Understanding Health Concerns: Nutrition, Eating Disorders, and Special Dietary Needs

1. SPECIAL HEALTH CONCERNS Just FACS

2. Nutrition for Prevention • In most cases, health risks can be reduced by making healthy food choices. • Resources include the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA food guide and MyPlate

3. Eating Disorders A complex illness that involves harmful attitudes about the body, self, and food. Anorexia Nervosa-seeing themselves as fat Bulimia Nervosa-eat a lot of food and then purge Binge-eating disorder-Binging regularly when emotionally upset.

4. Danger/Warning Signs Dangers of Eating Disorders Warning Signs of Eating Disorders Refusing to eat, eating small amounts or regularly eating large amounts Extreme weight loss or weight that fluctuates More frequent and intense exercise than usual Eating secretly or disappearing after eating Unhealthy teeth and gums Loss of menstrual cycle in girls Use of diet pills or laxatives • Anorexia can lead to death • Binging can cause the stomach or esophagus to burst • Purging can damage teeth and cause heart failure.

5. Food Sensitivities • Lactose Intolerance-Inability to adequately digest lactose • Symptoms: nausea, stomach pain, gas and diarrhea • Gluten Intolerance- Inability to digest gluten • Known as the Celiac disease • Damages the lining of the small intestine affecting the proper absorption of nutrients • Symptoms-similar to that of the flu • Food Allergies- an allergic reaction to a substance in food • Most common food allergies include: peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, fish and eggs. • Symptoms (reactions)-rash, swelling of eyes, lips or throat, itching, stomach cramps, a runny nose, headache, nausea or vomiting

6. Special Eating Plans • Some health conditions require special eating plans as part of their treatment. • Diabetes-when the body cannot control blood sugar properly • Coronaryheart disease-a disease of the heart and blood vessels • High blood pressure-too much pressure on the heart and arteries • Atherosclerosis-hardening of the arteries and lungs • Chewing problems-such as after oral surgery and other health problems that lead to difficulty chewing • Cancer- these patients often experience loss of taste, appetite, difficulty swallowing, etc. • HIV/AIDS-lowers one immune system. Must avoid certain foods to protect against food borne illnesses.

7. Diabetes • Type 1 Diabetes – When the pancreas cannot make enough insulin • Usually caused by heredity or a virus • Type 2 Diabetes – When the body does not make enough insulin or the cells do not respond to insulin normally • Usually caused by overweight and aging • Need diets rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains

8. Understanding Cholesterol • High cholesterol can eventually lead to heart disease • Lipid- fat that circulates in your bloodstream • Blood cholesterol is a type of lipid • Your liver makes most of the cholesterol in your body • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-good cholesterol • Removes cholesterol from your blood and artery walls to your liver • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-bad cholesterol • Deposits blood cholesterol on your artery walls, causing atherosclerosis • High LDL is linked to heredity, aging, excess body fat, sedentary living and poor food choices

9. Nutrition and Illness Good nutrition helps the body to fight illness, repair itself, and return to health Sick or injured people may not be able to eat normally Some medicine can interfere with the way the body uses nutrients and some keep medicines from working properly. All questions about illnesses, nutrition and medications should be directed towards your doctor or pharmacist