What is nutritionism?
Perspective that views food primarily as a vehicle for essential micro and macro nutrients rather than as food within cultural, social and emotional contexts
What does nutrition ism tend to focus on instead of food itself?
Individual nutrients and their health benefits
Why does nutrition disconnect food from culture?
It studies, nutrients and foods outside their usual dietary, social, and cultural contexts
What primary goal of eating does nutrition promote?
Bodily health rather than joy, social connection or cultural meaning
Why is nutrition considered in adequate for explaining human eating?
Because it ignores cultural, social, symbolic, and evolutionary factors that shaped diets
What is an example of a nutrient to recommendation promoted by nutrition ism
Adults aged 19 250 are recommended to consume 1000 MG of calcium per day
What government policy reflects a nutritionist approach
Mandatory nutrition facts table on food packaging
What nutrients must Canadian flour be fortified with?
Iron, folic acid, niacin, thymine, riboflavin
What does a biological approach to nutrition emphasize?
Human evolution and biological needs influence what humans eat
What does the cultural approach to nutrition emphasize?
Cultural traditions, beliefs, and social practises influence eating
What is the bio cultural approach to human nutrition?
An approach that examines how biology and culture interact to shape human diets
Name three ways food is used, socially
Hospitality, celebration, and religious worship
How is food connected to religion?
Through fasting, feasting, and symbolic ritual meals like Ramadan, Passover
Why is eating considered a social activity and what roles do meals play in social structure?
Eating decisions are shaped by social context, group identity, and shared meals. They reinforce group identity, and social relationships.
What is a cuisine?
Style of cooking associated with a specific culture or geographic region
What taste preferences are human humans born with?
Preference for sweet and aversion to bitter
How can bitter preferences be learned?
Through repeated exposure, social prompting and cultural approval
Do humans eat everything that is edible
No foods are culturally categorized as acceptable or prohibited
Why do humans sometimes eat dangerous foods?
Cultural traditions, symbolism, and specialized preparation
Give an example of food with symbolic meaning
Passover sedar foods symbolizing Jewish history and suffering
How is food considered medicine in some cultures?
Through systems like traditional, Chinese medicine and Ayurveda
Why does cilantro taste different to different people and what causes alcohol flushing in some Asian populations?
Genetic variation and taste receptors and ALDH2 enzyme deficiency
What is gene culture co-evolution
Interaction between cultural practises and genetic evolution
How did agriculture affect starch digestion?
Increased copies of the AMY one gene improving starch digestion. The AMY1 gene codes for salivary amylase an enzyme that digest starch
