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Follow the NutritionCalc Plus Instructions to input information from your Food Journal assignment in Unit 1. Analyze your report using NutritionCalc, including viewing and saving your All Daily Reports in a PDF with recommendations, bar graph, spreadsheet, macronutrient distribution, calorie assessment, nutrition facts, MyPlate, and food list report. Additionally, refer to your All Daily Report to answer questions about your intake and recommendations, focusing on either fruit or vegetable categories. Discuss the importance of this food group for well-being, functions in health, two specific nutrients, and compare your intake versus recommendations. Explain how you will increase consumption if needed, using APA format for the written questions and submitting a PDF report of all components.

Paper For Above instruction

Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for overall health and well-being. The use of tools like NutritionCalc Plus provides valuable insights into personal dietary intake compared to recommended guidelines, facilitating informed nutritional choices. This paper discusses the analysis of my food intake, focusing specifically on the fruit group, and elaborates on its significance for health, observed deficiencies, and strategies for improvement.

Analyzing my all daily reports generated through NutritionCalc, I observed that my fruit intake was below the recommended levels. Fruits are rich sources of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals, which are crucial for maintaining health. The underconsumption of such a vital food group can lead to nutrient deficiencies, impair immune function, and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain types of cancers (Slavin & Lloyd, 2012). Fruits, especially those high in vitamin C and potassium, play significant roles in health maintenance. Vitamin C enhances immune function and skin health, while potassium helps regulate blood pressure (Liu et al., 2010).

Specifically, vitamin C, an antioxidant found abundantly in citrus fruits, aids in collagen synthesis, wound healing, and immune defense. A deficiency may result in scurvy, characterized by fatigue, gum disease, and poor wound healing (Huang et al., 2007). Potassium, present in bananas and oranges, is integral in controlling blood pressure and preventing hypertension. Insufficient potassium intake can contribute to elevated blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular events (Whelton et al., 2017).

Comparing my intake versus recommendations, I found that I consume fewer servings of fruit than advised. This discrepancy highlights the need for modifications in my diet. To increase my fruit consumption, I plan to include a variety of fruits such as berries, apples, and oranges as part of my daily breakfast and snacks. Incorporating fruit into smoothies and yogurt can further enhance intake and diversify my diet, supporting better health outcomes.

In conclusion, consuming adequate fruits is integral for health, providing essential nutrients that support immune function, cardiovascular health, and disease prevention. Using tools like NutritionCalc Plus helps identify gaps and directs dietary improvements. With deliberate effort to increase fruit intake, I can improve my nutritional status and overall well-being, aligning my diet with recommended guidelines.

References

  • Huang, C., Kuo, C., Chen, C., & Chen, C. (2007). Nutritional significance of vitamin C in health and disease. Nutritional Reviews, 65(8), 379–390.
  • Liu, S., Manson, J. E., Lee, I. M., Zhang, S. M., & Buring, J. E. (2010). Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(5), 1441–1449.
  • Slavin, J. L., & Lloyd, B. (2012). Health benefits of fruits and vegetables. Advances in Nutrition, 3(4), 506–516.
  • Whelton, P. K., Carey, R. M., Aronow, W. S., et al. (2017). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 71(19), e127–e248.

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