Gautam 1

Bhupal Gautam
Blake Cason
Salt Lake Community College
HLTH 1020
27th November, 2016
Reflection
I began taking classes of Health and Nutrition since August 2016. This subject is a part of
health science. It has many contents connected to Biology-1610 that I have been taking in this
semester together. For example, organization of the body, metabolism, cell signaling, antibody
and antigens (ch-3), glucose, fructose, galactose, disaccharides, starch, glycogen and its features
(ch-4), triglycerides, phospholipids, sterols, fatty acids and its functions in human body (ch-5),
amino acids, different types of bonds, protein synthesis and its functioning in human body (ch6), enzymes, coenzymes, cofactors and its functions (ch-8), pH scale, ions, different kinds of
solutions, acids, buffers and its features (ch-9), oxidation, reduction, radical, enzymes, cancer
terminology etc. (ch-10), energy metabolism, biochemical pathway etc. (ch-12), the terms
aerobic, anaerobic (ch-14) and their connection with Biology 1610. The knowledge of this
subject matter from Biology 1610 enhanced my knowledge to know these topics in health and
nutrition class.
I used to think that this course was only related to nutrition, but after studying every
chapter of this course, I have realized that it is a part of health science. It is also related to human
anatomy and physiology for its study of different organ system and its function in the human
body. Before taking this class, I did not have solid idea about micro and macro nutrients. I used
to think micronutrients are also the source of energy along with macronutrients, but that was my
lack of knowledge. Now, I know what macro and micro nutrients are and how they function in
our body. I did not have any idea about good and bad calories before, but I can distinguish the
difference between them. This course has changed my thinking about supplements. My beliefs
over supplements was strong before but, now I have acknowledged that supplements are only
options to fill the gap of nutrient deficiency. My understanding regarding B vitamins has
changed after taking this class. I used to think there was only one B vitamin. I never heard about
other types of B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, pyridoxine,
folate, vitamin B12 etc. Now, I have knowledge about most of these B vitamins. Before, my
knowledge regarding water intake was not complete. I used to drink as much water at one time
but now, I know the amount and way to drink water. I used to think alcohol intake is totally
harmful, but I learned that limited alcohol intake is also beneficial. I know the relationship
between vitamin D and iron and the cause of deficiency. I have gained the idea of different types
of exercises and eating disorders too. I got ideas about calorie intake, behavior and importance of
exercise during pregnancy and adulthood as well.
After taking this course, I know how poverty is related to malnutrition, food shortage and
the consequences of food deficiency. I knew some ideas and situations of underdeveloped world
too. After taking this class, I can compute BMI, EER, and some other tools used to measure
nutrition and calories. I have gained the ideas to preserve foods and to prevent foodborne
diseases. I know the importance of food in different diseases as well. Before, I used to think no
matter what food you consume, if you do exercise, you can be healthy forever. But my
understanding has changed now because the importance of food is vital for us. I learned the

Gautam 2
major causes of death in USA and its increasing trend in recent years. I learned causes of
overweight its widespread effects in recent years. Before, I had little ideas about the adverse
consequences of junk foods but now I have more ideas than before.
After studying the course, I have modified my food habit significantly. I used to think all
edible oil has same elements but now I know the difference of different types of edible oil. I
started to buy olive oil after knowing benefit of it. I used to think its good to consume much
protein for good health and didnt know the impacts of its overconsumptions. Now, I can figure
out the impact of most of the food and its overconsumption. One of the assignments in this
course was 10 Dollar Challenge which helped me to figure out the minimum price of foods for
shopping. There were four extra credit classes conducted for us where I learned about importance
of meal plan, eating healthy breakfast, shopping food products in cheap price, preparation of
healthy food and its protection for long time, and so on. Before taking this class, I was unaware
about the importance of essential fatty acids and its functioning in the human body, but now I
have started to include fish at least once in a week in my menu to maintain omega 3 fatty acid. I
learned that it is very good for cardio-vascular health. Nowadays, I started eating breakfast in the
morning where I include oatmeal, milk, raisins, and some nuts which has reduced my acid reflux
problem.
After having ideas about nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, diseases, human body functioning
and so on, I have not only modified my food habits and lifestyle but I started to share this
knowledge with my family members, friends, relatives, and society as well. I would love to let
them know about the ideas of nutrition, lifestyle, exercise and so on. Many people are unaware
of food and nutrition. They eat only to satisfy the hunger. I would like to share the ideas about
the required micro and macro nutrients for the human body. I would love to share how nutrition
deficiency is directly related to birth and how it would impact to the kids as well. If everything is
defined connecting the future health and probable future disease of offspring, they will pay
attention for changing their food habit and lifestyle. Many people have smoking and alcoholic
habits but they are not aware of the adverse effects to pregnant women, infants, children as well.
I would like to share my knowledge to make those people aware in the community.
In conclusion, this course provides multiple ideas of consumption of balanced diet to
achieve ideal health throughout our life. It is important for good health, longevity, and human
welfare. Foods provide us energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to function our
body appropriately. Limited foods are not enough to maintain the balanced amount of micro and
macro nutrients. So, we need wide variety of different foods to provide the balanced amounts of
nutrients for optimal health. Food is our culture; therefore, enjoyment of a verities of food can
also be the part of our cultural pleasures. Nutrition and lifestyle play an important role to reduce
the major causes of death, illness, disability, and other complicacies such as cardio-vascular
diseases, stroke, obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis, many types of cancer, type 2 diabetes,
osteoporosis, dental caries, kidney related diseases, and mental diseases. So, planned food habits
along with active lifestyle to enhance the optimal health throughout the life is the major concern
of this course in general.