Nutrition

Last week in Nutrition we learned about anemia, one of the most prevalent and widespread issues in public health worldwide. Amemia is the lack of iron in the blood. Iron is used to carry oxygen to red blood cells. If there not enough iron, this leads to much more severe problems.

Iron stores in the body are especially low in women of childbearing age. This is extremely harmful to both the mother and the baby. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, if iron deficiency does occur during pregnancy, there I should a chance of low birth weight, preterm delivery, or permenanent low-iron effects post-partum.(1)

However there are way to combat this problem. The most effective way to get people of all ages the amount of iron they require isn’t to fortify common food sources. Fortification is the addition of nutrients to food to prevent disease from developing or to improve health overall.

Another option is to provide supplements. This would also be effective in fighting Dior can deficiency. Giving out supplements would be effective because we’re able to to regulate how much iron people would be receiving.

I believe iron deficiency is something that needs to be helped now. It effects many people worldwide and leads to many more severe health issues. There isn’t no easy way to do this but I know that if we take the first step we could start a chain reaction. Do you have any suggestions on how to start?

(1) Allen, & H, L. (2000, May 01). Anemia and iron deficiency: Effects on pregnancy outcome. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/71/5/1280S/4729385

Recently in my Nutrition class we learned about a degenerative and potentially debilitating disease called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is caused by your bodies inability to regenerate bone faster than it is lost. (1)

Although there could be many causes to the development of osteoporosis, intake of vitamins and minerals is one risk factor that leads to the onset of osteoprosis. The specific mineral in this disease is calcium because it is the main component in the development of bone.

Other diseases that are caused by malnutrition:

• anemia: lack of oxygen in the blood
• pellagra: deficiency of vitamin B3
• rickets: weak bones in children

Many people believe that the only thing that can solve medical problems such as osteoporosis is medicine. This is not true. Many medical problems stem from malnutriton or nutrient deficiency. Which is a quick fix in many people’s lives.

A simple change in diet, whether it is elimination or reduction of a food, can solve many problems. Once the problem has been diagnosed, it’s only a matter of time before symptoms are alleviated.

I believe that more people need to believe that medication is not always the answer. They also need to watch what they’re eating to prevent the chance of micronutrient deficiency.

(1) Osteoporosis. (2016, July 07). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968

Last week in my Public Health Nutrition class we discussed how our environment can influence behavior change and eating habits. We all know that many factors contribute to our food choice. What are the biggest factors when it comes to dinner time?

For me, it is availability. I’m going to eat whatever I have in my fridge or cupboards. I don’t usually want to go out of my way to find something to eat. Another factor that I have found influences me is my peers. If my friends tell me they’re going to Chipotle, I want to go along. Plus, who can pass up a burrito?

In my years of studying nutrition we’ve also discussed family ties to meal time. If you grew up sitting around the table with your family, eating a big meal, it is likely that you will want to carry on the tradition of cooking yourself a hot meal.

There are times when I am so hungry that I don’t care what I eat, as long as I can digest it I’ll eat it. Another factor that has played into my diet, which might be the same for you, is trying new foods.

Moral of the story, don’t let outside factors influence what you want to eat. Eat what you want!