1. Discuss the roles of the B vitamins in energy metabolism.

Why might vegans develop a

vitamin B12 deficiency?
2. Describe the mode of action of vitamin C and why excessive vitamin C intake may be
hazardous. Mention the research of Linus Pauling and the role of repeated trials and
double-blind studies in serious, acceptable research studies.
3. Discuss the three associated bone diseases for which vitamin D metabolism is of clinical
relevance.
4. Consider the following hypothetical discussion you are having with a friend. She tells
you that you should be taking antioxidants as a supplement to your diet. You ask her why
you should take antioxidants. She replies that antioxidants defend against cancer and
protect against free radicals in your body, which damage tissues, and interfere with
healthy metabolism. What is your reply? In that reply, demonstrate an understanding of
the positive and negative effects of free radicals in the body and why you should, or
should not, take antioxidant supplements.
5. Imagine that you are hiking on a hot day and are still several hours from reaching your
destination. You try and ration your water supply but run out some time before reaching
the end of your hike. As you sit and consider your dilemma, you begin to imagine the
dire metabolic consequences of excessive dehydration. Describe two specific metabolic
effects in the body of not having enough water available.
6. Describe the major function of sodium in the body and tell how the kidneys regulate
blood sodium.
7. List and describe several common risk factors for developing osteoporosis. Describe the
key behaviors of someone trying to limit their risk of developing osteoporosis.
8. A friend discovers he has high blood pressure and recognizes that he is using too much
added salt on his food. You take his salt shaker away and he promises to watch his salt
intake. However, he doesn't change his basic diet of frozen dinners, cheese enchiladas,
salted nut snacks, and deli sandwiches. He has his blood pressure taken again several
weeks after giving you his salt shaker and finds his blood pressure is still high. Describe
here the "lecture" you might give your friend. Include two major concepts:
1. A description of what processing does to the sodium content of food.
2. Suggestions for cutting salt intake in his diet.
9. List and describe at least four benefits of maintaining fitness. Describe what is meant by
the term cardiorespiratory conditioning.
10. Distinguish between exercises that are aerobic and those that become anaerobic. Describe
physiologically what happens during intense activity when muscle cells convert to
anaerobic respiration.
11. Discuss why some athletes are likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia. Compare iron-
deficiency anemia and sports anemia, explaining the similarities and differences between
the two.
12. Explain why popular sports drinks are used during exercise. Tell when their full-strength
use is justified as opposed to when they are used improperly. Under what conditions
should the person exercising consider an alternative, and what would that alternative be?
13. List and describe the effect on the body of at least three dietary and three hormonal
supplements often taken to improve athletic performance. Discuss some of the side
effects, specifically of anabolic steroid use.
14. Describe at least four practices that should be avoided during pregnancy. What would
you suggest to a newly pregnant friend who asks you specifically for nutritional advice?
15. Define the term "critical period" during early development. Give one example of a
critical time and the possible consequences that could occur if good nutritional behavior
is not followed. Tell why women of childbearing age need folate in their diets and how
much is recommended.
16. Describe some of the nutrient and immunological attributes of breast milk. Tell why solid
food is not recommended for an infant during the first few months of life, and define
when the child is ready to start eating solid food.
17. Describe several problems associated with childhood obesity and the strategies for
preventing and treating those issues. Discuss several strategies for introducing nutritious
foods to children.
18. Describe several significant roles good nutrition plays in aging. What roles can nutrition
play in retarding the aging process?
19. How do energy needs change during aging and how should the senior citizen adjust
his/her diet to account for this change? Explain how the risk of dehydration increases
with age and what causes that condition.
20. Describe which vitamins and minerals need special consideration for the elderly. Explain
why. Name several factors that complicate the task of setting exact nutrient standards for
older adults.
21. List and describe the mechanisms of several nutrient-drug interactions and how, as a
health care professional, you would deal with this issue.
22. Describe the basic features of how the immune system works in your body. Name and tell
the function of at least two kinds of specialized cells that work to fight various antigens.
Describe several ways that good nutrition supports the immune system.
23. Describe the difference between HIV and AIDS. Tell how AIDS develops and how good
nutrition can support people with HIV infections.
24. Describe several risk factors for Hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease. Specifically
for each, explain how someone with a genetic predisposition for the disease may, through
good nutrition, reduce their risk.
25. Describe the general causes of Diabetes. Distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2
Diabetes and tell what nutritional steps should be taken by someone who has either
already developed the condition, or may develop diabetes due to a genetic predisposition.
26. Explain, at the cellular level, the biology of cancer. What are some of the environmental
causes of cancer and make at least three recommendations for reducing your cancer risk.
27. Discuss the role of complementary and alternative medicine in maintaining good health.
In your own life, how may have these techniques played an important role in your health.
Now, that you have studied "nutrition" for this brief time, would you have done anything
differently?
28. List and describe at least three arguments for, and three arguments against, the
application of genetic engineering techniques to human food production. Explain one
example of a genetically engineered crop which was intended to have beneficial effects
but has had unintended negative environmental consequences.
29. Imagine a scenario where you are out on a backpacking trip in the backcountry of
Yosemite National Park. You have been reading about harvesting good food in the wild.
You also intend to obtain your drinking water for several days from streams and lakes in
the area. Discuss at least two food safety issues you would face on your trip and how you
would deal with those potential problems. Describe the health issue that relates to your
water supply and how you would make your drinking/cooking water safe.
30. Describe how pesticides bioaccumulate in the food chain. Explain the consequence of
this biological event to at least two different kinds of foods you might eat. In addition,
describe two ways you would ensure that both lettuce and apples you buy would be free
from pesticide residue.
31. Environmental problems that you read, and hear about every day affect the food that is
produced for us to eat. Discuss at least four specific environmental problems that affect
food production. For each, describe what you think should be done to solve the problem
on a global scale, and what you can do personally to mitigate the effects of the
environmental concern.