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MR Class Day Presentation

This document discusses how certain foods resemble different body parts and how they can support those body parts. It examines walnuts and brain health, beets and cardiovascular health, carrots and eye health, citrus fruits and breast health, and ginger and gastric relief. For each food, it outlines the active compounds and summarizes relevant research studies that have found health benefits related to the body part the food resembles. The document concludes that while some foods resemble body parts they don't necessarily support, all the foods discussed are generally healthy plant foods containing antioxidants and phytonutrients.

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80 views

MR Class Day Presentation

This document discusses how certain foods resemble different body parts and how they can support those body parts. It examines walnuts and brain health, beets and cardiovascular health, carrots and eye health, citrus fruits and breast health, and ginger and gastric relief. For each food, it outlines the active compounds and summarizes relevant research studies that have found health benefits related to the body part the food resembles. The document concludes that while some foods resemble body parts they don't necessarily support, all the foods discussed are generally healthy plant foods containing antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Uploaded by

api-359240590
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Anatomy Bites

You Are What You Eat


Presented by Molly Rockford, UVa Dietetic Intern 2017
Objectives & Outline
Identify foods that look like body parts
Describe how particular foods that look like certain body
parts support that body part
Decipher whether a certain food that looks like a body
part does or does not support the resembling body part
Walnuts &
Cognition

From Brain
Development To
Neurodegenerative
Protection
The Well-Rounded Walnut
Walnuts have a rich matrix of bioactive compounds
Fatty acids and antioxidants
Omega-3s, polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins C & E
This mix of compounds gives walnuts the power to
reduce oxidative stress and inflammation + helps
maintain neuronal membrane integrity and attenuate
protein aggregation
Omega-3s
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Docasahexaenonic acid (DHA)
Precursors to prostaglandins and thromboxanes
Highly concentrated in the brain and abundant within
neuronal membranes
Omega-3s in Brain Development
DHA is the most prevalent fatty acid in phospholipid
membranes of the brain
Low consumption of EPA and DHA is linked to delayed
brain development in babies and increased risk for
Alzheimer's later in life
Aging and Metabolic Effects of Brain Health
CNS Demands
One-Fourth of
all O2

Dystrophy and
Generation of
Death of Brain
Free Radicals
Cell

Oxidative Stress Neutralized by


& Enzymes and
Proinflammatory Proteins

Aging Impacts
Homeostasis
Omega-3s and the Aging Brain
The Walnuts for Healthy Aging Study (WAHA)
A 2 year study examining the effects of walnut
consumption on cognitive function
Participants consumed 30-60g of walnuts per day
Cognitive testing at base line and at end of study
The rapport built by the dietitian with the participant
during the periodic scheduled visits was critical to retain
participants for the entire length of the study
WAHA continued.
PUP QUIZ!
Beets &
Cardiovascular
Health
Say N-O To
Endothelium
Dysfunction
Cardiac and Vascular Endothelium
A thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood
vessels
Serves as a semipermeable barrier
A healthy endothelial protects against atherosclerosis
Releases biologically active substances in response to physical,
chemical, and humoral changes
Modulates the tone of underlying vascular smooth muscle
Maintains a non-adhesive luminal surface
Mediates hemostasis, cellular proliferation, and inflammatory
and immune mechanisms in the vascular wall
Nitric Oxide (NO)

Endothelial cells secrete Nitric Oxide (NO)


Plays a critical role in sustaining vascular health
Dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow
Helps create non-adhesive surface
Generated through the conventional L-arginine/NO
synthesis pathway
Endothelial Dysfunction

Reduced secretion of NO
Blood vessels to become slow to dilate and slow to
increase blood flow, and can become constricted
instead
Atherosclerosis and common cardiovascular risk
factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high LDL
cholesterol, smoking, unhealthy diet and overweight
can cause abnormal endothelial function
Conventional L-arginine/NO synthesis
pathway
Nitrate Nitrite Nitric Oxide
Research
250 mL of beetroot juice
Reduced blood pressure measured by 3 different methods
Clinical by 7.7/5.2 mmHg
24h Ambulatory by 7.7/5.2 mmHg
Home by 8.1/3.8 mmHg
Endothelial function improved by ~20% and arterial stiffness was reduced

500 mL of beetroot juice


10 point drop in systolic blood pressure
Dietary nitrates protect against Endothelial dysfunction
PUP QUIZ!
Carrots &
Eye Health

Carotenoids To The
Rescue!
Carotenoids: Lutein & Zeaxanthin
The main pigments found in the macula of the human retina
Protect the macula from damage by blue light
Improve visual acuity
Scavenge harmful reactive oxygen (antioxidants)
Their role in eye health has been well established from
epidemiological, clinical and interventional studies
Reduce cataract development and age-related macular
degeneration (AMD)
Age-Related Diseases of the Eye
Cataracts - clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye

Macular Degeneration (AMD) deterioration of the macula, the part of the


eye that allows you to see fine detail, bluring the sharp, central vision needed
for straight-ahead activities
Research
Lack of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the diet leads to
cataracts and AMD related blindness
The retinal concentration of Lutein and Zeaxanthin
increased 128% and 116% respectively, when fed high
Lutein (27.2 mg.kg) and Zeaxanthin (15.3 mg/kg) for 28
days compared to the control diet with 5.2 mg/kg and 1.7
mg/kg
Large prospective cohort studies have found that
individuals with the highest intakes of foods rich in
Lutein and Zeaxanthin were 18-50% less likely to require
cataract extraction
Lutein & Zeaxanthin Dietary Facts
Dietary sources include yellow and orange fruits and
veggies, dark leafy greens, cereal grains, and eggs
A typical US diet contains 1-3 mg/day of lutein and
zeaxanthin, while ~6 mg/day have been shown to
decrease risk for age-related eye diseases
Carotenoids are best absorbed with fat
Chopping and cooking carotenoid containing vegetables in
oil generally increase the bioavilabilty of carotenoids
PUP QUIZ
Citrus for
Breast
Health
Vitamin C To Fight
Cancer
Citrus Peels & Cancer: Zest for Life?
High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C
PUP QUIZ
Ginger for
Gastric
Relief
A Broad-Apectrum
Antiemetic
Ginger Facts
Knotted, thick, beige underground root
Native to Asia, where it has been used in culinary and for
medicinal purposes for over 4,000 years
It has been used to help treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms,
headaches, and painful menstrual cramps
Researchers unsure of its exact mechanism of action
Believe the active components are volatile oils and pungent phenol
compounds, such as gingerols and shogaols
Ginger Research
Ginger shown to help prevent and treat nausea and vomiting bought
on by motion sickness, pregnancy, chemotherapy, and surgery
In 80 new sailors who were prone to motion sickness, those who took powdered
ginger had less vomiting and cold sweats compared to those who took placebo
1g daily of ginger may reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women when
used for short periods.
Several studies have found that ginger is better than placebo in relieving morning
sickness
1g of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as well as a leading medication.
In one of these studies, women who took ginger also needed fewer medications
for nausea after surgery
Aromatherapy with essential oils containing ginger helped reduce chemotherapy
induced nausea and vomiting
PUP QUIZ
PUP QUIZ
In Conclusion
Walnuts, Beets, Carrots, Citrus Fruits, and Ginger support
the body parts they resemble
Sweet Potatoes, Celery, Mushrooms, Grapes, and Olives
do not support the body parts they resemble
Regardless, all of these foods are plant-based and high in
antioxidants and phytonutrients, which benefit our
health
Questions?
References

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