Nutritional diseases, also known as nutrition disorders, are health problems that arise from an imbalance or inadequacy in a person's diet. Specifically, they occur when the dietary intake either doesn't provide enough nutrients needed for the body's functions or when the body is unable to properly absorb those nutrients from the food consumed. These disorders can be categorized into three main types: undernutrition, overnutrition, and imbalanced nutrition.
Understanding Nutritional Diseases
According to the provided reference, nutrition disorders are diseases that occur when a person's dietary intake does not contain the right amount of nutrients for healthy functioning, or when a person cannot correctly absorb nutrients from food. These disorders result from various factors related to food intake, absorption and the body's ability to utilize these nutrients effectively. Let's break down the types:
Types of Nutritional Diseases
Here’s a breakdown of the types of nutritional disorders:
- Undernutrition: This occurs when the body does not receive enough essential nutrients, including calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
- Examples: Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, Vitamin Deficiencies (like Scurvy from lack of Vitamin C, Rickets from lack of Vitamin D).
- Causes: Poverty, food insecurity, eating disorders, certain medical conditions.
- Overnutrition: This happens when the body consumes too many nutrients, leading to an excess that can be detrimental.
- Examples: Obesity, Hypervitaminosis (Vitamin A or D toxicity), increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Causes: Consuming excessive calories, eating highly processed foods, over-supplementation.
- Imbalanced Nutrition: This results from the consumption of a diet that is not balanced in terms of the required nutrients, leading to deficiencies or excesses of certain nutrients.
- Examples: Anemia from low iron, Osteoporosis due to a lack of calcium, and certain cancers.
- Causes: Unvaried diets, poor food choices, lack of proper meal planning.
Why Do Nutritional Diseases Occur?
Nutritional diseases can arise for various reasons including:
- Inadequate Dietary Intake: Not eating enough food or not consuming a variety of foods can lead to deficiencies.
- Absorption Issues: Certain medical conditions, like celiac disease, can impair the absorption of nutrients from food.
- Metabolic Problems: Issues with how the body processes nutrients can result in imbalances.
- Lifestyle Choices: Poor food choices, such as consistently eating highly processed, low-nutrient foods, can be major contributing factors.
Identifying and Addressing Nutritional Diseases
Recognizing and dealing with nutritional diseases involves:
- Identifying Symptoms: Being aware of symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, skin issues, and digestive problems.
- Medical Evaluation: Consulting a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and guidance.
- Dietary Changes: Making informed changes to dietary intake to correct imbalances or deficiencies.
- Supplementation: Using supplements if advised by a doctor or nutritionist to address specific nutrient deficits.
- Monitoring: Regularly tracking health status to ensure dietary interventions are effective.
By understanding the different types and causes of nutritional disorders, we can take proactive steps toward a balanced and healthy approach to eating.
