATIONLEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify thecomponents of good nutrition.Foods are substances from animal and plantsources that yield heat and energy when ingested andabsorbed by the body. Food nutrients build and renewtissues and regulate the body processes. The unitcommonly used for describing energy intake andenergy expenditure is the calorie. Good food sourcescontain substantial amounts of nutrients in relation tocaloric content and provide upwards of 10 percent ofthe U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance for eachspecific nutrient. Most people can get enough of eachrequired nutrient daily by eating a wide variety offoods.PROTEINSProteins are the “building blocks” of the body andprovide important required nutritive elements.Proteins are needed for growth, maintenance, andreplacement of body cells, and they form hormonesand enzymes used to regulate body processes. Extraprotein is either used to supply energy or is changedinto body fat. Found in both the animal and plantkingdoms, all proteins are composed of amino acids.Some amino acids are absolutely essential to maintainlife and are necessary for repair, growth, and bodydevelopment. Of the approximately 20 amino acids,9-1INTAKE=3000 KCAL OUTPUT=3000 KCALWEIGHT GAIN=0INTAKE=4000 KCAL OUTPUT=2000 KCAL WEIGHT GAIN=+INTAKE=2000 KCAL OUTPUT=3000 KCALWEIGHT GAIN=_HM3f0901Figure 9–1.—Balancing energy intake.
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