Diet, Nutrition & Health (AQA GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition)

The relationship between diet, nutrition & health

• The food consumed by a person can directly affect their health

• Typically, a person consuming a balanced diet and following the Eatwell Guide will have good health

• Where diet is poor and lacking in nutrients or the balance of nutrients is not correct, then ill health can occur

• Nutritional and dietary needs can change in relation to different health conditions

Obesity

• Obesity occurs when a body is carrying too much fat

• Generally, this is the result of:

  • consuming too much energy for a person's BMR and PAL

  • eating a diet high in saturated fat, processed foods and sugars

  • lack of exercise and physical activity

• Health-related issues associated with obesity:

  • High blood pressure

  • High cholesterol levels

  • Breathing difficulties

  • Joint pain

  • Tiredness

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD)

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Certain cancers

• Dietary needs require changes to enable an obese person to lose weight:

  • Reducing overall energy (kilocalories) intake

  • Follow a diet low in fats and sugars

  • Partaking in regular exercise

Cardiovascular health

• Cardiovascular health includes coronary heart disease (CHD) and high blood pressure

• CHD occurs when coronary arteries (the arteries supplying the heart cells with blood) become narrowed or blocked with fatty deposits called plaque

• Oxygen and glucose are unable to be delivered to cells of the heart which can cause a heart attack

• A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can lead to CHD

• Health-related issues associated with cardiovascular disease:

  • Angina

  • Blood clots can form which can reduce blood flow (carrying oxygen and glucose) to the heart or other areas of the body

  • High blood pressure puts strain on blood vessels increasing the risk of heart attacks or strokes

• Dietary needs require changes to prevent or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

  • Reducing consumption of saturated fats, salt and sugar in the diet

  • Lowering intake of alcohol (and smoking)

  • Partaking in regular exercise

Bone and dental health

• A diet lacking in the right amount of nutrients can affect the health of the bones throughout the skeleton and teeth

• This can cause:

  • rickets

  • osteoporosis

  • tooth decay

Rickets

• This is caused by eating a diet lacking in vitamin D and calcium

  • Vitamin D requires sunlight to be activated so a lack of sunlight is also a contributing factor

• Health-related issues include:

  • soft and weak bones

  • bending and bowing outwards of leg bones causing permanent damage

• Dietary needs require vitamin D drops to be given to infants and children to avoid vitamin D deficiency

Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones of adults

• It is caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium in childhood

• It is more common in elderly people due to loss of bone density

• Health-related issues include:

  • Weak and brittle bones

  • More likely to break or fracture bones

• Dietary needs require a diet high in vitamin D and calcium-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables, tofu, seeds and dairy products

Tooth decay

• Teeth and dental health can be affected by the diet

• Teeth should be cleaned twice a day with fluoride containing toothpaste to prevent tooth decay

• A high-sugar diet can increase the risk of tooth decay

  • Some sugars are found within dairy products and fruits, these are less likely to cause tooth decay

  • Other sugars are 'free' sugars found in sugary drinks, cakes and sweets which can contribute to tooth decay

• Plaque is a substance that can also build up on teeth from leftover food which can lead to tooth decay

• Health-related issues include:

  • toothache

  • tooth sensitivity

  • bad breath

  • discolouration of the teeth

• Dietary needs require a low-sugar diet and foods containing sugars to be consumed at meal times, rather than on their own

Iron deficiency anaemia

• Iron is a component of red blood cells

• Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells within your blood

• It is caused by:

  • a lack of iron-rich foods in the diet, such as leafy green vegetables and red meat

  • blood loss through menstruation in women

  • pregnancy in women as iron from the mother is transferred to the growing baby

• Health-related issues associated with iron deficiency anaemia:

  • Tiredness and fatigue

  • Heath palpitations

  • Pale looking skin

  • Headaches

  • Abnormal fingernails

  • Dizziness and fainting

• Dietary needs require changes to prevent or reduce iron deficiency anaemia:

  • Iron tablets or supplements may be prescribed by a doctor

  • Vitamin C must be taken with iron-rich foods to help iron be absorbed into the bloodstream

Type 2 diabetes

• Diabetes is a condition that occurs when sugar (glucose) in the blood is not absorbed into the cells where it is required

• The hormone insulin is needed for glucose to be absorbed into the cells

• Type 2 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin production (which occurs in the pancreas) or a resistance to insulin

• Factors which increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes include:

  • being overweight

  • excess sugar in the diet

  • being over 40 years of age

  • high blood pressure

  • lack of exercise

• Health-related issues associated with type 2 diabetes:

  • Poor eyesight

  • Limb numbness, which can lead to amputations

  • Kidney failure

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Frequent urination, tiredness and feeling thirsty, are all symptoms of diabetes

• Dietary needs require changes to manage type 2 diabetes:

  • Following a balanced diet and the Eatwell guide

  • Limiting 'free' sugars in the diet and higher consumption of starchy carbohydrates release sugar slowly