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Role of Nutrition in Diseasse


Diseases have changed now they are no more just infection but became deficiency diseases indicating need of new treatment i.e. therapeutic nutrition. Hippocrates rightly said let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

The human diet was primarily composed of vegetables but as human evolved from gatherer to social life food preferences started to change gradually and processed food took place of raw food. The more processed food less nutritious it became, but more or less active Lifestyle halted development of metabolic disorder. Nowadays food we eat is finally processed and we lead sedentary life,both these facts alone are responsible for 99.9% of our diseases. Food is not only processed but is genetically modified hybrid and full of hazardous chemicals like ethane oxytocin etc.. which pose a very serious threat to human existence.

In this scenario going back to connect nutrition and active living is very helpful in correction of pathology is and in many cases cure of pathology. Some good examples are treatment of scurvy by Vitamin C anemia by Iron supplementation vitamin B deficiency by Vitamin B supplementation

But proposing a cure for all diseases by diet alone is oversimplification and at times harmful because diseases basically need medicine. Till now role of diet and nutrition was considered preventive rather therapeutic since deficiency is common due to poverty, issue of deficiency can be safely addressed with concept of RDA but advances in food technology hybrid crops and use of pesticides prompted evolution of RDA into ODA that is optimum daily allowance.

Optimum Nutrition is that field where simple nutrients turned into potent antioxidants, antibiotics, antidepressants and much more. This is a new field where pharmaceutical companies are ready to invest because the therapeutic activity of these nutrients does not have harmful effects of traditional drugs. The changing trend has favored growth of many concept and ideas like specific diet to cure cancer, detoxification, Juice Therapy, Phytonutrient's therapy and question the authenticity of many well established ideas and concepts.

Yes the nutrients are no more just nutrients they are potent therapeutic agents and change of this activity is basically due to change in dose. The optimum daily allowance and therapeutic role of various nutrients are as follows.

Vitamin's

  1. Vitamin A (Anti-Oxidant) – ODA is 15000 I.U. and with high levels of beta carotene in diet chance of developing cancer and heart attack is half.

  2. Vitamin C (Anti-Oxidant) – ODAis 1000 mg, even no toxicity has been reported on long term intake of up to 20,000 mg a day. Help rebuilt damaged blood vessels and prevent arthrosclerosis.A study of Americans show that intake of 300 mg of vitamin C per day adds 6 years to a man’s life and 2 years to a woman’s life.

  3. Vitamin E (Anti-Oxidant) – ODA is 800 I.UImportantrole in anti-aging and cancer prevention as well as preventing cardiac problems. The risk of not taking Vitamin E is statistically equivalent to the risk of smoking

  4. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) – ODA is 800 mcg but safe upper limit is 10000 mcg. Therapeutically prevents against DNA damage Depression & cancer.

  5. Vitamin B12 – ODA is 1000 mcg daily , therapeutically it protects against Depression, Neuromusculardisorders, Alzheimer’s, Thyroid diseases.

  6. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – ODA is 100 mg. critical for mental function and nerve cell growth.

  7. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – ODA is 50 mg ,therapeutically required for cell growth and release of energy, formation of red blood cell, and synthesis of antibodies.

  8. Vitamin B3 (niacin) – ODA is 190 mg, stabilizes cell membranes , ensure proper circulation and maintain healthy skin. Aids in the function of the nervous system and helps to reduce cholesterol.

  9. Vitamin B5 (panthothenic acid) – ODA is 400 mg, therapeutically acts as anti-stress vitamin.

  10. Vitamin B7 (biotin) – ODA is 300 mcg therapeutic action of other B complex vitamins can’t happen in its absence.

Mineral's

  1. Selenium (Anti-Oxidant) – ODA is 200 mcg .Selenium is a strong anti-oxidant People with decreased levels of selenium is associated with higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

  2. Magnesium (Anti-Oxidant) – ODA in Women is 500-1000 mg,& in Men is 300-600 mg. Therapeuticallyneeded for proper heart function, arrhythmias, and blood pressure. Requirement is higher if you take intake of sugar and fat is high in diet.

  3. Chromium – ODA is 200 mcg therapeutically itis critical to normalize blood sugar.

  4. Zinc – ODA is 30 mg in Therapeutically Zinc is critical for proper thymus gland and immune system function.

  5. Calcium – ODAis 500 mg. In addition to keeping our bones healthy, calcium also fights cancer.

  6. Iodine – ODAis 150 mcg and important to maintain proper thyroid function

  7. Manganese– ODA is20 mg and is essential for protein and fat metabolism

  8. Molybdenum– ODA is 50 mcg and is essential for nitrogen metabolism

  9. Potassium– ODA is 99 mg and is critical for normal cardiac rhythm

  10. Boron– ODA is2 mg andis essential for healthy bone and brain function and alertness

  11. Silicon – ODA is 2.4 mg and is needed in formation of collagen and connective tissues

  12. Vanadium – ODA is 25 mcg and is essential in formation of bone and teeth

The pathology begins at cellular level and Optimum Nutrition correct the pathology at cellular level. The most of cellular injury is due to free radicals, body has inbuilt system to neutralize these free radicals but change in diet lifestyle and environment increases free radicals and consequently our body needs support for protecting our cells tissues and organs and best assistance is in form of optimum daily allowance, which finally affirms Hippocratic statement " Let food be thy Medicine and Medicine be thy food"

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