The Connection Between Nutrition and Disease

Proper nutrition is essential to achieving and maintaining good health and healthy weight. A person should consume the correct amount of nutrients
and calories, energy, according to age and activity level. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to malnutrition and chronic diseases such as heart
disease, diabetes, cancer and strokes. Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States, cancer is second and stroke is
fourth. A person can reduce the risk of illness by eating foods low in saturated and trans fats, sodium and cholesterol, and by consuming the
proper amount of protein, healthy fat, water, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates (Sizer, Whitney 2014).[Photo credit: EKG Technician Salary]

Malnutrition and chronic illness can be avoided when a variety of foods are consumed. A diet that is not balanced, does not offer adequate
nutrients and variety, and one in which moderation and calorie control are not exercised can also cause malnutrition, obesity, and chronic illness.
Malnutrition can occur when one consumes too much of one nutrient and not enough of another, and can lead to chronic illness. For example, when a
person consumes too much sodium the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and heart disease increases (Sizer, Whitney 2014).
Chronic illness, such as heart disease and cancer, can be avoided or reversed with a diet high in, or solely made up of plant-based foods and low
in sugar (Gustafson 2014). Nutrient-rich, healthy recipes and tips can be found here.

[Photo Credit Milch-Jogurt-Früchte]




References:

Eating Well. (2015). EatingWell Nutrition and Recipe Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.eatingwell.com/eatingwell_nutrition_and_recipe_guidelines

EKG Technician Salary. (n.d.). Heart Disease Stock Photo. www.ekgtechniciansalary.org. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/128745475@N07/17162977959/in/photolist-s9CKp6-bBH4wz-s4TM5J-9EkZJy-pQAnnF-9jjisU-9u1Z3P-bmS9Hg-6b6ku9-9TYT6N-83Rkit-vmtCNj-dtp6J6-c9BtzG-bmSa2R-bmS9Ec-9hgFNj-9jjhLy-ixj2HW-dVBXhH-boEJum-smFu2Y-smFp39-rq2WPM-sjxHP9-rq2QQn-s5fvzj-boQ33L-boQ38b-uePfKt-bBK5WP-boFdvs-boPV3E-boPUSJ-bBHLWV-boNRHL-bBHM5a-boNRL7-boJJ3b-bmS9V4-bBDMc6-boMtXh-boMu17-boKBqU-bBEvSX-boLhZ9-boLi7o-boQmnG-bjLBGK-bgae5T

Gustafson, C. (2014). Michael Greger, MD: Reversing chronic disease through diet; Addressing the 2015 USDA Dietary Guidelines Committee. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 13(2), 22-24.

"Milch-Jogurt-Früchte". Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milch-Jogurt-Fr%C3%BCchte.jpg#/media/File:Milch-Jogurt-Fr%C3%BCchte.jpg

Sizer, F., Whitney, E. (2014). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies, 13e, 13th Edition. Cengage Learning. VitalBook file.