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Introduction
In today’s society, people have changed their mode of dietary intake due to the fact that they are so busy with other demanding life activities. The change in dietary intake has resulted in health issues. Diabetes, heart diseases, obesity and such others are caused by the change in dietary intake (National Health & Medical Research Council, 2006).
Today’s society is highly knowledgeable, but in spite of this, people are faced with frequent chronic diseases that hinder them from performing well in society. This is due to the fact that they are not taking into consideration the importance of a healthy diet. People tend to stick to one diet that contributes to the deterioration of health. People are today realising the consequences of this (Zimmet & James 2006, p.21). If the knowledge gathered from health studies is made public, attitudes towards health will change, and people will begin to adhere to a balanced diet (Boyle et al. 1993, p.25).
Core Food Group (1994) model and the national health and medical council have suggested adequate possible models for daily food intake to ensure that people of Australia include the correct food proportions in their diet. The models use several methods to address the issue of dietary intake, which include both the three days as well as the 24 hours model to monitor dietary intake. All these methods aim to help individuals to take a diet that contains the nutrients needed on a daily basis. The 24 hours, as well as the three days model, was meant to make sure that if a certain crucial meal is not taken in the 24 hour period, the three day period will save the situation.
This report is intended to bring into focus the nutritional status of the author based on a 24 hours’ as well as a three days’ record. It is also to analyse the excess, deficiency and variance in the recorded results. The report will determine whether the author has consumed the recommended amount of all food categories. The 24 hours’ and three days’ records will be the focus of the paper in reporting the results according to the recommended dietary intake (herein referred to as RDI).
Methods
The report is based on an analysis of data recorder from a 24 hours recall and a three-day record from a male aged 26 yrs who has a height of 163cm and weighs 60.00kg. The author is categorised as a low active person and has a BMI of 22.58. The recommended weight is 53 kg-66.4kg based on a BMI range from 20 to 25. The analysis has been done through a comparison of data from the 24-hour record and the 3-day record with Dietary Guidelines (NHMRC, 2003) and the Core Food Groups (1994) (DCSH, 1989-95). Data from the two records have also been compared to identify any similarities or differences. Lastly, the effectiveness of each method is analysed in relation to associated limitations and advantages. The conclusion is drawn from the overall analysis.
Results
Table 1: Comparing the Day’s Nutrient Intake with the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDIs) in Australia for Each Subject.
Table 2: 3 Days’ Intake.
Table 3: 24 Hours’ Record.
Table 4: Comparing the Three Days’ Record with the Recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines NHMRC (2003) Based on Food Categories.
Table 5: Comparing the 24 Hours Record with the Recommendation of Dietary Guidelines NHMRC (2003) Based on Food Categories.
Table 6: Comparing Three Days’ Record with Core Food Groups 1994 Based on Nutrients and Food Categories.
Table 7: Comparing 24 Hours’ Records with Core Food Groups 1994 Based on Nutrients and Food Categories.
Table 8: Comparing Three Days’ Record with NHMRC Report 1992b on the Role of Polyunsaturated Fats in the Australian Diet.
Table 9: Comparing 24 Hours’ Record with NHMRC Report 1992b on the Role of Polyunsaturated Fats in the Australian Diet.
Discussion
The dietary intake from the results has various implications ranging from underutilisation of some nutrients and over utilisation of others. In some cases, nutrients have been balanced as required by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The record of food intake comes from the author’s dietary intake in the 24 hours and the three-day records. All these have some consequences on the subject which they are going to be analysed.
Comparison the subject’s three days intakes with the RDI value
The subject is not taking the right amount or proportions of food when the results are compared with the RDI value. For example, in table 1, the protein, energy and carbohydrates consumption is below the RDI recommendations. Protein is below the RDI value, which is supposed to be 64g as opposed to 54g, which the subject consumed. Protein composition in the body is very important since it allows the body to maintain the correct mechanisms to keep the body fit (Cashel & Jefferson 1994, p. 23).
Water and fibre intake in the subject’s record is also below the RDI stipulations. It is too dangerous for any person to take these elements in low quantities. Water is essential for digestion and transport in the body. It helps in the absorption of nutrients by the body (National Heart Foundation of Australia [NHFA] 1990). Fibre also is very important since it allows for efficient digestion and absorption of food in the body.
Low intake of these elements will inhibit the absorption of essential nutrients in the body, which may result in chronic diseases like diabetes (English & Lewis 1991, p.25). Another fact is that the situation encourages lower energy intake with calories below 50%. The Department of Community Services and Health [DCSH] (1989) warns that such an imbalanced diet is the major cause of chronic diseases.
Hypertension is a disease characterised by high blood pressure. Obese individuals have higher chances of suffering from the disease because of the accumulation of fats in the blood vessels creating pressure during the pumping of blood in the entire body (NHMRC 2006). Na is an important element in the body where it performs different functions. However, the RDI value for Na is two times more than the required value, which is 920g. This inhibits the kidneys as well as the heart from ejecting the unwanted liquids from the body. If the fluid is retained in the body for so long, the heart will have problems in pumping blood, thereby causing high blood pressure (NHMRC 2006).
Comparison between the Author’s 3 Days’ and 24 Hours’ Records and the Dietary Guidelines
People living in Australia have their dietary regulations controlled by NHMRC. This organisation ensures that people embrace healthy eating habits by recommending suitable guidelines that are supposed to be followed. The guidelines also ensure that the prevalence of chronic illnesses is reduced by helping people adhere to healthy eating habits (NHMRC 2006).
Table four illustrates that the three days’ record (as compared to NHMRC’s recommended intake) is not sufficient enough for a balanced diet. For example, the table illustrates food categories and age with the correct food proportion for each category. However, the subject’s record for the three days has not achieved any of the recommended guidelines as far as the serving is concerned. All food categories are below the serving that is required. For example, the recommended 4-9 serve has not been met in the subject’s three-day intake in the cereal category. Vegetables, fruits and other food categories (except beverages) have not been met according to the NHMRC guidelines (NHMRC 2006).
In table five, the author’s food intake is presented on a 24 hours’ basis, where the intake is compared with the NHMRC recommendations. The trend is the same as the others as the table illustrates the imbalanced ‘food serve’ amounts, with the beverage being the only food category falling within the stipulated NHMRC recommendations. Although the author has consumed a good amount of cereal, the serves fall below the recommended guidelines. This imbalanced diet is a great contributor to chronic diseases that are caused by insufficient amounts of food. All day’s activities require that individuals take the right amount of food categories in order to be safe from illnesses as well as to enhance the healthy development of a person (Greenfield 2003, p.7)
Other minerals like Ca, Fe and P plays an important role in the body. For example, Ca enables one to have strong bones, and according to the results above, the mineral is below the RDI value, and this may be problematic for the bones. Fe and K are also below the RDI value, which exposes the author to a myriad of risks. On the other hand, minerals take time before they are excreted from the body. The author had within the 24 hours, and three-day span consumed potassium and zinc, which may make him vomit and experience consistent headaches. Zinc has even been shown to slow down the absorption of the other minerals, and when taken in excess, it may lead to a diminished immune system (Greenfield 2003, p.9).
Vitamins too play a significant role in the body. If they are taken in low quantities or in surpluses, they may put the author at risk. For example, riboflavin, Thiamine and Niacin are above the RDI value. Vitamins tend to take long during absorption, and metabolic reaction is low as well, which lowers other reactions in the body. This poses a threat to the body if they are retained for long. They tend to reduce blood thickness. This effect can lead to health complications if the ratio of vitamins is not taken into consideration (Jellife 1966, p.23).
Comparison between Two Methods of Nutritional Assessment with that of the Core Food Groups 1994
The 1994 guidelines were put in place to ensure that individuals take in the required amount of energy. This is according to the 1994 food groups, which provides specific recommendations based on different age categories. Sex was also an issue of concern where each person (male or female) is supposed to take the correct rations of food to avoid problems arising from nutrients’ deficiency. Different sexes require different food rations, and the core food group was published in 1994 to address this issue. The aim was to complement the RDI requirements as opposed to deviating from the recommended food values.
Three models have been established to meet the stipulated food requirements. These are models A, B and C. Model B was established on the basis of the other models putting together the information contained in the other two. This is evident when a pattern of food consumption is the same in model A as well as in model B. Table six explains it all. The three days’ consumption (in comparison with the 1994 food groups) shows that cereals’ intake is higher, postulating a close relationship with the 24 hours’ table. Therefore both tables reflect a close relationship between the two food categories.
Other food categories like milk and fruits are below the postulated requirements, and this is inconsistent with the correct food consumption in both the 24 hours’ and the three days’ records. But a close observation shows that milk consumption is consistent in both tables (24 hours and three days). These are both table six and table seven. Additionally, a grim observation is made in the same tables as consumption of sodium is very high. This increases the risk of developing conditions such as hypertension. Intake of other valuable minerals in the tables is very low. For example, zinc, which is very important, is below the RDI provisions.
Comparison between the Three Days’ Record with NHMRC Report 1992b and the Role of Polyunsaturated Fats
When the consumption of fat is higher than the intake of energy, the individual is likely to experience health complications. This means that a high intake of fats is a health hazard (Jellife 1966, p.25). Additionally, when the body uses fats to create energy, this contributes greatly to the emergence of chronic diseases like hypertension, obesity and diabetics. In Australia, this problem was addressed by recommending the reduction of total fat intake by 7% from the initial intake, which was 37 %. Total energy was reduced too by 5%, which led to the reduction in polyunsaturated fat.
The NHMRC has recommended the use of carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats instead of fatty acids (NHMRC 2006). Generally, when people use fatty acids, they may exceed the 30% mark, which is dangerous to them. The results from the table show that the author has consumed high energy fatty acids. This shows that the diet is a risk to health and creates uncertainties as a result of the high percentage of fat consumption (NHMRC 2006).
Table nine, on the other hand, shows the 24-hour record with the polyunsaturated fat at 4.8%, which is below the recommended value of between 6-7%. The saturated fat is above the recommended value, which is 12.1%. This is beyond the recommended 10% mark. All these incorrect intakes of energy and fat can lead to health complications and need to be rectified.
Importance of the Two Assessment Methods
All two criteria are very important in ensuring that the individual takes the correct amount of nutrients. The good thing with the 24 hours’ record is that it reminds the individual what they ate just a few hours ago. The three days record, on the other hand, helps an individual to keep a record of the quantity, type and kind of food they eat. However, the three-day record does not give an account capable of reminding the individual what they ate a few hours ago, like the 24 hours’ record (Marr 1971, p.36).
Both categories of nutrients’ records are important, but the consumption of food varies from one table to the other (Hewlett 2011). This is simply because the consumption of food in the records is determined by the interest of the individuals. The author had to consume different kinds of foods in the three days’ record. This is especially so when an individual undertakes different kinds of physical activities that need different foods (NHMRC 2006).
The Need to Modify the Diet
The author is a male aged 26 years with a height of 163cm and a weight of 60kg. The recommended weight ranges between 53kg and 66kg with a BMI value of 20 to 25.
The author’s weight falls within the required range, but since they are not very active, the diet needs to be modified by strictly adhering to provisions of both assessments to make sure that the author does not omit any of the required nutrients. As the values in the tables illustrate, the author needs to increase the intake of water as well as that of fibre. This seems to affect the author since they are not consuming enough of these important components. The author’s anthropometric measurements, which are shown in the table, are important when recommending the correct composition of food intake that best suits them.
Conclusion
It is noted that there are differences in the criteria used in both records. These include the food categories that were not consumed in the 24 hours’ record but which were later consumed in the three days’ record. The smaller one day record is limited as it does not give room for consumption of all food categories. However, the three days’ record provides room for different food categories. The most important thing about the 24 hours’ record is that it is an effective means of assessing the correct intake of food on a daily basis (Jelliffe 1966).
Both of these methods are very significant as they ensure that the variations in food consumption are well taken care of. The author seems to be within the RDI range, but appropriate dietary measures should be taken to ensure that the person remains healthy. NHMRC provides that there is a need to increase the consumption of elements like zinc, potassium and sodium. Saturated fats, on the other hand, should be taken in small quantities (between 6 and 7 %). Adequate intake of water and fibre is another factor that should be taken into consideration by the author.
References
Boyle, CA, Dobson, AJ, Egger, G & Bennett, SA 1993, ‘Waist-to-hip ratios in Australia: a different picture of obesity’, Aust. J. Nutr. Diet, vol. 50 no. 1, p. 57-64.
Cashel, K & Jefferson, S 1994, The core food groups: the scientific basis for developing nutrition education tools, NHMRC, Canberra.
Department of Community Services and Health, 1989, Composition of foods, Australia (COFA), AGPS, Canberra.
English, R & Lewis, J 1991, Nutritional values of Australian foods, AGPS, Canberra.
Greenfield, H 2003, Food composition data.: production, management and use, FAO, New York.
Hewlett, J 2011, The role of polyunsaturated fats in the Australian diet, AGPS, Canberra.
Jelliffe, B 1966, The assessment of the nutritional status of the community, WHO, Geneva.
Marr, J 1971, ‘Individual dietary surveys: purposes and methods’, World Rev. Nut. Diet. vol. 13 no. 1, pp. 105-164.
National Health & Medical Research Council, 2006, Nutrient reference values for Australia and New Zealand, including recommended dietary intakes, AGPS, Canberra.
National Heart Foundation of Australia, 1990, Risk factor prevalence study: survey no. 3, 1989, NHF, Canberra.
Zimmet, P & James, W 2006, ‘The unstoppable Australian obesity and diabetes juggernaut. What should politicians do?’, The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 185 no, 2, p. 187-188.
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