Optimal Nutrition for Health Concerns

1. Health Concerns

2. Diet and Health • There is a relationship between a proper and healthy diet and the prevention, control and maintenance of health concerns. • A doctor should always be consulted if you have any of the following health concerns.

3. Anemia – Causes • There is a severe depletion of iron stores resulting in low blood hemoglobin

4. Anemia – Symptoms • Person is weak and tired. Their mental state is affected. • Loss of blood creates a loss of iron.

5. Anemia – High Risk • Menstruating females are at higher risk

6. Anemia – Prevention • Meat is an excellent source of iron • Not all ingested iron is absorbed; vitamin C helps to absorb iron when taken together. • Fortified cereals have iron added

7. Colon Cancer – Causes • Hereditary • Not enough fiber in the diet.

8. Colon Cancer – Symptoms • One of the top causes of cancer deaths in the U.S.

9. Colon Cancer – High Risk • Fiber helps food move through large intestine • Insoluble fiber will not dissolve, absorbs water, contributes bulk, lowers the risk for cancer

10. Colon Cancer – Prevention • Diets should consist of 20 - 35 grams of fiber a day • Fiber helps food move through large intestine • Good sources of fiber include fruits, whole grains, vegetables • Insoluble fiber significantly inhibits the development of precancerous colon and rectal polyps

11. Diabetes • Type 1 Diabetes • Child or juvenile diabetes • Type 2 Diabetes • Adult Onset • Hyperglycemia - blood glucose levels are too high • Causes damage to the kidneys, eyes, and other body parts

12. Diabetes – Causes • Diabetes affects the body’s production and use of insulin - making blood glucose levels abnormally high • Insulin is a hormone produced in the body.

13. Diabetes – Symptoms • Excessive urination and thirst • Weight loss with nausea, easy tiring, weakness, irritability • cravings for food; especially sweets • vision disturbance; blurred vision • slow healing of cuts and bruises.

14. Diabetes – High Risk • Many people have a genetic predisposition to acquiring the disease.

15. Diabetes – Prevention • Maintaining a healthy body weight helps to prevent hyperglycemia • Soluble fiber may improve the control of blood sugar and can reduce the need for insulin or medication • Important to manage carbohydrate intake through diet and/or receiving insulin

16. Heart Disease • Coronary heart disease (CHD) refers to disease of the heart and blood vessels • Arteriosclerosis – plaque forms along the inner walls of the arteries.

17. Heart Disease – Causes • Plaque forms along the inner walls of the arteries • Saturated fat in the diet is changed to cholesterol which forms the plaque

18. Heart Disease – Symptoms • Severe pain in the left arm and chest proceed a heart attack. • Overweight • Low exercise

19. Heart Disease – High Risk • factors increasing the risk: • genetics, age, high-fat diet (high blood cholesterol), lack of exercise, stress, smoking and tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, low fiber intake, low vitamin/mineral intake

20. Heart Disease – Prevention • Decrease consumption of foods high in saturated fats and sodium • High sodium/salt foods - onion rings, pickles, french fries, potato chips, some soft drinks

21. Osteoporosis – Causes • Bones become porous and fragile due to the lack of calcium • Bone density is developed during the first 25 years of life. After age 25, calcium consumption helps to maintain the existing bone density

22. Osteoporosis – Symptoms • Curving of the spine. Bones become porous. Bones break very easily.

23. Osteoporosis – High Risk • A condition manifested in older adults • Females at higher risk • Low-calcium diet • Thinness • Smoking • Lack of exercise • Alcoholism • Chronic steroid use

24. Osteoporosis – Prevention • Recommended daily fluid milk intake • children - 2 cups • adolescents - 4 cups • adults - 2 cups • Mypyramid recommends at least 3 cups

25. Health Concerns