Atkins or Fadkins

Atkins or ‘Fadkins’?

by

Karen E. Bledsoe

Biology Department

Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR

1. Please go to School Wires for this link: http://www.sciencecases.org/atkins/case1.asp

2. Read all of Part I: “Macronutrients and Energy”. When you are finished, answer the following questions:

a) First, find out what nutrients Janine and Mitchell are talking about. Using a biology textbook and the resources listed, describe what the following molecules are and what they are used for in the human body. List some specific examples of each. Also list major dietary sources of each.

a. Proteins

b. Carbohydrates

c. Fats

b) Janine made this statement: “… if your brain doesn’t get carbs—well, glucose, anyway—you get really cranky. You have to have enough carbs.” Find out if Janine is right. How does the nervous system use glucose?

c) Janine also said: “If you eat way too much protein and not enough carbs you can ruin your kidneys forever because of all the nitrogen you have to process breaking down the protein.” Find out if Janine is right about this, too. Check a biology textbook for information on protein, fats, and carbohydrates. To find out how these substances can be used for energy, look up information on cellular respiration.

d) The words “calorie” and “energy” come up a lot in discussions of diet and nutrition. Use a biology textbook to define both of these terms. Then suppose you found a product that was labeled “calorie-free energy drink.” Why would that label be misleading?

e) Which substances supply energy to the human body?

3. When you are finished, go on to Part II: “Metabolism and Detox”. Read the entire passage. When you are done, answer the following questions:

a) Find out how the medical community defines “obesity.” What factors contribute to obesity?

b) What is “set point theory”? Are toxins involved? Describe how body size and...