One page assignment minimum 150 words. No cover sheet necessary.
Assessment Description
Discuss why nutrition is a central component in health promotion. What are some of the nutritional challenges for emerging populations? What roles do nutritional deficiency and nutritional excess play in disease?
Nutrition
Nutrition is always at the heart of health promotion because it is a crucial part of health and development. Better nutrition is associated with improved infant and maternal health (CDC, 2021). Good nutrition is also related to safe pregnancy, safe childbirth, and stronger immunity. Children with better nutrition learn better and tend to perform better than those without better nutrition (Aguilera, 2019). Nutrition helps with weight management, protects people from diseases, strengthens the immune system, delays the onset of aging, and supports mental health.
Despite the benefits of nutrition to health, emerging populations are facing various nutritional challenges. For instance, there is high availability of low-cost foods and beverages that are high in calories, cholesterol, and fats (CDC, 2021). Healthy foods are expensive, hence, some people may not afford them. Another challenge is that people are busy, making it hard to have proper doer and nutrition, leading to illnesses such as diabetes and obesity.
Nutritional deficiencies increase the risks of contracting diseases due to reduced immunity and certain nutrients. Malnutrition leads to short and long-term health problems, slow recovery from wounds and illnesses, and a higher risk of infection (Aguilera, 2019). Nutritional excess can be as detrimental to health as a nutritional deficiency. For instance, the excess amino acid may lead to nausea and hypertension (CDC, 2021). Excess omega 3 is associated with a potential increased risk of bleeding and infections.
References
Aguilera, J. M. (2019). The food matrix: Implications in processing, nutrition and health. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 59(22), 3612-3629. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1502743
CDC. (2021). Nutrition: Why it matters. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-nutrition/why-it-matters.html