Nutrition Analysis

During this trial period, I realized that my food intake is substantially less balanced than I originally believed. While I was participating in the Falcon Market, I learned to read food labels. I should incorporate this knowledge into my regular diet in order to ensure that I get everything I need. This technique combined with rigorous exercise for 60 minutes each day would probably yielded better results.

I did not eat enough whole grains while I definitely ate more refined grains than I was recommended. Instead of eating refined grains, I can consume more whole wheat bread. This would hep me maintain a healthy balance between the two. In the vegetables department, I lacked red & orange, beans & peas, and starch. The only vegetable I consumed with an "ok" status was dark green. In order to improve my diet, I could mix more peas and beans into my dark green vegetables. This way, I will be able to balance my meal. I am also under for fruits, as I only consumed whole fruit. I could consume more fruit juice in order to balance out the intake to two cups. If I did this, I would be considered ok for fruits. Unfortunately, I was also under for protein, oils, and dairy. I could improve my dairy by drinking more milk and consuming more yogurt. By eating cheese, I can increase my oil intake as well, resulting in a more balanced diet.

I can increase my protein intake by eating eggs with nuts for breakfast. In the afternoon, I could have eaten whole grains with some seafood, like fish. As a snack, I could have had a stick of cheese and some diced apples. In order to end the day with a balanced meal, I could have eaten a salad with some whole grains. If I drizzled some olive oil on my salad, I could probably have fulfilled my oil dietary needs.

If someone consulted me for dietary help, I would probably decline. However, if they were desperate enough to ask me, I would tell them to reduce their empty calories. Sugary sweets should be substituted with fresh and seasonal fruits in order to maximize fruit intake. Instead of eating too many refined grains like me, I would recommend eating whole wheat bread. This is a fantastic way to achieve that perfect whole grain recommendation. Lastly, in order to balance all elements out, I would recommend eating all the veggies first so that the protein, dairy, and oils can fall in line behind.

What is Health?

"Health always comes first." This concept resonates with every human being on this planet, but it is especially hard to adhere to as a student in Saratoga. I think the most important pillar is sleep, which also happens to be the pillar that I lack in the most. Due to the stress from my classes, I find that even when I do have time to sleep, I cannot do so restfully. Humans have no other way of resting besides sleep, so there's no possible substitute. The other pillars are important, but they have potential substitutes. I believe that my strongest pillar is my social one, as I have a great support group around me at home and at school. My mental health is significantly better than my physical health. Through this unit, I hope to learn about how I can sleep better and more efficiently. 

Unit 1 Reflection

            This unit was an introduction to basic anatomy and physiology and histology, the study of tissues. Anatomy is the structure, while physiology is the function. Form fits function as anatomy fits physiology. Physiology considers the operation of specific organ systems and focuses on the functions of the body, often at the cellular/molecular level. Gross or macroscopic things are structures that we can see. Microscopic things are things we cannot see.

From this unit, I learned that anatomical terms help to precisely determine and describe the location of body parts. The anatomical position that is used to describe structures is always in standing position. The four anatomical planes include sagittal (lengthwise cut), frontal (divides into anterior and posterior), transverse (horizontal cut), and oblique (oblique angle).

There are four kinds of macromolecules: lipids (fatty acids), carbohydrates (sugar), proteins (amino acids), and nucleic acids (nucleotides). Lipids make up the cell membrane and provide the cell with a source of energy. Proteins have r groups, which helped with differentiation. Dehydration synthesis helps attach peptides together, while hydrolysis adds H20 to break. Nucleic acids are used to build RNA and DNA, which are composed of a phosphate group attached to a sugar attached to a base. Carbohydrates give cells energy and structure and make up chitin/cellulose.

There are four types of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Epithelial tissue covers a body surface or lines a body cavity. The first name of these tissues always indicates the number of cell layers. The last name describes the shape of cells. Connective tissue is the most diverse and abundant tissue and it fills the spaces between organs and tissues. It is composed of the extracellular matrix and cells. Muscle tissue is composed of actin and myosin fibers. There are three types: skeletal (controls voluntary movement), cardiac (contracts to propel blood into the circulatory system), and smooth (responsible for involuntary behavior). Nervous tissue transmits electrical signals from sensory receptors to effectors.

I plan to improve on my knowledge during the next unit by reading the textbook more in depth. Although the class notes were sufficient during this unit, I felt that I could have taken better notes for the video guides. I know that many athletes suffer with inflammation and that many physical therapists must be aware of the symptoms. In class, we learned about the symptoms, including: swelling, warmth, redness, and pain. I learned that these symptoms are the result of mast cell activation, which releases vasodilators. Overall, I think that learning about anatomy and physiology provides me with a lot of information that I can utilize later on outside of the classroom.

The four types of tissues.

A diagram of a eukaryotic cell.

A diagram of the inflammation process.

Sources:

"Blood." BIO 301 - Blood and Body Defenses II. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

"Cell Structure and Function." Human Physiology. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

"Types of Tissues." · Anatomy & Physiology. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

Tissue Lab: Relate and Review

Today, we looked at the real life applications of the tissues we learned in class. The classroom was filled with 14 total microscopes. Each slide held a different kind of tissue. I observed the four types of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Epithelial tissue covers a surface or lines a body cavity and provides lining and covering. The first name of the tissue indicates the number of cell layers (simple, stratified, pseudostratefied) and the last name of the tissue describes the shape of the cells (squamous, cuboidal, columnar). Connective tissue fills the spaces between organs/tissues and provides structural and metabolic support for other tissues and organs. It is composed of 2 main parts: the extracellular matrix and the cells (fibroblasts, macrophages, adipocytes, mast cells). The extracellular matrix is composed of a network of protein fibers and polysaccharides that are secreted and organized by cells. We also looked at a blood smear, which is a kind of connective tissue. Blood contains plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. All of these types help with metabolic support. We also looked at cartilage, another specialized connective tissue, and discovered varying amounts of collagen and elastic fibers. Muscle tissue is composed of actin and myosin, and has three different types including skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. The skeletal type was observed to have long cylindrical cells with multiple peripheral nuclei. The cardiac type had long branching cells and was connected to each other by intercalated discs. The smooth type would include spindle shaped cells with a central nuclei.

Human Blood Smear, 400x

Source:

"Histology." Blood Smear, Human. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2015.