Nutrition and Your Body: Nutrition and Disease

Nutrition has not been studied for very long, relative to other sciences, however, recent studies attribute poor nutrition as a cause of some diseases (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).

Well than what is poor nutrition?

With the fast pace of life and all of the food choices we have these days it is easy to get bogged down and choose foods that are easy to access and prepare. Unfortunately these foods can be high in calories, saturated fats, sugar, sodium and lack adequate nutrients (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).

(Moncur, 2005)

An example of such prepackaged and processed foods are microwavable dinners such as the Hungry Man Sports Grill (Moncur, 2005). Would you consider hiding under the bed during a fire (YouTube, 2011)? Of course not but Americans regularly eat processed foods high in saturated fats, sugar and sodium. Eating these types of processed foods regularly will likely lead to chronic diseases in life that will greatly shorten your life expectancy (Sizer & Whitney, 2013) When possible it is good to remember to stay away from processed foods, refined grains, added sugars, salt, and saturated fats and instead choose whole food options (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).

What is good nutrition?

Examples of foods that are considered to provide good nutrition are fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats, low fat diary, and liquid fats such as olive oil (Sizer & Whitney, 2013). These foods are nutrient dense and also provide the adequate vitamins and minerals that the body needs (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).

Good Nutrition (IGD, 2007)

Poor Nutrition (WAND, 2013)

Food and Disease

It is well documented that obesity has become a serious issue in America over the last few decades (Sizer & Whitney, 2013). Although there are many reasons for a person to be obese it is likely that this condition can be attributed to a poor diet such as the picture on the right above. Additionally, a poor diet can led to chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).

Malnutrition is also an issue for many people. "Malnutrition includes deficiencies, imbalances, and excesses of nutrients, alone or in combination, any of which can take a toll on health over time (Sizer & Whitney, pg. 3, 2013). A balanced diet such as the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial to your health now and in the future (Sizer & Whitney, 2013). There are other diets that are also balanced and limit the consumption of meats.