NRS 429 Topic 4 DQ 2
Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion. What are some of the nutritional challenges for emerging populations? What roles do nutritional deficiency and nutritional excess play in disease?
Nutrition is essential to health promotion because it is necessary for our body’s growth, development, and normal functioning. For optimal growth and development, physical activity, reproduction, lactation, illness and injury recovery, and health maintenance throughout the life cycle, adequate nutrition is essential. For a healthy body, a well-balanced diet with enough of the essential nutrients is critical. Disease is linked to both excess and inadequate nutrition. For instance, chronic inflammatory conditions like obesity and cardiovascular disease can be brought on by a combination of inactivity and nutritional excess, particularly in the form of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. Conversely, deficiencies in essential nutrients can result in slowed growth, compromised immune system, and common conditions like scurvy, osteoporosis, depression, and xerophthalmia.
Reference
National library of Medicine. Nutrients, Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (2017). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
We are living longer, but living with the consequences of more years stricken with illness and disability. If we are to change this health expectancy trend, we must start at a major source of the problem. Diet and nutrition are now the biggest risk factors for people’s health across the globe. while fewer people are suffering and dying from insufficient food today, an increasingly commercialized processed food supply has moved us in a troubling new direction. While a shift in diet away from harvested fruits and vegetables toward more processed foods is not killing us, the spread of junk food around the globe clearly appears to be making us sick and overweight.
A balanced nutrition is essential for maintance of health promotion and prevention of diseases. As nurses we need to do more on nutritional education to our patients and thier families to reduce the incidents of nutritional related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease etc
I agree that nutrition is a great preventive measure that we all can take and make sure adequate nutrients are being consumed with whole foods and natural and organic produce if possible without the use of preservatives and such. Often times processed foods have so many unwanted ingredients and pesticides which can be especially harmful to our bodies, its crazy that some highly processed foods or meats even have a warning sign that it contains certain chemicals that have been linked to cancer!
I definitely agree that nutrition and a healthy diet are critical to an individuals health. “People with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For people with chronic diseases, healthy eating can help manage these conditions and prevent complications.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d., p.1)
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 25). Why it matters. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-nutrition/why-it-matters.
Access to adequate nutrition is a central theme in health promotion. This is because a healthy diet can improve a patient’s health status significantly. Proper nutritional support is needed for patients to heal wounds, decrease inflammation, and slow disease processes.
Nutritional challenges for emerging populations include: lack of access to funds to purchase food, food insecurity, and poor food quality. (Seguin, R., 2014.) Patients may also have difficulty preparing or storing healthy foods. Patients may need to supplement their nutrition with additional food from the local Food bank or other food pantries.
4 Major reasons for not eating a healthy diet, as noted by college students are the following: 
- Availability of fast food,
- High cost of healthy food,
- Limited time, and
- Laziness. (Abdelhafez, et al., 2020.)
Nutritional deficiencies and excesses play a significant role in the development and management of disease. For example, sodium intake must be decreased in patients with CHF. Excess sodium can be a primary factor causing patients with CHF to retain fluid and experience a crisis. Nutritional deficiencies can cause hypoglycemia. Other electrolyte imbalances can cause disruption, such as low Vitamin C or Vitamin D. Patients may also experience weight loss. Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and Diabetes can all find their origins both in genetics and also in nutritional imbalances.
References:
- Seguin, R., Connor, L., Nelson, M., LaCroix, A., & Eldridge, G. (2014). Understanding barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living in rural communities. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2014, 146502. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/146502
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- Abdelhafez, A. I., Akhter, F., Alsultan, A. A., Jalal, S. M., & Ali, A. (2020). Dietary Practices and Barriers to Adherence to Healthy Eating among King Faisal University Students. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(23), 8945. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238945
I completely agree that nutrition is an essential part of health promotion. Inadequate nutrition and diet can compromise an individual’s health status. “People who eat too many unhealthy foods — like foods high in saturated fat and added sugars — are at increased risk for obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.” (Healthy People 2030, n.d., p.1) Health promotion and teaching regarding nutrition are extremely important. A healthy diet with adequate nutrition has an immensely positive impact on health outcomes.
Reference:
Nutrition and healthy eating. Nutrition and Healthy Eating – Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/nutrition-and-healthy-eating
Several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and some types of cancer, can be prevented or controlled by following a healthy diet high in plant-based foods and low in processed, energy-dense foods.As a result, efforts to promote healthy lifestyles are made at the individual level by helping patients change their behavior through counseling, as well as at the community and population levels by using educational, environmental, and policy strategies.
Nutrition is a central component of health promotion because most of the essential elements that promote good body functioning are derived from food and their deficiencies cause impaired functions in the body. Some diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and stroke have been linked to nutrition” (Falkner, 2018). Part of the objective of Healthy People 2030 is Nutrition and healthy eating, their goal being “improving health by promoting healthy eating and making nutritious foods available” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d. Some diseases are associated with malnutrition, when the individual does not eat of the nutrients that promote healthy body functioning. Diseases like malabsorption syndrome whereby the individual cannot absorb the food nutrients are life threatening. People that eat better are strong, active, and more productive than hungry and malnourished individuals. Certain nutrients derived from food help for brain development and function.
Culture influences individual’s food choices. Different cultures have certain practices and beliefs about food, and they consume certain food sources more than others. For The emerging populations, economic barriers affect their choice of food. Healthy food, fruits and vegetables are more expensive than the canned foods and fast food which is cheaper and more convenient. Food nutrients are the substrates like vitamins and minerals and other elements that provide the body with what it need to function normally, these nutrients are affected by the method of processing, storage, and cooking. Nurses have an important role in educating the community on adequate food storage and processing methods that preserve the food nutrients. Eating too much of certain foods and nutrients can be a problem too. Excess salt, fat and sugar increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Nutritional deficiencies and illnesses that are associated with diet are treated using proper nutritious diet and lifestyle modifications. Good nutrition including breastfeeding promotes the health of infants. Balanced meal in the right proportions prevent malnutrition and illnesses related to nutritional deficiencies. Right proportions is important in checking obesity.
References
Falkner, A., (2018). Cultural Awareness. In Health Promotion: Health & wellness across the continuum. (Chapter 3). Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/3
ODPHP (n.d.). Healthy People 2030. Nutrition and Healthy Eating. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/nutrition-and-healthy-eating
Nutrition is definitely a central part of health promotion. Many diseases are linked to nutrition. Healthy nutritious foods should be made available for everyone. Obesity is a prominent and growing concern in the United States (Falkner, 2018). Because unhealthy foods are more accessible and cheaper, this leads to obesity. Dietary intake plays a role in the development of obesity. Obesity can lead to other complications such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and other heart diseases. It is encouraged for lifestyle changes involving proper dietary intake is necessary to combat obesity.
Reference
Falkner, A. (2018). Cultural awareness. Health Promotion: Health and Wellness Across the Continuum. (Chapter 3). Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/3
Nutrition is a big subject to talk about; we will never finish talking about nutrition, but Nutrition is vital for the brain in our body. A well-balanced diet provides all we are in our lifetime.
The energy you need to keep active throughout the day is needed for nutrients for growth and repair, helping to stay strong and healthy and helping to prevent diet-related illnesses, such as cancer.
At the same time, too many nutrients can destroy life and provoke obesity, and high cholesterol levels in the blood types of diabetes, heart problems, Metabolic problems, respiratory problems, and kidney problems, the most important.
Right and good nutrition, and a good diet can be beneficial for a blessed life.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu>Health
Great post! The lack of the main vitamins and minerals may lead to the development of acute and chronic diseases. Disease occurs when our body does not absorb adequate nutrients for example, Iron deficiency cause anemia, Vitamin A deficiency make our immune system weak against infection (Darnton-Hill, 2019). The lack of nutrients such as in children causes abnormal development whereas in adult causes improper functioning of the body. The deficiency of many vitamins such as Vitamin D causes weak bone, weak immunity. Also, excess of nutrition causes weight gain which turns into obesity and hence makes a person more prone to other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many more.
Darnton-Hill I. (2019). Public Health Aspects in the Prevention and Control of Vitamin Deficiencies. Current developments in nutrition, 3(9), nzz075. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz075
Just as you said, it is important to take culture into account when it comes to patients. Different cultures have different cultural foods. “Cultural competence is the integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services; thereby producing better outcomes.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,n.d., p.1) It is important to assess how a patient’s nutrition and diet relate to their culture.
Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 10). Cultural competence in health and human services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://npin.cdc.gov/pages/cultural-competence
You brought up some great points all of which i agree with. Every culture has their own food preferences and choices about nutrition, while some cultures may be have high meat and dairy consumption and others may prefer to have more veggies or fruits incorporated. dairy and red meat has been linked to cardiovascular disease and heart disease, cholesterol and more. A well balanced healthy diet is key while still enjoying cultural foods but also being sure to incorporate whole and nutritious foods is the best way.
A healthy diet and proper nutrition combined with adequate exercise can help greatly reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Everyone should be encouraged to consume smaller portions, avoid alcohol, limit processed foods and foods high in fat and/or sugar, and increase their level of activity (Falkner, 2018). Some nutritional challenges that plague many people are lack of money for higher quality foods, and as a result they might choose fast food options which are not very nutritious if at all, also lack of money or time to cook a meal at home are challenges that the emerging population faces. With nutritional excess you are more likely to become obese and risk of heart disease and high cholesterol, with nutritional deficiency your may be at risk for anemia or other vitamin deficiencies.
Falkner, A. (2018). Cultural awareness. Health Promotion: Health and Wellness Across the Continuum. (Chapter 3). Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/3
A healthy diet and proper nutrition along with physical activity can definitely reduce the risk for the development of diseases. As a nurse, it is our responsibility to educate patients about nutrition and the risks/benefits of diet noncompliance. You are totally right that lack of money and lack of resources lead people to fast food options and processed unhealthy foods. For some reason in the U.S, unhealthy foods are more accessible and cheaper. Consuming foods high in calories, sugar, and sodium can lead to obesity, heart disease, and stroke.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in both health and growth. Stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, a lower risk of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and longer lifespans are all linked to better nutrition. Children in good health learn better. People with adequate nutrition are more productive and can help create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger.
Good point; you are talking about nutrition; we all know nutrition is one of the keys to healthcare promotion. No one can not have excellent health without nutrition. When a parent knows how to give the proper food to grow their children, they have a brighter future, and they are empowered to make the right decisions for themselves and their families . Just as the detrimental cycle of malnutrition keeps families locked in poverty, a healthy cycle can help them and subsequent generations move in the right direction. Good nutrition is essential in keeping current and future generations of America healthy across their lifespan.
See Also: NRS 429 Topic 5 DQ 1
