Pete's Diet Problems

Pete’s Diet Problems:

Pete’s Diet Problems By Muhammed Ubaid Khan 8J

Current Diet:

Current Diet Pete is a 36 year old man who does not undertake any exercise however he does not seem to be overweight His daily calorie intake is appropriate for his level of activity Though he appears to be quite healthy on the outside, his diet consists of processed foods which are high in saturated fat, refined sugars and salt This can have tragic long term effects on his health

Processed Food – The Bad:

Processed Food – The Bad Processed foods have been altered from their natural state for convenience Most processed foods are unhealthy as they are frequently high in saturated fat, refined sugar and salt Processed foods can increase the risks of several cancers including stomach, bowel and renal cancers due to the products it contains

Processed Food – The Good:

Processed Food – The Good However, not all processed foods are unhealthy Some are very convenient and everyday products such as milk, fruit and vegetables Milk is pasteurised to kill bacteria and homogenised to prevent fats from separating Vegetables are frozen to preserve vitamins and minerals Fruit juices such as oranges are fortified with calcium making them even more nutritious

Saturated Fats:

Saturated Fats Though we all need fat to maintain a healthy balanced diet, in Pete’s case, he has an unbalanced diet focused around saturated fat Saturated fat is found mostly in animal products, like meat, lard, poultry skin, whole milk or full-fat dairy products like butter and are also found in many types of processed foods The most obvious effect of excess saturated fat is: weight gain leading to obesity Being overweight can also lead to other problems including hypertension (high blood pressure), increased cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer

Atherosclerosis:

Atherosclerosis Eating too much saturated fat could result in one putting on weight It leads to increased cholesterol which clogs arteries The cholesterol plaques, over the course of time, result in the blockage of arteries causing heart disease such as angina and heart attacks

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Foods containing high levels of Saturated Fat include…

Refined Sugar:

Refined Sugar The term ‘refining’ is defined as: the removal of impurities through a purification process Refined Sugar is extracted from sucrose in plant materials (such as fruits) and then purified and is found in foods such as ice cream, chocolate, fizzy drinks etc. S ugar is known to cause tooth decay and is also linked with diabetes Moreover, it is known to weaken the immune system as it deprives the body of vitamins and minerals as it has none and cause diabetes Additionally, excess sugar is stored as fat and therefore could potentially lead to similar effects as saturated fat

Tooth Decay:

Tooth Decay Tooth decay happens when the bacteria in your mouth turn the sugar into acid Sticky deposits called plaque line the surface of teeth The acids corrode the enamel thus forming cavities which kill nerves and blood vessels in the tooth If let untreated, the cavity will ultimately kill the whole tooth

Diabetes:

Diabetes Diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces too little insulin (a hormone which regulates blood sugar levels) to mop up excess sugar in our blood stream Glucose levels in the blood stream rise drastically because digested carbohydrates are no longer turned into glycogen (a form in which body fuel is stored) Furthermore, fats are released which break down into poisons such as acetone and acetic acid Diabetes damages the pancreas, kidneys, eyes and nerves and complicates infections, increasing the time required to heal or recover Eating excess or refined sugar increases glucose levels in the blood massively which is why it can lead to diabetes as the pancreas is overworked

Salt:

Salt Salt has a negative effect on the kidneys leading to water retention which results in an increase in blood pressure (a major factor in heart disease and strokes) The kidneys are essential in controlling blood pressure through the release of certain hormones; therefore any damage to the kidney leads to hypertension The average Brit eats approximately 12g per day, of which 88% is already present in foods, whereas the recommended average is between 4g – 5g per day Crisps and soup powders have a high salt content Salt can also lead to dehydration (when the body does not have as much water and fluids as it is supposed to) Eating excess salt has also been implicated in stomach cancer

Hypertension:

Hypertension The heart is a pump which pushes blood around the body through arteries to other organs Pumps work by generating pressure and if too much pressure is straining the arteries, this could cause them to rupture and strain the heart Hypertension, or High Blood Pressure, is caused when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure Hypertension can result in strokes, haemorrhages ,heart disease and damage to the kidneys

Advice:

Advice The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) states that a man of Pete’s age should consume <20g of Saturated fat, <6g of salt and <32g of sugar (comprised of sugars from foods eaten throughout the day) per day While his calorie intake may be normal, his diet is unbalanced which is why he is at risk of long term ill health effects Pete should consider having a balanced diet as it will provide him with the nutrients in the correct proportions thus maintaining a healthy body A healthy diet will include lots of fruit and vegetables and reduce the amount of saturated fats, refined sugar and salts consumed per day This will enhance his general wellbeing and reduce the risk of various diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis

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While Pete appears to be healthy on the outside despite not exercising, I would advise him to exercise which is part of a healthy lifestyle Exercise has been proven to increase physical and mental wellbeing, reduce blood pressure and the risk of major chronic diseases The government recommendation for physical activity is one hour per day This could be in the form of brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming etc.

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Thank You For Watching