DQ: Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion
DQ: Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion
DQ: Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion
Nutrition plays an important role in achieving and maintaining good health. In health promotion strategies, the nurse must consider the patient’s nutritional status. Nutrients are required for the body to function at a homeostatic level. Appropriate nutrition, for example, improves immune system function. This means that a lack of balanced nutrition can lead to a decrease in immune system integrity, increasing the risk of infection and other inflammatory processes (Oz, 2017). Nutrition is necessary for growth and development, tissue repair and regeneration, reproduction, and, ultimately, the maintenance of optimal health. Furthermore, unhealthy dieting can contribute to a decline in health status or increase the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and so on. (1983, “Health Promotion: Improved Nutrition”).
One of the most obvious barriers to adequate nutrition is cost. Healthy eating is considered expensive among the emerging population. Fast foods are the cheapest and most easily accessible foods, but they contribute to the development of various pathologic conditions (Martinez et al., 2018). Another challenge is the time it takes to prepare healthy foods. Most healthy foods take time to prepare; however, most people in emerging populations struggle to find time to prepare healthy foods. Some people follow strict cultural diets, and some of these may have a high calorie content, increasing the risk of morbidity (Seguin, et al., 2014).
Nutritional deficiencies have a negative impact on the body’s normal functioning. This can result in disease conditions and, ultimately, a decrease in client health quality. Vitamin deficiencies can cause a wide range of health problems, from mild to severe (example is vitamin A deficiency resulting in night blindness, immunosuppression). Excess nutrition can also lead to disease. Nutrients are required in certain amounts, and when these are exceeded, normal functioning may be disrupted. Excess vitamin A, for example, can result in alopecia, dry skin, and liver problems (Gilbert, 2013).
A person’s well-being is comprised of their nutrition, physical activity, and a healthy body weight (Healthy People 2020, 2022). All of these factors help to prevent diseases like high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer (Healthy People 2020, 2022). In addition to any other diseases that a patient may be predisposed to due to genetics. Obesity is prevalent in the country, with 1:3 adults obese and 1:6 children and adolescents obese (Healthy People 2020, 2022). Because of their impact on development, nutrition is a critical component in health promotion.
There are a few nutritional challenges that the emerging population faces, some of which are completely beyond the people’s control. Malnutrition is frequently caused by poor dietary habits (WHO, 2018). The current food systems do not provide people with nutritious foods (WHO, 2018). In comparison, there are some parts of the world where people are not eating enough to get the necessary nutrients to live a healthy lifestyle (WHO, 2018). On the other hand, some people eat too much food, which is also not nutritious, is high in fats or sugars, and can result in obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure, as previously mentioned (WHO, 2018). The term “hidden hunger” refers to a common nutritional challenge (WHO, 2018). This is where the person appears to be healthy but suffers from vitamin and mineral deficiencies (WHO, 2018). As a result, anemia affects 613 million women worldwide and contributes significantly to maternal mortality (WHO, 2018). Another aspect of malnourishment is the prevalence of fad diets. Nutritional deficiencies have an impact on more than just a person’s BMI. Malnourished people can develop diseases like rickets, hypocalcemia, scurvy, vitamin K deficiency, pellagra, iron deficiencies, beriberi, protein energy malnourishment, and osteomalacia (WIC, 2018). Vitamin K deficiency can cause serious heart problems (WIC, 2018). Nutritional deficiency can result in cell damage as well as a variety of other health problems. Health equals wealth.
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