Kayla's Nursing and Nutrition Journal : Unit 1: Chapter 1 and 2 Questions

5 Questions on Chapters 1 and 2

There are alternatives on the market with a similar nutrition profile. Among them, soy, almond and coconut milks are listed as some of the best options currently available. It is a good idea to analyze these products as many contain added sugar, and may or not contain the same amounts of vitamins, minerals and proteins as standard milk products (Natalie Olsen, RD, LD).

MSG stands for monosodium glutamate, and it is the combination of salt and part of a protein that is found commonly in the food we eat and in breast milk. For many years people have suspected MSG of being toxic in some way or another, but to this day, no proof has been found linking MSG to any specific illnesses.

https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/foodadditivesingredients/ucm328728.htm
Sources: https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/is-msg-bad-for-your-health/

As a kid, I developed an association in my mind between salt intake and high blood pressure. Mostly, I got the idea that salt was bad to eat because I thought it might cause high blood pressure but I didn't know this from science, I just assumed and believed articles that made such claims.
According to an article in Scientific American, salt has gotten a bad reputation over the years that it may not actually deserve. Assumptions have been made about salt. For example, since Japanese people tend to eat a lot of salt and also tend to have high blood pressure, scientists assumed there was a connection, which was totally unfair to salt. (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-time-to-end-the-war-on-salt/)
All things in moderation. As was discussed in class, there's no evidence showing that putting a bit of salt on food to make it taste good is bad for a person.

As a kid I was told not to eat too much sugar because it “steals calcium from your bones,” is this true?

According to an article by Li Tian and Xijie Yu called "Fat, Sugar and Bone Health: A Complex Relationship", "In human studies, most reports have demonstrated that a high-fat, high-sugar diet exerts adverse effects on bone mass, and is also associated with fracture development. "
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452236/

I’ve heard that dieting is a bad idea, so how can a person feel in control of their body size?

I can't answer this question entirely from scientific sources. My answer comes more from personal experience. I avoid fad diets and instead monitor what I eat and how much I eat. I aim to consume approximately 1500 calories per day, which is actually at the upper end of caloric intake for my size. I have a fast metabolism. I keep an eye on how much I consume of certain calorie-rich foods such as breads, nuts/dried fruit, dressings, spreads, etc. I very rarely eat desserts, jams/jellies or juices. I don't restrict myself drastically, I just cut back on high calorie foods when I notice the numbers creeping up on the scale. For example, I might leave the top slice of bread off a sandwich, or skip the syrup on my waffle and use applesauce instead. I don't know if this method would work for everyone the same, but it has worked for me to feel in control of my weight.
My personal plan for weight control actually goes along with recommendations listed on medlineplus.gov. That website recommends "choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods; eating smaller portions; drinking water instead of sugary drinks; and being physically active." (I am working on being more physically active. Currently, my exercise program is a 30 minute walk from my car to class and from class to my car. So a total of about 60 minutes+ of exercise, three days a week.)
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/weightcontrol.html

Kayla's Nursing and Nutrition Journal