The article "Nutrition in Health and Disease" underscores the essential role of nutrition across healthcare, highlighting its impact on health promotion, disease prevention, and patient management. Good nutrition, coupled with access to essentials like wholesome food, clean air, and water, is crucial for fostering growth, development, and the capacity for socially valued activities. Nutritional needs change with age and lifestyle, influenced by genetic factors, past diet, and exposure to environmental stressors. Poor nutrition is a significant contributor to various diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and mental health conditions. In children, malnutrition can result in stunted growth, cognitive delays, and weakened immunity, while adults facing socioeconomic challenges, like poverty, are particularly vulnerable to poor dietary habits and associated illnesses. For managing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, obesity, and cancer, nutrition plays a pivotal role, with improved diet and physical activity supporting recovery and reducing risk factors. Assessing nutritional status involves evaluating dietary intake, body measurements, and functional markers, as deficits in nutrition can progressively lead to disease. The body’s capacity to respond to stressors, such as infections or injuries, is also highly dependent on nutrition; inadequate nutrition may impair immune response, while certain nutrient imbalances can trigger inflammatory diseases like asthma or rheumatoid arthritis. The article concludes by advocating for greater emphasis on nutrition in healthcare policies and routine clinical practice, suggesting that integrating nutritional assessments could significantly enhance patient health outcomes.
Source: Canva