The

Many Faces of
Food
Torsak Tip-pairote, M.D.
1. Food as energy sources
 Energy from Food
• Three classes of essential
nutrients supply energy

• Kilocalorie = a measure of
energy content in food; the
amount of heat it takes to
raise the temperature of 1
liter of water 1°C; commonly
referred to as “calorie”
Sources of Energy in the Diet
Food as Macronutrient
2. Food as coenzyme and cofactor sources
Food as micronutrient
 Vitamins
Organic Micronutrients
• Vitamins = organic (carbon-
containing) substances needed in
small amounts to help promote and
regulate chemical reactions and
processes in body cells.
• Four vitamins are fat-soluble (A, D,
E, and K)
• Nine vitamins are water-soluble (C
and the eight B-complex vitamins:
thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin
B-6, folate, vitamin B-12, biotin, and
pantothenic acid)
 Vitamins
• Vitamins are abundant in fruits,
vegetables, and grains; they are
also added to some processed
foods
• If you consume too much or too
little of a particular vitamin,
characteristic symptoms of excess
or deficiency can develop
• Vitamins commonly lacking in the
American diet:
– Vitamin A
– Vitamin C
– Vitamin B-6
– Vitamin E
 Minerals
Inorganic Micronutrients
• Minerals = inorganic (non-carbon-
containing) compounds needed in
small amounts for regulation, growth,
and maintenance of body tissues and
functions
• There are about 17 essential
minerals:
– Major minerals (those that the body
needs in amounts exceeding 100 mg per
day) include calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, and
chloride
– Essential trace minerals include copper,
fluoride, iodide, iron, selenium, and zinc
3. Food as antioxidant sources
Free radicals
Free radicals
Free radicals
 Lipid peroxyl
radical LOOH
LOO

Vit Ered VIT Eox

hydroxyl radical (OH )  or

superoxide radical anion (O2-
VIT Vit Cred )
Cox
reduced products

Glutathionered +H2O2 Glutathioneox

(GSH) (GSSG)

Glutathione reductase

+ +
NADP NADPH, H
Pentose phosphate pathway

Glucose-6-P Ribulose-5-P

Figure 6. Antioxidant cascade

Engine cooler
 4. Food as building block molecule sources

Structures, Organs, Molecules, Cells

Chemical substances- transmitter, hormone
»Protein
»Fat
 Proteins
The Basis of Body Structure
• Protein = a compound made of
amino acids that contains carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
• Of twenty common amino acids in
foods, nine are essential
• Proteins form key parts of the body’s
main structural components—
muscles and bones—and of blood,
enzymes, cell membranes, and
some hormones
 Amino acids and Amino acid derivatives :

Examples

• The sulfation cycle :

• cysteine, methionine, and betaine
• Amiono acid conjugation :
• taurine and glycine
• The Urea cycle and signal transduction :
• arginine, ornithine, and citrulline
• The branched-chain amino acids :
• leucine, isoleucine, and valine
• Mitochondrial metabolism :
• creatine and carnitine
• Glutamine
• Excitatory amino acid :
• glutamate
 Fats
Essential in Small Amounts
• Fats supply energy, insulate
the body, support and cushion
organs, absorb fat-soluble
vitamins, add flavor and texture
to foods
• Essential fats (linoleic acid and
alpha-linolenic acid) are key
regulators of body process
such as the maintenance of
blood pressure and the
progress of a healthy
pregnancy
 FATS and Cell Membranes
For example,

– in much of the body, cell membrane

phospholipids (which each contain two fatty
acids) rarely contain the omega 3 fatty acid
DHA (decosahexaenoic acid).
– However, in the brain 35 percent of all
phospholipids contain DHA.
– In the eye, photoreceptor phospholipids may
contain up to 60 percent DHA. Membrane
– Especially in developing infants, changes in
DHA composition in nervous system tissue phospholipid
have been suggested as contributive to such
conditions as attention deficit and hyperactivity
disorder and may influence visual capacity.
 The Many Faces of Food

1. Food as energy sources

2. Food as coenzyme and
cofactor sources
3. Food as antioxidants
sources
4. Food as building block
molecule sources
 Wrong proportion

High calorie , low nutrient

excessive alcoholic consumption
Cardiac beriberi
Refine sugar, carbohydrate
Wrong quality
Saturated fat
 Refined Foods > Cytokines
“Dietary patterns high in refined starches,
sugar, and saturated and trans-fatty acids,
poor in natural antioxidants and fiber from
fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and
poor in omega-3 fatty acids may cause an
activation of the innate immune system,
most likely by an excessive production of
proinflammatory cytokines associated
with a reduced production of antiinflammatory
cytokines.”

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;48(4):677-685.

“The sad truth is that most people in
the United States and other Western
countries eat a diet that puts them in
a constant proinflammatory state”

W. J. Meggs MD, PhD, Inflammation Cure, p. 101

Food can be very beneficial
But food can also be very damaging
Remove: The Top 10

1. Gluten grains
2. Corn
3. Beef/pork
4. Shellfish
5. Soy
6. Oranges
7. Peanuts
8. Refined sugars
9. Dairy products
10. Eggs
Top Two Problem Foods
ALLOW: AVOID:
􀁹 Vegetables/fruits 􀁹 Wheat, gluten
􀁹 Non-gluten grains grains
(rice, quinoa, oat) 􀁹 Eggs
􀁹 Fish, organic 􀁹 Corn
poultry and lamb 􀁹 Beef, pork,
􀁹 Flax/coconut shellfish, cold cuts
􀁹 Brown rice syrup 􀁹 Soy
or stevia 􀁹 Refined sugars
􀁹 Herbs, spices 􀁹 Dairy products
􀁹 Vegetarians: 􀁹 Food chemicals
legumes 􀁹 Peanuts
 &
Avoid Any Known Allergens
or Problem Foods
Keep it Simple
 Vegetables
All vegetables are allowed:
􀁹􀁹 Raw, steamed, sautéed, juiced, or roasted vegetables

Exceptions: If someone has arthritis, they

may benefit by also excluding nightshades:
potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes,
cayenne, chili peppers
 Fruit
All fruits are allowed:
• Fresh, canned in own juices
• Cooked, poached, dried (unsulfured)
• Frozen
• Diluted juices

Exceptions:
If you suspect candida, limit fruits or
avoid completely during these initial 3
weeks
 Rice

􀁹 All types: brown, white, basmati, jasmine,

red, black, etc.
􀁹 100% rice cakes
􀁹 100% rice crackers
􀁹 Rice noodles
􀁹 Dry cereals: puffed rice cereal, rice milk
(read all ingredients, do not use if has
corn or other prohibited ingredients)
􀁹 Crispy Brown Rice
􀁹 100% rice bread
 Protein Sources
• Poultry
• Fish
• Lamb
• Wild meats
• Vegetarians: beans and lentils
 Other “Grains”

Rice keeps it simple—BUT can also add:

• Quinoa
• Millet
• Buckwheat (actually a seed)
• Amaranth (actually a fruit)
• Teff
• Tapioca
 Nuts, Seeds, and Oils
• Coconut
• Unsweetened
• Unsweetened coconut milk
• Flax
• Oils
• Olive
• Coconut
• (Ghee)
 Seasoning

• Salt (preferably sea salt)

• Pepper
• Herbs and spices (fresh or dried)
 Beverages

• Water
• Herbal teas
• Seltzer
• Mineral water
• Diluted juices
• Broths

Exception: Someone who is hooked on

caffeine and you don’t think that is the
problem
 An Optimum Diet

 Supplies need for calories, macronutrients and micronutrients

 Supports health throughout life and maximizes longevity
 Provides pleasure from eating
General Characteristics
Variety-Cover nutritional bases, minimize harmful foods
Freshness-The greater % of fresh foods the better
Unprocessed Foods- Lower the % of processed foods
Abundance of Fruits and Vegetables- The higher the % of
fruits and vegetables the better
Calories- 50-60 percent from carbohydrate; 30 percent or less from fat
and 10-20 percent from protein)
Whole ,fresh, unprocessed food
Case Study
Thai Boy,4 YO
ASD