An adequate diet with sufficient amounts of carbohydrates, fats and protein will prevent kwashiorkor disease. OBESITY- is a major contributor to chronic diseases. An individual whose BMI(body mass index) is >40 is considered obese. A variety of medical problems including high blood pressure, heart problems, have been associated with obesity. Vitamins such as B3, B6, and C, zinc and chromium will help stabilise blood sugar and assist to lose weight by stabilising appetite and burning fat.
”Overweight and obesity are increasing. The percentage of adults who are obese has roughly doubled since the mid-1980’s”.5[7] As a desperate measure for losing weight, more and more people are attracted to low carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet because weight loss is instant. ”It is not healthy”. 60% of our diet should be from carbohydrates. Atkins diet only allows a very small amount of fruit and vegetables which is not enough to give the RDA. Essential vitamins and minerals come from a balanced diet and low carbohydrate diet is not balanced. The Atkins diet claims to clear up all manner of ailments, but it is lacking in nutrients essential for good health and a high protein diet increases calcium output, therefore a risk of osteoporosis.
OSTEOPOROSIS occurs if the bones are not strong before bone loss begins. Calcium intake is important in achieving peak bone mass and an adequate supply is vital to health, particularly in times of growth, e.g. Childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and during lactation. Calcium is the principal mineral in bones and teeth. Deficiency of calcium in bones can result from an inadequate supply of vitamin D resulting in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Different foods supply different amounts of minerals. Eating a varied diet will ensure adequate supply of most minerals. In the UK, iron and calcium intakes are gradually decreasing. Some adolescent girls and women of childbearing age may be deficient in iron and this may have implications for future health.
IRON has many functions in the body, also needed for normal functioning of the immune system. Iron deficiency, Anaemia, is common problem. Loss of blood due to injury or large menstrual losses increase iron requirements. Women and teenagers in particular, need to ensure their diet supplies enough iron. Haem -iron from animal sources is better absorbed than iron from plant sources (non haem iron). High doses of iron can be toxic and can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type and is the leading cause of heart attacks.
Angina is a chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart is not getting enough blood. Heart attacks occur when an artery is severely or completely blocked and the heart does not get the blood it requires for more than 20 minutes. Heart failure refers to the heart not being able to pump the blood through the body as normal which means that the other organs that normally requires blood from the heart receives very little or none at all, but the heart does not stop. Signs of heart failure are that you may experience shortness of breath, swelling in feet, ankles and legs etc and extreme tiredness.
Heart arrhythmias are changes in the heartbeat. The majority of people feel dizzy, faint, out of breath or had chest pains at one point. These changes in heartbeat are harmless for most people. Cardiovascular risk factors There are many risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and stroke. The major risk factors, tobacco and alcohol use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets are common across the world.
You will not develop cardiovascular disease if you only have a risk factor, but the more risks you have the more likely you are to increase the risks compromising your heart health. Physical inactivity increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. Regularly participating in regular physical activity can reduce your risk of heart disease by nearly a quarter, combining physical activity and other lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight. Physical activity helps to reduce the chances of developing conditions that may have a strain on your heart like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as well as reducing stress levels.
Federal guidelines recommend that you get at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week. Day to day activities like gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs and walking the dog all counts towards the total amount of exercise done a day. You don’t have to exercise strenuously to achieve benefits, but you can see bigger benefits by increasing the intensity, duration and frequency of your workouts. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease, heart disease and stroke and is linked with cardiovascular mortality. By doing this the risk factors that are reduced is high blood pressure to prevent high blood pressure regular aerobic activity is essential. Smokers who become physically active are more likely to cut down or stop smoking.