Nutrition and Disease

Four out of the top ten leading causes of death have can be directly linked to dietary intake; these include heart disease, some types of cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Specific data reports can be found here (Hoyert, et al, 2011). Obesity is right behind smoking with regards to the leading preventable causes of death (Sizer, et al, 2014).  It is no secret that the greatest weapon against obesity is a healthy well-balanced diet of nutrient dense, whole foods. It is also important to stay away from saturated and trans fatty acids and to learn and understand nutrition labels.  

Learning how to interpret nutrition labels, like the one in the picture above, can help you track the amount of essential nutrients your body is receiving.  Consuming too much or too little of any essential nutrient can put your body at risk for various health risks. It is important to understand the serious threat malnutrition poses and realize that it encompasses both over nutrition and under nutrition (Sizer, et al, 2014). The more we educate ourselves and our children about the role nutrition plays in our health, the more likely we will be able to assist future generations build the knowledge they need to maintain a healthy body and improve their quality and length of life. 

References

Hoyert, D., Ph.D., and Xu, J., M.D. “Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2011”. National Vital

Statistics Reports. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov

Sizer, F.,Whitney, E. (2014).  Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.).  Mason, OH:

Cengage Learning.