Nutritional Needs and Health Concerns

Anemia severe depletion of iron stores resulting in low blood hemoglobin. loss of blood creates a loss of iron menstruating females are at higher risk

Anemia Symptoms include: tired, weak, mental state affected

Anemia What can be done? not all ingested iron is absorbed; vitamin C helps to absorb iron when taken together meat is an excellent source of iron fortified cereals have iron added

Colon and Rectal Cancer one of the top causes of cancer deaths in North America Colon cancer: that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Rectal cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus).

Colon and Rectal Cancer insoluble fibre will not dissolve, absorbs water, contributes bulk, lowers the risk for cancer insoluble fibre significantly inhibits the development of precancerous colon and rectal polyps

Colon and Rectal Cancer fiber helps food move through large intestine good sources of fiber include fruits, whole grains, vegetables, dried beans diets should consist of 20-35 grams of fiber a day high fiber diets need lots of liquids to avoid problems

Diabetes hyperglycemia - blood glucose levels are too high diabetes affects the body’s production and use of insulin - making blood glucose levels abnormally high insulin is a hormone produced in the body

Types of Diabetes Type I - child/juvenile diabetes Type II - adult onset diabetes many people have a genetic predisposition to acquiring the disease

Symptoms/warning signs of Diabetes excessive urination and thirst weight loss with nausea, easy tiring, weakness, irritability cravings for food; especially sweets vision disturbances blurred vision slow healing of cuts and bruises

Diabetes and Diet soluble fiber may improve the control of blood sugar and can reduce the need for insulin or medication important to manage carbohydrate intake through diet and/or receiving insulin

Hypoglycemia low blood glucose levels a drop in blood glucose following a meal and is accompanied by symptoms of the stress response, this is a case of the body not functioning properly; special diet considerations must be followed fasting/starving can induce hypoglycemia; usually after 8 - 14 hours of not eating; self-induced hypoglycemia corrected with normal eating patterns

Symptoms/warning signs of Hypoglycemia headache, mental dullness, fatigue, irritability, trembling, hunger, anxiety

Heart Disease coronary heart disease (CHD) refers to disease of the heart and blood vessels; it is the leading cause of death in the North America

Heart Disease atherosclerosis is the most common form - plaque forms along the inner walls of the arteries saturated fat in the diet is changed to cholesterol which forms the plaque plaque causes hardening of the arteries and the more advanced condition of atherosclerosis

Factors increasing the risk Heart Disease genetics, age, high-fat diet (high blood cholesterol), lack of exercise, stress, smoking and tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, Low fiber intake, low vitamin/mineral intake

Diet and Heart Disease decrease consumption of foods high in saturated fats processed foods, i. e. lunch meats decrease consumption of foods high in sodium high sodium/salt foods - onion rings, pickles, french fries potato chips

Osteoporosis a condition manifested in older adults; females at higher risk bones become porous and fragile due to the lack of calcium bone density is developed during the first 25 years of life after age 25 calcium consumption helps to maintain the existing bone density

Osteoporosis: risk factors advanced age, low-calcium diet, when people are confined to a bed, their bones and muscles lose strength lack of exercise, female gender, alcoholism, Smoking thinness, chronic steroid use

Osteoporosis: What can you do? after age 25 calcium consumption helps to maintain the existing bone density daily calcium consumption – ages 9-19 1,300 mg; age 19-50 1,000 mg age 50+ 1,200 1 cup of milk has approximately 300 mg. of calcium

Osteoporosis: What can you do? weight-bearing exercises such as walking, dancing and jogging and are especially effective in maintaining bone density