Diet and Health Health Article

Definition

Diet has a tremendous effect on health. Diet plays a role in promoting health and reducing chronic disease for many conditions such as preventing obesity, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and cancer, as well as low birth weight in babies.

Description

The concept of diet quality in relation to health has changed over time. Nutrition scientists focused on preventing nutrient deficiencies early in this century, but now the shift has changed, exploring diets and chronic disease prevention and treatment. Adequate nutrition is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic disease. Well-nourished people are more resistant to disease and are better able to tolerate other therapy and to recover from acute illnesses, surgery, and trauma. Nutrition also plays a key part in a patient's recovery from a disease or treatment.

Consumption of a wide variety of foods, with appropriate amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals is the basis of a healthy diet. However, today's major health care problems are increasingly the result of acute and chronic conditions related to dietary intake. In fact, eight of the 10 leading causes of death, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and some cancers, can be attributed to diet and alcohol. Some chronic diseases continue to increase due to factors such as the rise in obesity in Western populations, Americans in particular.

There is no disputing that a healthy diet can help to prevent illness and promotes a feeling of well-being. A research study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that by following the current dietary guidelines, women are able to live longer. Women whose diets included large amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats had a lower risk of death. Women who were considered to have the best diets (those eating the highest intake level of recommended foods from the current dietary guidelines) had a 30% lower risk of death from any cause compared with those eating the lowest level of recommended foods.

Viewpoints

The position of the American Dietetics Association on the role of nutrition and diet in health promotion and disease prevention programs includes steps for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. These steps include the following guidelines:

• Primary prevention (health promotion): Health promotion is a population-based approach that encourages behaviors for better health. For example, nutrition classes at a local adult education center could be considered a primary prevention measure.
• Secondary prevention (risk appraisal and risk reduction): For people at risk of illness who are beginning to encounter health-related problems, secondary prevention encompasses risk appraisal and screening to detect preclinical disease, and early intervention to promote health and well-being. For example, cholesterol screening for people with a family history of cardiovascular disease could be considered a secondary prevention measure.
• Tertiary prevention (treatment and rehabilitation): For people experiencing illness or injury, tertiary prevention includes treatment and rehabilitation to promote maximum health and prevent further disability and secondary conditions resulting from the initial health problem. Examples of tertiary prevention include medical nutrition therapy or diabetes education for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Experts in nutrition recommend a variety of foods and the maintenance of an ideal weight. Large amounts of fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol should be avoided. Individuals should consume adequate starch and fiber and avoid excess sugar and sodium.

Dietary guidelines

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, can provide a broad overall view of good nutrition. These dietary guidelines include these basic recommendations:

• Eat a variety of foods; let the food pyramid guide your food choices.
• Control your weight.
• Be physically active each day.
• Eat a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
• Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, and grains.
• Eat sugar in moderation.
• Use salt in moderation.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation; no more than two drinks per day of wine, beer, or spirits.
• Keep food safe to eat; follow the government safety precautions as outlined on the food package.

The Food Guide Pyramid was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help Americans choose foods from each food grouping. It focuses on fat intake, which is too high in most Americans. The food pyramid, developed by nutritionists, provides a visual guide to healthy eating. At its base are those foods that should be eaten numerous times each day, while at its apex are those foods that should be used sparingly. The pyramid suggests a range of servings in each group so that the number of servings can be adjusted to suit each individual's caloric requirements. The daily recommendations (from bottom to top) of the food pyramid include:

• bread, cereal, rice, and pasta: 6–11 servings
• vegetables: 3–5 servings
• fruits: 2–4 servings
• milk, yogurt, and cheese: 2–3 servings
• meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs, and nuts: 2–3 servings
• fats, oils, and sweets: use sparingly

Other programs use the National Cholesterol Education Program Step 1 Diet guidelines, which may be followed to assist in controlling weight. The guidelines provided by the National Cholesterol Education Program can be followed for maintaining optimal blood lipid levels [total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and triglycerides]. Health promotion and disease prevention are central components of national recommendations to improve the health of Americans in an initiative called Healthy People 2000. This program is a series of national health promotion and disease prevention objectives that examine the association between nutrition and chronic disease. A program called Healthy People 2010 is planned.