Nutrition and Chronic Diseases.

Nutrition and Diseases.

Nutrition is an important part of daily living for all living organisms, particularly in the form of food. In fact when the term nutrition means, the process in which and individual not only takes in but also utilizes food. However, the food we eat immediately or eventually become us, meaning that our choice of what goes into our bodies eventually affect our health immediately or in the long run (Sizer & Whitney2013). This motion reminds of a computer-related term I learned a long time ago, which is perfect for this idea; garbage in, garbage out; or in this garbage in, garbage manifested. Some of the leading causes of death today are related to lifestyle choices made, particularly poor diet and physical inactivity (Anspaugh et al 2011). For example, heart diseases are the number one killer of men and women nationwide, and much research has proven that cardiovascular diseases are closely related to poor diet.

According to the Healthy People 2020 Topics and Objectives, Nutrition and weight status are an important topic because, even though most people are aware that they should consume more healthful and nutrition dense foods, they do not; and the unhealthy processed foods most Americans consume on a daily basis is partly what has given rise Obesity, which can lead to the many chronic illnesses we deal with today as a nation like hypertension, diabetes and some cancers (Healthy People 2013).

In addition to chronic diseases, not getting the proper necessary nutrients can lead to a host of other conditions like malnutrition which is defined as “any condition caused by excess or deficient food energy or nutrient intake or by an imbalance of nutrients. Nutrient or energy deficiencies are forms of under nutrition; nutrient or energy excesses are forms of over nutrition (Sizer & Whitney 2013. p 3).

Malnutrition used to be a result of poverty and/or the lack of food, in which people suffered deficiencies because they were not consuming enough food. However today, malnutrition is closely related to individuals not consuming enough of the right foods. While many Americans are interested in the knowledge of proper nutrition, the bombardment of delicious looking fast foods and snacks by the media, makes it even more difficult for the daily proper nutrition to be met. While many Americans, consume too much carbohydrates, simple sugars, sodium and fats on a daily basis, many are not meeting their daily requirements of water, vitamins and minerals through food; leading to a high prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia among other vitamin and mineral deficiencies (Sizer & Whitney 2013). Due to the fact that many of these vitamins act as antioxidants as well, a deficiency of these lead to increased toxicity in the body, and immune deficiencies (Anspaugh et al 2011). In the same way, overconsumption of carbohydrates, fats, sodium overtime results in a high prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and a group of diseases known as metabolic syndrome.

References:

Anspaugh, D. J., Hamrik, M. H., & Rosato, F. D. (2011). Wellness concepts and

 Applications. (8th ed.). New York: NY, McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Healthy People.gov. (2013). 2020 Topics & Objectives. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.