Illnesses of the Western diet

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ILLNESSES OF THE WESTERN DIET

By Tamsyn Iveson U5CA

There are many illnesses in the UK and other western countries. One of the reasons is diet, the other is lifestyle. Describe and explain these illnesses and give advice for a teenager who is concerned about there health.

The illnesses of the western diet are mostly diseases of excess. Also called “Diseases of Affluence.”

Firstly there is Diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which the body is not able to convert, or becomes less efficient at converting, glucose in the blood into energy. As a result, the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood starts to rise. About 1.4 millions people in the UK are known to have diabetes, so it is a fairly common health condition. Glucose is obtained from the digestion of carbohydrates. Blood glucose levels rise after a meal and insulin is released into the blood. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It controls the level of glucose in the blood and stops it rising too high. When someone has diabetes, the pancreas does not make, or release enough insulin into the bloodstream to convert the glucose into energy. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood starts to build up. The body starts to use its gat stores to provide energy and so people with untreated diabetes often lose weight. The also may feel very tired. People with undiagnosed or untreated diabetes often pass a lot of urine and are very thirsty. People with diabetes do not need to follow a special diet. They can follow the dietary guidelines for healthy eating which are recommended for everyone. So their diet should be high in starchy, fibre-rich foods and low in sugar and fat. A variety of foods, including biscuits, jam and chocolates, are produced specially for diabetics. They use a sugar alcohol, sorbitol, instead of sucrose and glucose. Sorbitol is absorbed slowly and converted to fructose in the liver, which prevents a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. The British Diabetic Association (BDA) gives advice to diabetics, and keeps them informed about developments in treating the condition. It currently advises diabetics to eat regular, healthy meals including a variety of different foods. More high fibre, starchy carbohydrate foods. e.g. Wholemeal bread, pasta, jacket potatoes, pulses, brown rice and beans. Less sugar and sweet foods, and to choose reduced sugar or artificially sweetened alternatives. Less high fat and dried foods. Less salt, to help reduce the rush of high blood pressure.

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Secondly, another illness is anaemia. Anaemia is caused by lack of iron in the diet, it is one of the most common nutritional problems worth wide. Women and children are at greatest risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia. Following a healthy diet, eating plenty of iron rich foods, can prevent most cases of anaemia. Supplements are not recommended unless iron deficiency anaemia actually occurs. Evidence suggests that if iron supplements are given to young children who have adequate iron stores, growth may be delayed. Iron is needed to form part of haemoglobin, which gives red blood cells their colour. ...

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