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3.2.3.4 Diet, nutrition and health Typeit
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Diet is an important factor which can both protect from and cause certain diseases. A balanced diet provides the body with nutrients, which are necessary to carry out all of the bodily functions and processes. If there are enough nutrients provided, the body remains healthy. Both excess and deficiency may cause health issues.
Obesity and overweight are the most common conditions caused by diet in British society. Overweight and obesity can be easily measured using the . BMI in the range of 25–29.9 kg/m2 means that a person is , while BMI higher than 30.0 kg/m2 indicates that a person is . It is advised that people suffering from obesity their energy intake and physical activity to burn off the excess tissue accumulated in their bodies.
Nutrition has a huge impact on the proper performance of the cardiovascular system. For example, is a condition where cholesterol molecules accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, causing them to stiffen and narrow. In advanced stages of the condition, the plaque can close the vessel and lead to a stroke – the most danger is to the brain and heart because the cholesterol molecules may irreversibly damage the cells and lead to sudden death. If the plaque mostly accumulates in the veins of the heart, it may cause chest pain, heart attack or heart failure. This condition is called and is a serious condition that may be fatal. Another condition that affects the cardiovascular system is high blood pressure, which is also called . It is usually caused by the excess of – due to either improper diet or kidney issues. A normal person’s blood pressure should oscillate around 80/120 mmHg – the lower number being an indicator of blood pressure when the heart is relaxed, and the higher when it is contracted. If these numbers are higher than 90/140, we diagnose hypertension.
Diabetes mellitus, or , is one of the most common chronic diseases of the twenty-first century. It is primarily caused by an improper performance of a hormone produced by the – insulin. Insulin helps transport from blood to cells. If it works incorrectly, or there is not enough insulin, the blood sugar level (also called ) grows. Sugar molecules flow in the blood and attack cells and tissues, not knowing how to enter them. This has a truly harmful effect on almost all of the body organs and can lead to serious damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves around the body.