Prevention Of Chronic Diseases Through Proper Nutrition

Prevention of Chronic Diseases through Proper Nutrition

“From nature comes the disease, and from nature will come the cure.”

-Paracelsus (1493-1541)

In its annual report, the World Health Organization warned that cancer, heart disease, and other chronic degenerative diseases, which already kill more than 24 million people a year, will impose increasing suffering and disability on hundreds of millions of others. The eight deadly diseases that send people to an early grave according to the WHO are as follows: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and obesity. For the first time in the history of the United States there are more obese people than people of normal weight. We have become a nation of overfed, yet undernourished, individuals. Researchers and health professionals around the world now consider obesity itself a degenerative disease. Obesity is the number 1 to increase the onset of all degenerative diseases. However, the onset of degenerative diseases can be prevented by obtaining optimal health through vitamin supplementation.

In our modern and hectic world, we as a society are so caught up in our day to day routine we no longer have the time to maintain our good long-term health. Although health awareness is on the rise it seems our long-term health is being dismissed for the more immediate and urgent matters of the day. While modern technology has increased our average life expectancy, it has not made us invulnerable to Chronic Degenerative Diseases, the number one killer of elderly people. Today, more than 80% of American seniors suffer from at least one degenerative disease. Long duration and slow progression characterize these diseases (pg 1, Fletcher). These diseases include the three major killers of the industrialized world, heart disease, cancer, and stroke (pg 4, Macwilliam). But there are many more of these chronic diseases such as; Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disorder, which all share a common cause. These diseases steal years from their victims, and in most cases, fill their final days with pain and suffering. There are no complete cures for theses disease and no immediate recovery. These diseases kill millions of people every year and bring suffering to even more. Our society might be living longer, but they are certainly not living healthier.

According to research, the presenting problem is not genetics, but rather, toxins attacking our body at a cellular level (par 7, Strand). Although we have been told these degenerative disease are genetically transmitted, recent studies indicate only 30% of genetics actually influences the risk of chronic diseases (Pg 3, Lichtenstein). This alarming statistic suggests the need for other, more influential causes. Researchers found that poor dietary habits, smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise and exposure to environmental toxins are heavily influential on development of chronic disease (pg 8, Fletcher). Over a lifetime, these underlying factors, left unchecked, develop into degenerative diseases. Research shows it takes almost two decades for degenerative diseases to become fully developed(Pg 7, Surgeon General). These diseases are not single diseases, but a group of over 125 different types of diseases with a generally similar cause. Our bodies generally give us little to no indication of chronic diseases (pg 6, MacWilliam) . These facts suggest degenerative diseases begin to develop at a cellular level.

In 1954, Dr. Denham Harman, biochemist and professor of medicine, was the first to suggest Free Radicals and the process of Oxidative Stress. He called it the Free Radical Theory. The toxins attacking our bodies at a cellular level are known as Free Radicals. These Free Radicals create a process known as Oxidative Stress (Par 4, Strand). Oxidative Stress occurs when unprotected cells, due to inadequate levels of internal or dietary antioxidants, sustain repeated attacks over a long period of time by Free Radicals (Pg 9, Macwilliam). The collective damage from undetected Oxidative Stress ultimately destroys the structure of the cell and/or impairs its ability to function properly. These infected cells cause damage to nearby molecules, which eventually impact the tissues and organs. This domino effect ultimately manifests into some form of a Chronic Degenerative Disease.

Degenerative Diseases (such as cancer) have had little improvement in advances towards a cure. However, research has shown insight into possible prevention of manifestation. A study shown in the July 13, 2000 edition of New England Journal of Medicine tied the development of most cancers to lifestyles and environmental toxins (Pg 4, Lichtenstein; Pg 2, Potter). Backed by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Fund, a report was released in 1997, also emphasizing the importance of dietary habits in cancer prevention. According to the same report 35% of all cancer cases respond to dietary changes. An article shown in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that a diet high in Vitamin E can lower the onset of Degenerative Diseases, particularly cancer. Yet, despite this information about cancer, it still claims the lives of 8.6 million people annually.

Although most people accept the onset of these Chronic Degenerative Diseases as inevitable, the truth is that they are mainly preventable. For instance, 60 to 70% of cardiovascular disease (heart disease) cases can be prevented; even more so, 80% of all strokes are avoidable through lifestyle and dietary changes (pg 7, MacWilliam). According to some experts, all cancer deaths can be reduced by 90% with changes of lifestyle and diet. A study shown the Journal of the American Medical Association stated, 50% of all children will develop Type 2 Diabetes before the age of 21. This number increases to 75% for minorities and poverty stricken people. Experts say that 90% of all incidents of Type 2 Diabetes can be avoided through similar changes in diet and exercise (pg 5, Macwilliam). According to the Former US Surgeon General, Dr Everett Koop:

The preponderance of the evidence… substantiates an association between dietary factors and rates of chronic diseases .In particular, the evidence suggest strongly that a dietary pattern that contains excessive intake of foods high in calories, fat (especially saturated fat), cholesterol, and sodium, but that is low in complex carbohydrates and fiber, is one that contributes significantly to the high rates of major chronic diseases among Americans. It also suggests that reversing such dietary patterns should lead to a reduced incidence of these chronic diseases. (Pg 8, Surgeon