IB Biology Option A

Option A – Human Nutrition and Health (SL)

References used:

Use the disc from your textbook – Chap 13 Pages 414 – 422 (A3)
Also see: http://click4biology.info/c4b/A/A3.htm

A.3 Special Issues in Human Nutrition

A.3.1 Distinguish between the composition of human milk and artificial milk used for
bottle-feeding babies.

Why do you think feeding breast milk to new born babies is encouraged?

There are restrictions on marketing artificial milk in the developed world, this has led to
greater marketing in developing countries – what do you think the health consequences will
be for babies in these countries?

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A.3.2 Discuss the benefits of breast-feeding.

A.3.3 Outline the causes and symptoms of type II diabetes.

What is Type II Diabetes?

What causes it?

What are the symptoms?

The incidence of type II diabetes is not evenly distributed throughout the human population;
certain ethnic groups are more prone to this complaint. For example, the Pima Indians of
central Arizona have the highest incidence – typically about 50% of people aged 30 years and
above in the communities are affected. This level has developed since they abandoned their
traditional, frugal existence along the river banks, and became city-fringe dwellers outside
Phoenix, replacing traditional diets with biscuits, cheeseburgers and Coca Cola.

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A.3.4 Explain the dietary advice that should be given to a patient who has developed
type II diabetes.

See: http://click4biology.info/c4b/A/A3.htm#a34 for some ideas.

Dietary Advice: Why this would help…

A.3.5 Discuss the ethical issues concerning the eating of animal products, including
honey, eggs, milk and meat.

Today, human population numbers are huge. This places enormous demands on food
supplies, and on the resources that generate them. So much so that, around the world, there
are local populations of people with too little to eat. World hunger is a major problem of
which we are all aware, living as we do in the ‘global village’.

In response to the ethical challenges for well-nourished people living alongside other
humans who may starve and die prematurely due to malnourishment, some humans have
opted to be vegetarian in diet. Vegetarians do not eat meat and most do not eat fish, but the
majority consume animal products such as milk, cheese and eggs. Beyond this there are
people choose to eat no foods of animal origin at all - these people are known as vegans.

The rationale for these types of vegetarianism is that when we eat meat or meat
products rather than food of plant origin, we extend food chains by a least one trophic
level.

With a partner you are going to prepare a presentation on the advantages and ethical
concerns of eating animal products. You will need to give enough information to help your
classmates complete the table below.

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 Food
Advantages Ethical Concerns
Product

Meat

Fish

Milk

Eggs

Honey

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A.3.6 Evaluate the benefits of reducing dietary cholesterol in lowering the risk of
coronary heart disease.

We have seen that cholesterol, a type of lipid which is taken in from foods rich in
saturated fatty acids, is essential for normal, healthy metabolism. Cholesterol is also made in
the liver; on a low cholesterol diet the liver of adults forms about 800 mg of cholesterol each
day.

What is Cholesterol and what does it do? Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnK1Kv3XkZI&feature=related

Exposing the Chloesterol myth!! Listen to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awA2fsa94MI

Correlation or Causation – Cholesterol and Heart disease is it linked? Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8SSCNaaDcE

With moderate cholesterol intake, the body is able to remove excess with no harmful
effect – dietary cholesterol is not necessarily converted into plasma cholesterol.  Plasma
cholesterol can be HDL (not harmful), or LDL (plaque-forming).

Extreme intakes may lead to a greater buildup of LDL in atherosclerosis – hardening

and buildup of plaques in the arteries.  Although there is a small risk of cholesterol leading
to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), the risks of smoking, inactivity and heredity are
much stronger and more closely related to CHD.

Although a cholesterol-controlled diet may slow or reduce the risk of atherosclerosis,

it must be combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle if it is to have a significant effect on
reducing the risk of CHD.

What do you think? Do you think you should reduce your cholesterol intake? Why or
why not… (there is no correct answer you just need to make your argument)

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A.3.7 Discuss the concept of food miles and the reasons for consumers choosing
foods to minimize food miles.

‘Food miles’ is the term coined to represent the average distances travelled by food
items between the sites of production and the point of consumption – that is from farm to
plate. It is a highly significant and growing issue today in the developed world because of
changes in food retailing and in our diet, changes in work and leisure practices, and because
of developing environmental problems.

Where has the food on your plate come from?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDN9WOeYwDQ&feature=related

The Carbon footprint of your food:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbdKZgFdazI&feature=related

How can YOU make informed choices about the carbon footprint of YOUR food?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of food travelling long distances to get onto your
plate?

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

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