These days it’s not hard to find articles discussing how nutrition affects disease. Even Time magazine [1] reports that healthcare practitioners are “becoming frustrated by the slow progress of drug treatments in reducing food-related diseases”. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [2], the number of chronic diseases from poor quality eating patterns and physical inactivity is on the rise. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity–just to name a few.
Heart Disease is [3] still the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for roughly 1 in every 7 deaths each year. [4] Sadly, it remains one of the most preventable diseases through diet and exercise.
If you are not yet catching that nutrition and disease are related, how about this statement from The National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [5]: “Digestive diseases are among the leading causes of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and disability in the United States each year. These conditions span a wide spectrum of disorders that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, as well as obesity and other nutrition-related disorders. Some digestive diseases, such as celiac disease, can be triggered by the body’s reaction to certain foods.”
While most of us recognize the overweight and obesity link to adult chronic disease, [6] it is now rapidly shifting to include children as well.
It’s no secret—the connection between nutrition and disease is clearly rooted in the standard American diet! Our fast-paced meals seem to be trending excessively high in calories, fat, salt, and added sugars, and incredibly low in healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium, and fiber. We simply cannot maintain a disease-free lifestyle by surviving on poor quality, over processed foods and habits of inactivity.
Are you struggling to find the right balance between what to eat and what not to eat? Your journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Trust a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to help set your nutrition and lifestyle goals.
FOOD CAN BE YOUR MEDICINE
Food can only be medicine for the heart, eyes, teeth, bones, muscles, gut and brain if it is balanced with protein, fruits, vegetables and grains. Don’t let the standard American diet sabotage your plans for a disease-free lifestyle! Be confident that setting small nutrition and lifestyle goals today can make a huge difference in your health tomorrow.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness or disease. The chronic disease infographic is from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at eatright.org
[1] https://time.com/longform/food-best-medicine/
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
[4] https://theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts-2/
[5] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/research-areas/digestive-diseases