Pathfit Finals
Pathfit Finals
INTRODUCTION TO EXERCISE AND NUTRITION Once consumed, carbohydrates are converted into blood
glucose, which serves as a primary energy source for the
● Food and dietary choices significantly affect body, especially during physical activity.
overall wellness, chronic disease prevention, and
physical performance. Dietary Fiber
Vitamins are organic compounds found in small amounts in ● High in vitamins, ● High in calories,
food. They are essential for: minerals, fiber, often from added
and healthy fats sugars or fats
● Tissue repair and maintenance or proteins ● Often low in
● Immune support ● Lower in calories nutritional value
● Helping the body absorb other nutrients for the amount of
nutrition they
Although vitamins do not supply energy, they are necessary provide
for energy production and overall health.
Examples: fruits, Examples: chips, sugary
Examples of vitamin-rich foods: vegetables, whole grains, drinks, fast food, candy
lean meats, nuts
● Vitamin A: Carrots, sweet potatoes
● Vitamin B & Folate: Grains, cereals
Context: A handful of almonds gives you healthy fats,
● Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, bell peppers
protein, and minerals—it’s nutrient-dense. But a handful of
● Vitamin D: Dairy, mushrooms, egg yolks
potato chips might have the same calories (or more), but
● Vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, spinach
fewer nutrients—that’s calorie-dense.
● Vitamin K: Leafy greens like kale and broccoli
Eating mostly calorie-dense foods can lead to weight gain
Minerals
and nutrient deficiencies, even if you’re eating “enough”
calories. On the other hand, nutrient-dense foods help you
Minerals are inorganic elements that the body needs to
feel full, energized, and supported with the right nutrients for
function properly. Some are needed in larger quantities (e.g.,
your body.
calcium, potassium), while others are needed only in trace
amounts (e.g., iron, zinc). They are vital for:
Eating for Long-Term Health
● Bone health
Your food choices affect more than just your energy—they
● Nerve function
can reduce the risk of diseases like:
● Muscle contraction
● Fluid balance
● Diabetes
● Heart disease
Examples of mineral-rich foods:
● Obesity
● Osteoporosis
● Calcium: Milk, yogurt, leafy greens
● Some cancers
● Iron: Beef, seeds, legumes
According to the World Health Organization and other
● Magnesium: Seafood, grains
studies (Fardet & Boirie, 2014; Wang et al., 2014),
● Potassium: Bananas, potatoes, avocados
increasing fruit and vegetable intake can lower your risk of
death and major illnesses. Healthy nutrients help your body:
Note: Macronutrients give us energy and build our bodies,
while micronutrients keep our systems running efficiently.
● Fight inflammation
● Control blood sugar
● Maintain a healthy weight
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS AND DIETARY HEALTH
● Support the immune system
How Food Gives Us Energy
● The food you eat fuels your body, helping you stay
NUTRITION FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
alive, active, and healthy. This fuel comes from the
form of calories, a unit that measures energy
To perform well in any physical activity, your body needs the
(Williams, 1999). Even though we say “calorie,”
right fuel. This means staying hydrated and eating the
the accurate term in nutrition is kilocalorie (kcal),
proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This
the amount of energy needed to raise the
section provides a simplified overview of why those nutrients
temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree
are so essential and how they support physical performance.
celsius.
Hydration
When you digest food, energy is mostly extracted from:
● Your body is made mostly of water—about 60% for
● Carbohydrates (4 kcal per gram)
men and 50% for women—and staying hydrated is
● Proteins (4 kcal per gram)
crucial for both physical and mental performance
● Fats (9 kcal per gram)
(Williams, 1999).
● Alcohol (7 kcal per gram)
How much water do you need?
Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals are essential for
good health but don’t provide calories.
● On average, adult men should aim for about 3.7 Top Barriers to Healthy Eating Among College Students
liters (15.5 cups) and women for 2.7 liters (11.5
cups) per day. These needs may increase if you're College students often face a unique mix of environmental,
sweating more—like during intense or outdoor financial, and psychological barriers.
workouts.
These include:
What happens when you’re dehydrated?
● Not enough time: Students say they’re too busy
● Reduced endurance and strength to plan, shop for, or cook healthy meals (Silliman
● Increased fatigue et al., 2004).
● Slower thinking and reaction time ● Healthy food can be expensive: Nutritious
● Stomach problems options like fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean
proteins are often more costly than fast food or
During prolonged activity, especially in heat, you can sweat instant meals (LaCaille et al., 2011).
out 3–4 liters per hour (Williams, 1999), losing not just water ● Limited food options on campus: Many college
but also electrolytes—minerals like sodium and potassium cafeterias and vending machines don’t offer
that help your muscles and nerves function. enough healthy choices (LaCaille et al., 2011).
● Lack of support and motivation: Some students
Macronutrients struggle with self-control, staying motivated, or
receiving encouragement from friends or family
Your body gets energy from three key nutrients: (Deliens et al., 2014).
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Even with these challenges, it’s absolutely possible to build
better eating habits—and it can be enjoyable too! The key is
finding realistic strategies that work for your lifestyle.
For example:
● These are your primary energy source—especially Example: Many students say fresh fruits and veggies are
during high-intensity workouts or endurance too pricey. You can save by using coupons, shopping in
sports. season, or splitting bulk items with friends.
● You can eat carbs before, during, or after exercise
for energy and recovery. Philippine Context
1. Influencing legislative advocacy to create, monitor, How to Make Healthier Eating Habits Stick?
and enforce regulations restricting the marketing of
breastmilk substitutes and unhealthy food and The Guidelines suggest making small, realistic
beverages. changes—called healthy shifts—that can be maintained
2. Supporting government policy, particularly a over time. These include:
national framework to improve access to optimal
diets, services, and practices. 1. Follow a healthy eating pattern for life – Your
3. Strengthening systems, especially in integrating food choices today impact your future health.
the supply chain. 2. Make all foods and drinks count – Balance your
4. Supporting recruitment, retention, and capacity calories to maintain a healthy weight.
building of healthcare and nutrition providers. 3. Focus on variety and nutrient density – Eat a
5. Generating research, data, and evidence. mix of foods that deliver the most nutrition per bite.
6. Promoting social and behavioral change. 4. Limit added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium
– These ingredients, often found in processed
Key Efforts in Health foods, are linked to poor health outcomes.
5. Choose healthier food and drink options –
1. Ensuring the primary healthcare system can Swap soda for water or fries for roasted
provide one-stop-shop services for children with vegetables.
strong health information management systems, 6. Support healthy eating in all areas of life – At
supply chain management, and health governance home, school, work, or in your community, make
at all levels. nutritious options easier to access.
2. Supporting partner and consumer advocacy.
3. Strengthening government capacity for Key Limits for Better Health
evidence-based planning, budgeting,
implementation, and monitoring of cost-effective, The Guidelines also recommend specific limits:
high-impact health interventions, such as
immunization. ● Less than 10% of daily calories from added sugars
4. Improving quality of care, including supporting ● Less than 10% from saturated fats
state-of-the-art health training institutions, ● Less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day
development of alternative service delivery ● Alcohol in moderation (up to 1 drink/day for
models, and maternal and child health in women, 2 for men)
emergencies.
5. Engaging, educating, and empowering Tip for Tracking Your Intake
communities to ensure the applicability and
sustainability of programs. To manage your sugar and fat intake, try these simple tips:
6. Promoting social and behavioral change and
establishing accountability. ● Aim for less than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) of
added sugar daily.
● Limit saturated fat to under 16 grams per day.
● Not sure how much you're getting? Check the
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND NUTRITION Nutrition Facts Label on food packaging—it lists
LABELS added sugars, fats, and other key nutrients.
● The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Nutrition Facts Labels and Daily Values
encourage people to focus on eating
nutrient-dense foods—foods packed with vitamins What to Look For Nutrition labels are your go-to tool for
and minerals but relatively low in calories. making informed food choices. Here's what they show:
● By contrast, calorie-dense foods (like soda, chips,
or pastries) are high in calories but low in ● Serving size and calories per serving
nutrients. Regularly eating too many of these can ● Percent Daily Value (%DV) – shows how much a
increase your risk for chronic conditions like nutrient in one serving contributes to your daily
obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. needs (based on a 2,000-calorie diet)
● Key nutrients – like fiber, protein, calcium,
What are the Major Food Groups? sodium, sugars, and fats
● Ingredients list – tells you what’s actually in the Examples: Weightlifting, resistance band
food exercises, and bodyweight exercises like squats
and push-ups.
What Are DRIs and DVs?
3. Endurance (Aerobic) Routines
● Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are scientific
benchmarks used to estimate nutrient needs for Purpose: Improve cardiovascular and respiratory
planning a healthy diet. efficiency.
● Percent Daily Values (DV) on labels are based on
these DRIs. They give you a general idea of Benefits:
whether a food is high or low in a specific nutrient.
● Strengthens the heart and lungs.
What’s New with Nutrition Labels? ● Increases stamina for daily activities.
● Improves circulation and overall
In 2018, the FDA updated food labels to make them clearer cardiovascular health.
and more helpful. Key changes include: ● Boosts mood and mental health.
● Enhances sleep quality and immune
● Bigger and bolder calorie counts. function.
● Added sugars are now listed separately.
● Updated serving sizes to better reflect what people Examples: Running, cycling, swimming, and brisk
actually eat These changes aim to help consumers walking.
make healthier choices quickly and easily when
shopping. 4. Power Enhancing (Explosive) Routines
● Improves posture and balance. ● Being active helps you stay healthy and feel
● Enhances performance in various better—both physically and mentally. Regular
physical activities. physical activity can help prevent serious diseases
● Reduces the risk of injuries, particularly and improve your quality of life as you age.
in the lower back.
● Supports proper form during Health Benefits of Regular Exercise
movements.
People who are physically active have a lower risk of:
Examples: Planks, dead bugs, and bird dogs.
● Heart disease and stroke
2. Muscle Strengthening Exercises ● Type 2 diabetes
● Bowel and breast cancer
Purpose: Increase muscle strength and ● Early death
endurance. ● Osteoarthritis
● Hip fractures
Benefits: ● Falls (especially in older adults)
● Depression
● Improves overall muscle strength and ● Dementia (including Alzheimer’s)
tone.
● Enhances flexibility and balance. It also helps boost:
● Reduces the risk of falls and injuries.
● Aids in weight management by ● Self-esteem
increasing muscle mass. ● Mood
● Supports bone health and prevents ● Sleep quality
osteoporosis. ● Energy levels
● Ability to manage stress
How much exercise do you need?
According to UK guidelines:
Moderate-Intensity Activities
Vigorous-Intensity Activities
● Heart disease
● Stroke
● Type 2 diabetes
● Obesity
Even if you hit your weekly exercise goal, sitting too much
is still harmful.