Having excesses or deficiencies in your diet can contribute to various health problems. Professional nutritional counseling provides personalized recommendations to improve your diet and nutrition that promote good health. Here are six health conditions linked to diet and nutrition:
1. Cardiovascular Disease
Diets high in sodium, trans fats, and saturated fats are linked to heart disease and increase the chance of a stroke. Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vessels. They are associated with fat deposit buildup in the arteries. It damages blood vessels in the kidneys, heart, and brain. Fat deposits in arteries restrict blood flow to the heart, causing coronary heart disease. Increased heart strain causes heart failure and heart attacks. With nutritional counseling, experts provide meal plans to maintain body fat at optimal levels.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by excessive refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks, fried and processed foods. Refined carbohydrates include white bread, rice, and pasta. The body processes them quickly, causing glucose spikes. Sugary drinks are high in rapidly absorbable carbohydrates that raise blood sugar. Fried foods have fats and oils that add body weight. Processed foods contain large quantities of saturated fat, calories, and sugar, contributing to diabetes. Nutrition experts recommend diets high in fiber, lean protein, and plant-based fats.
3. Obesity
Obesity occurs when your body stores extra calories as fat over a long period. Consuming energy-dense foods leads to weight gain. These foods are low in fiber and high in processed carbohydrates and fats. Consuming more calories than you burn during physical activity contributes to weight gain. Fast foods, overeating, and alcohol contribute to the calorie volume in your body. Nutritional counseling helps correct eating patterns to maintain or reduce your body weight.
4. Hypertension
Excessive sodium in a diet may cause arterial constriction and fluid retention in the body. Fluid retention and arterial constriction contribute to hypertension. Fatty diets increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and too much low-density lipoprotein concentration in blood builds up on the blood vessel walls. Cholesterol build-up in the arteries causes them to narrow and harden, leading to clogs in the arteries. This means the heart works harder to pump blood, leading to an increase in blood pressure. High cholesterol levels prevent the renin-angiotensin system from working properly to regulate blood pressure. High triglyceride levels cause the body to stop breaking down fats. This causes inflammation in the arteries and plaque buildup.
5. Cancer
Diets low in fiber and high in fats increase the risk of prostate, bowel, and lung cancer. Fats contribute to cancer development by forming reactive oxygen species that damage DNA. Excess fats create a low-oxygen environment that causes inflammation. For healthy diets, nutritionists recommend reducing processed meat, red meat, alcohol, and high-calorie foods.
6. Kidney Disease
Kidneys can be damaged by diets with excessive dairy and animal protein. Dairy products contain phosphorus that can worsen existing kidney disease. Animal proteins can be difficult for the body to metabolize, forcing the kidney to work harder to eliminate waste.
Learn More About Nutritional Counseling
Nutrition experts perform lab tests and nutritional assessments to determine your dietary needs. They provide one-on-one counseling and create nutrition programs to improve your short and long-term health. Contact a reputable medical and nutritional practice to learn about their nutritional counseling services.
