Part I w1

Nutrient-Drug Interactions

Read the sections of chapters 11 and 12 in your textbook (starting on page 245) dealing with drug-nutrient or herbal/supplement-nutrient interactions and answer the following questions:

• Have you ever encountered a situation in which you experienced (or had another person experience) a drug (OTC or prescription), herbal, or supplement-nutrient interaction? If so, explain what it was. If you have not, research a common interaction and explain it. Your explanation should include what drugs, herbs, or supplements and nutrient(s) are involved as well as the possible result of the interaction. Note that you are not to report on the side effects of a drug, herb or supplement, but rather how these might interact with a nutrient (in foods or in supplemental form) and result in a negative effect.
• When you looked for information on the interaction where did you look? How were your questions or concerns addressed?
• Where, in your experience, does the public turn to for information on drugs, herbs, or supplements? Are these sources usually reputable? How would you determine if a source, whether a person or an article or other, is reputable?
• Do you think healthcare professionals have met the challenge of helping people find suitable nutritional supplements? Why or why not? How might socioeconomic status come into play when choosing between or within prescription medications or OTC medications/supplements/herbs? If someone needed to determine if nutrient status was being compromised because of an interaction, what tests could be done?

PART II W2

Overweight and Obesity

Click here to read the article entitled “Overweight and Obesity Statistics” published by the USDHHS. Analyze the article and answer the following:

• In a paragraph, summarize the article overall.
• What two things did you learn from this article?
• After reading this article, what would you tell someone who eats a poor diet and has some of the risk factors for overweight and obesity? Do you think cultural differences can contribute to what foods are habitually eaten?

Americans are eating “junk” food such as fast food, cookies, and chips in place of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. How, in your opinion, are fast food or junk food items linked to diseases? Can these foods compromise your nutritional status? Is there a way to measure if junk foods may be negatively affecting your health?