Free Essay

A Disease Controlled by Diet

In: Other Topics

Submitted By kevdolphin
Words 898
Pages 4
A Disease Controlled by Diet
Is alcoholism a disease? There’s much confusion. Pull up a barstool beside any alcoholic drinker and ask whether he thinks he has a disease. He will tell you no, even though he may be quick to admit he’s “an alcoholic.” But ask any recovering alcoholic in A.A. He’ll tell you he has a disease and he’ll tell you he has this disease whether or not he’s drinking.
Each of them is partly right. Alcoholic drinking starts a disease process. This process progresses when you’re drinking. It stops when you stop drinking. And when you stop drinking, you can heal much of the damage from the disease if you change your diet.
Alcoholism fits the definition of disease. Like other diseases, alcoholism impairs your health by damaging your cells. Like other diseases, it interrupts your body’s vital functions, causing specific symptoms. And like other diseases such as cancer, if it’s allowed to continue long enough, it’ll kill you. But as a disease, it has an ironic twist. The agent causing the disease acts like a medicine that cures the symptoms. Alcoholic drinkers actually feel healthier when they’re drinking. Pain and sickness seem to disappear. Unfortunately, the sense of health is artificial. When you drink, you relieve yourself of the symptoms only. Meanwhile, inside your body, a disease process rages.
Drinking wears out your body and actually speeds up the aging process. Your cells live their lives in the fast lane of high blood-sugar and toxic invaders, grabbing a few thrills, but choking on the poisons. You get physically sick more often. Or you feel some slight sickness which lingers and is hard to pinpoint.
When cells don’t get sufficient nutrients, or if the cells are harmed too often by toxins in the blood, they stop performing important functions. After a while, whole groups of cells begin giving out, and organs begin to fail. Especially susceptible are the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, and stomach.
Metabolism Revisited
The disease itself depends on a problem in metabolism. The problem seems innocent enough. Your liver is simply slow on one step of normal alcohol metabolism: the breakdown of acetaldehyde. The build-up of acetaldehyde also boosts the brain’s production of isoquinoline, a strong sedative similar to morphine or heroin that calms us deeply and kills pain. This added sedative effect greatly increases alcohol’s addictive power. It drives us to drink. Thus the damage continues, the disease progresses, and the metabolic problem gets worse.
Metabolism and Diet
Metabolism is intimately connected to diet. Your body metabolizes food for one main purpose: to get vital nutrients to all the cells. To serve this purpose, your body can metabolize many different foods and can learn how to gain nutrients from almost any kind of food you give it. Metabolism also helps to rid the body of any unwanted toxins. Yet your personal metabolism works differently from anyone else’s. Studies show that each individual has a unique biochemical make-up and that individuals differ greatly from one another in the way they metabolize various kinds of food. To give you an idea how much possible variation there is, researchers have currently identified over 3,000 metabolic substances (called “metabolites”), and over 1,100 enzymes. Each individual has her own unique proportions of all 4,100 of these biochemicals. Also, the mixture of biochemicals varies for each kind of food you ingest. For instance, the biochemicals your body produces to metabolize carrots differ somewhat from those it uses for potatoes. Furthermore, your body’s biochemicals vary from day to day, and vary depending on what you last ate and even how long ago you ate it.
One more thing: Your body uses quite different biochemicals to metabolize the different classes of foods—meats, grains, vegetables, beans, fruits, etc. As you might have guessed, you need a whole different biochemical preparedness to handle alcohol, sweets, drugs, chemical additives, and toxins. In fact, too many excesses from this group can cause your metabolism to break down, and begin to make mistakes. For instance, too much sugar too often can cause hypoglycemia. The pancreas begins overreacting (producing too much insulin) when each new burst of sugar hits the bloodstream.
But your body adjusts to whatever diet you give it. The most frequent foods in your diet come to be expected. Biochemical pathways get established the more they are used. Thus, if your body doesn’t get an expected food, you actually begin to crave it.
Your body becomes addicted to the foods you give it the most. Your metabolism so completely adjusts to your regular diet that any change from this diet becomes increasingly difficult. Ask anyone who has attempted a major shift in diet. For instance, if you eat meat regularly, your metabolism will take a long time to adjust to a vegetarian diet. Although the same nutrients are available, your body doesn’t have the biochemical preparedness. The ability is there. Your body can metabolize vegetarian meals. But to gain the same efficiency with a new diet can take from one to seven years.
The important thing to remember is this: Metabolism depends on diet. You can change your metabolism if you change your diet. It will take a long time to change your metabolism significantly, but you can feel incredible improvements after just a few months. fruits and lots of veggies.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Cultural and Disease Paper

...Cultural and Disease paper Amy D. Talbert HCS245 February 14, 2011 Michelle Clemons    Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder of the human body.   There are three types of diabetes, type I (Juvenile Diabetes), type II, and gestational.   Type I diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, strikes children, and young adults (American Diabetes Association, 1995-2011).   Type II diabetes is more common in certain ethnic groups, and in older people.   Gestational diabetes is only present during pregnancy and usually goes away after pregnancy; however some women will develop type II diabetes in later years (American Diabetes Association, 1995-2011).   Type II diabetes is considered the most common of all diabetes types.   Because type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, this is the type that will be discussed in detail.     What is type II diabetes?     Type II diabetes is a disease of the endocrine (hormone) system.   In a normal working endocrine system, blood sugar levels stay consistent.   In the case of diabetes, blood sugar levels fluctuate causing the body’s cells to keep from function properly (Web M.D., 2005-2011).   Type II diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use the insulin properly.   Insulin is a hormone regulated by the endocrine system.   Insulin helps the body store and use the sugar from eaten food (Web M.D., 2005-2011).   The body is made up of cells; these cells need energy that energy...

Words: 1833 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Hypertension

...Stroke is caused by a blockage or rupture of one of the blood vessels supplying the brain. When this occurs, the region of the brain depending on that artery for oxygen and nutrients cannot function. As a result, the movement, speech, or other body functions controlled by that part of the brain suddenly stop (Thompson, J., Manore, M., & Vaughan, L., 2014). There are both non modifiable risk factors for stroke and modifiable. Non modifiable risk factors cannot be changed and these include, age, male gender, and family history. Modifiable risk factors means that they are at least partly within your control. These include but are not limited to; obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, cholesterol. A good start in the prevention of a future stroke is by increasing the intake of healthy foods and decreasing the intake of unhealthy foods that are high in sodium or cholesterol. It is always a good idea to increase the HDL, as this is the good cholesterol and actually helps pick up the cholesterol from dying cells, other lipoproteins, and arterial plaques. This cholesterol is then returned to the liver, where it can be recycled or eliminated from the body through bile (Thompson, J., Manore, M., & Vaughan, L., 2014). The opposite should be done with the LDLs. Decreasing foods that are high in trans-fat or saturated fat will help lower the LDLs. LDLs are rich in cholesterol, which they deliver to body cells. It is therefore important...

Words: 583 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Rebuttal Argument

...being overweight because many individuals go on a diet are affected from social acceptance, and dieting creates eating disorders; However, Fraser should reconsider her mindset because dieting helps an individual maintain their body and have control, it keeps a person away from many health issues, and can create different outlooks on the body and life. I. Laura Fraser who has doubts and misconceptions of dieting should reconsider her mindset because an individual has control over their own body and can maintain it. A. An individual who has control of their own body can maintain what is put into their body and what is kept out as well. B. Having a controlled diet helps an individual either maintain, gain, or lose weight. 1. A maintaining diet means that an individual will consistently watch what they eat, however they will never increase or decrease their calorie intake, or do any physical or medical activity that will affect their current weight. 2. A gaining or losing weight diet simply means that a person is trying to build weight up in a healthy manner, or increases their physical activity or chooses to eat healthier to lose the weight. II. Fraser fails in proving that a diet in a person’s life is healthier because it prevents a person from many health risks and emotional side effects. A. If an individual has a healthy diet, they can prevent health issues such as: diabetes, strokes, and liver diseases. 1. Diabetes is caused from an individual’s...

Words: 1633 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Chronic Disease Risk

...Colon cancer is a group of diseases that contains uncontrollable growth of cells. A collection of abnormal cells known as a tumor. cancer is diagnosed when a tumor is found and has the potential to spread. Cancer is a something that runs on my mothers side of the family, she has it as well. Cancer is a major disability and cause of death over 20% of all deaths are caused by some type of cancer. With not exactly having a cause of cancer there are test that can show whether you are at a high risk of catching cancer or not. A risk factor can be anything that can affect your chance of catching a disease is a risk factor. Some are hereditary and can not be controlled while others you can controll. The risk factors that can be controlled is your diet and exercise, your current and future behavior, environmental exposures, things such as tobacco use and other chemicals. The ones that are uncontrollable are the ones that are hereditary or in family history, environmental exposure, and behaviors that you may have contributed to in the past. Some lifestyle choices you may make in your life to decrease your risk for catching cancer can be to maintain your diet and exercise, also to make sure you keep up with maintaining healthy behaviors. To maintain your diet make sure you eat healthy add fruits into your diet as well as vegetables. When adding fruit to your diet on a daily basis at least 3 servings of fruit can reduce the risk of you having a stroke, heart attack, and also from catching...

Words: 442 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Seriousness of Diabetes

...Diabetes Diabetes is a very serious disease often overlooked. Diabetes is a disease that affects 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the population in the United States. This disease results when there are high levels of sugar in the blood for an extended period of time. It can be controlled by diet, exercise, medication and insulin injections. There are three main types of diabetes; Type I, which affects primarily the younger population, type II, which primarily affects the population above forty years old, and gestational diabetes, which affects women during the third trimester of their pregnancy. While scientists do not know what causes diabetes, they do know that it is caused from a variety of factors that can vary from person to person, being heredity, overweight, and problems with beta cells, which are located in the pancreas. Diabetes can result in blurred vision, retinopathy, nerve problems, dry skin, and kidney issues. Diet plays a major role in the prevention of these problems. Sugar concentration in the blood is a major factor for diabetics, so understanding the sugar content of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates is essential. The goal from a diet perspective is to control your sugar in your bloodstream in a way that the insulin in your bloodstream can manage it efficiently. In addition to diet, medication and exercise also plays a role in monitoring the disease. Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of glucose...

Words: 2081 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Genetics Paper

...Suemin Chi November 30th, 2013 The Genetics Disease: Galactosemia There are many genetic diseases out there today, but one that caught my attention was Galactosemia. Galactosemia is a genetic disorder that affects how the body processes the simple sugar, galactose. There are three types of Galactosemia; Classic Galactosemia, Galactosemia Type II, and Galactosemia Type III. All three types are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern but the most common is the classic Galactosemia. According to the Genetics Home Reference, it states, “Classic Galactosemia occurs in 1 in 30,000 to 60,000 newborns, Galactosemia type II and type III are less common; type II probably affects fewer than 1 in 100,000 newborns and type III appears to be very rare.” This disorder is rare but if affected with it, can show symptoms that range from mild to very severe if not controlled. Those who are affected with classic galactosemia lack the enzyme Galactose 1-phosphate; (GALT), galactosemia type II has a mutation in the GALKI gene and in type III, the GALE gene. Galactose is one of the products formed from lactose when absorbed into the body. In an unaffected person, GALT will bind to galactose, which later converts to glucose and then used for energy. In an affected person, there is no GALT, so the build up of galactose will cause toxic affects on the organs. This is a very dangerous disorder one can have, but it is especially dangerous to newborns because they will not be able to drink any...

Words: 1528 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Diabetes

...Diabetes is a very serious disease often overlooked. Diabetes is a disease that affects 18.2 million people in the United States alone. This disease results when there is a high level of sugar in the blood for an extended period of time. It can be controlled by diet, exercise, pills and insulin injections. There are three main types of diabetes--Type I, which affects primarily the younger population; Type II, which primarily affects the population above 40; and gestational diabetes, which affects women during the third trimester of their pregnancy. While scientists do not know what causes diabetes, they do know that it is caused from a variety of factors that can vary from person to person. Examples of these factors are heredity, being overweight, and problems with beta cells, which are located in the pancreas. Diabetes can result in blurred vision, retinopathy, nerve problems, dry skin, and kidney issues. Diet plays a major role in the prevention of these problems. Sugar concentration in the blood is a major factor for diabetics, so understanding the sugar content of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates is essential. The goal from a diet perspective is to control your sugar in your bloodstream in such a way that the insulin in your bloodstream can manage it efficiently. In addition to diet, medication and exercise play a key role in controlling this disease. Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Introduction Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of glucose...

Words: 2123 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Kinesiology Wellness Paper

...world, and they affect everybody, both directly and indirectly. When I was younger, my parents decided to get my sisters and I tested for high cholesterol and high blood pressure because there were many family members on both sides that had either or both of these diseases. Many family members died from heart attacks as a result of these diseases. I wanted to get test my cholesterol and blood pressure because the possibility of a heart attack in the future scared me. When I got the blood test back, it turned out that I had high cholesterol. My HDL levels were low, and my LDL levels were high. Even though my total cholesterol number was not terribly high, the fact that I had high cholesterol scared me. My parents found a cardiologist that I continue to visit yearly. The doctor put my on a cholesterol-lowering medicine to bring my cholesterol down. He warned me that I would have to continue to take the medicine for a number of years before I could possibly come off of it. I have taken this medicine for six years and continue to take it daily. As I get older, I realize that I do not want to be bound to this medicine for the rest of my life. I know that high cholesterol is genetic, but it can also be controlled by diet and exercise. My cardiologist explained that cholesterol can increase by eating foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat. As I evaluate this, I would like to aim to lower the amount of food I eat high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Over time, this could greatly...

Words: 1313 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Healthy Eating and Diabetes

...Healthy Eating and Diabetes The foods that we eat can make all the difference in whether we are healthy, or whether we become sick, because, many illnesses can be caused, or be made worse by, the dietary choices that we make. The various types of diabetes--including type 2, the most prevalent--are no exception. Diabetes is an increasingly common, life-threatening illness that currently afflicts more than eight percent of all Americans. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States1. In no other illness does eating a healthy diet play a more important role than in diabetes. With appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes, and medications, diabetes can be controlled--and in the case of type 2, even reversed 2- and a diabetic can live a long, productive life. What is Diabetes? Diabetes mellitus, more commonly called simply diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases. People afflicted with this disease have high blood sugar, either because their body does not produce enough insulin, or because the body's cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and it is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. The high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms associated with diabetes: frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. Different Types of Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes: Also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, type 1 can strike people of any age, mostly...

Words: 1569 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Diabetes Mellitus

...Diabetes Mellitus Michelle McCormick SCI/163 June 24, 2013 Charles Ware Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a disease affecting millions of people each year, according to the American Diabetes Association in 2011 8.3% or 25.8 million Americans suffer with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease where the body does not produce insulin, does not produce enough insulin, or does not react properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas releases to allow blood glucose to enter cells to produce energy and growth. Without the proper amounts of insulin, the glucose gets trapped in the bloodstream causing dangerously high blood sugar levels. This can cause many problems with one’s health, such as comas, heart attacks, seizures, and strokes. The term “diabetes,” originating in Greece in second century A.D. by Aretus the Cappadocian, meaning “siphon” describes a patient who passes to much water or in other words, urinates too frequently. He named this condition diabainein later translated into the English term diabetes. In 1675 the word “mellitus” was added by Thomas Willis to increase to quality of the meaning. Mel in Latin means honey, which describes the sweet aroma of a diabetic’s urine. Ancient China coined this “The Sweet Urine Disease.” There are three types of diabetes even though most people will say there are only two. The first is the least common affecting only 5% to 10% of people diagnosed with diabetes. This is called type one diabetes, but you may also hear people refer...

Words: 803 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Diabetes

...Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus, most commonly known as “Diabetes” is a chronic disease associated with abnormally high levels of the sugar (Glucose) in the blood. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body's cells. The levels of glucose in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells. In diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body can't respond normally to the insulin that is produced, this causes glucose levels in the blood to rise, leading to symptoms such as increased urination, extreme thirst, and unexplained weight loss. Type I diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes begins mostly in childhood or adolescence. In this form of diabetes, the body produces little or no insulin. It is characterized by a sudden onset and occurs more frequently in populations descended from Northern European countries (Finland, Scotland, Scandinavia) than in those from Southern European countries, the Middle East, or Asia. In the United States, approximately three people out of 1,000 develop Type I diabetes. This form also is called insulin-dependent diabetes because people who develop this type need to have daily injections of insulin. Brittle diabetics are a subgroup of Type I where patients have frequent and rapid swings of blood sugar levels between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. These patients usually require several injections of different types of insulin during...

Words: 1089 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

High Protein Diets Have Good Results for Obese Women

...Running head: HIGH PROTEIN DIETS HAVE GOOD RESULTS FOR OBESE WOMEN High Protein Diets Have Good Results for Obese Women Currently in the U.S. a high protein/low carbohydrate diet is the number one choice of diet and most weight loss programs are using the same concept. For example Jenny Craig, Lindora, Atkins and Zone are some popular diets that focus on high protein/low carbohydrate. High protein diets consist of 10% – 35% of total calorie intake from protein. These type of diets are popular because they satisfy hunger and the weight comes off rapidly. In additional to satisfying hunger and losing weight these diets were found to have additional health benefits for women. Research suggests that high protein diets have positive results for obese women because they reduces the risk for diabetes type 2, decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease, and helps women retain muscle mass. One of the major health benefits from a high protein diet is that it can prevent a woman from developing Diabetes type II or if a woman has type II diabetes it can be controlled with the diet. Type II Diabetes is a chronic disease in which there are high levels of glucose in the blood. The body will still make insulin but as time goes by the pancreas will make less and less insulin which makes it harder to keep blood glucose (sugar) under control. This can be acquired by a diet high in carbohydrates and being overweight. Kerksick et al. 2010 stated that “studies which incorporated...

Words: 3122 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Kidney

...CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE NSG 4055: Illness & Disease Management across Life Span Susan McCoy LaTonya Brown June 24, 2014 Chronic Renal Disease impacts many Americans life in the United States. “We estimate that more than 20 million people may have CKD, of varying levels of seriousness” (CDC, 2014). The chances of having Kidney Disease increase with age and is common in adults over age 70 because the kidney functions decrease. Kidney Disease affects the body ion so many different ways it can cause bone breakage; fluid overload causes pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure, anemia, and decrease in quality of life. The person I interviewed was a Chronic Renal Failure patient that has been on dialysis for about 4 years. 1. How would you rate your overall health? I.B. I have been fairly good I have good days and bad days but I am so tired after I go to dialysis it really drains me until all I do is sleep all day after the treatment. 2. What is your race and ethnic background? I.B. I am African American and I have no Hispanic Descent. 3. Living conditions? I.B. I live with my daughter who has a family of her own but she takes care of me well. She ensures that I take my medicine on time. She also takes me on different outings like to the park and different places. 4. Do you have access to the proper food for a kidney disease diet? I.B. She buys me the kind of food that I need to follow my diet so I can have the right nourishment. I try to eat the...

Words: 693 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Patient Education Plan for Larry Garcia

...Patient education plan for Larry Garcia Hypertension Case Study Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects about 8.1 million Americans, and is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure is dangerous, as it increases the risk for heart attacks and stroke, which is the number one cause of death in the United States. There are typically no warning signs or symptoms associated with high blood pressure. Unfortunately, it is a life time disease once it occurs. Hypertension has multiple risk factors associated with it; middle age men have a higher risk than women, a family history of hypertension, being overweight, not being physically active, tobacco and alcohol use increases ones risk, as well as high levels of stress (Matteucci, Caple, & Pravikoff, 2011). Larry Garcia, a 45 year old Hispanic male, was recently diagnosed with hypertension during a physical exam for work. His risk factors include; being slightly overweight, does not exercise regularly, and his mother has hypertension that is not medically controlled. Larry is married and has four children. He supports his elderly mother and father financially, and his wife provides transportation to appointments and shopping for them. Larry has a high pressure position as a sales representative, which has been his career for 10 years. Larry has an associate’s degree in business, and has thought of returning to school for his bachelors, but his family obligations keep him from pursuing...

Words: 899 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hyperlipedemia Case Study

...Case Study 2: Hyperlipidemia Scenario R.M. is an active 61-year-old man who works full time for the postal service. He walks 3 miles every other day and admits he doesn’t eat a “perfect diet.” He enjoys 2 or 3 beers q HS (every night), he uses stick margarine, eats red meat 2 or 3 times per week, and is a self-professed “sweet eater.” His cardiac history includes a recent inferior myocardial infarction (MI) and a heart catheterization revealing 3-vessel disease: in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, a proximal 60% lesion; in the right coronary artery (RCA), proximal 100% occlusion with thrombus; and a circumflex with 40% to 60% diffuse ectatic lesions. A stent was deployed to the RCA and reduced the lesion to 0% residual stenosis. He has had no need for nitroglycerin (NTG). Six weeks after his MI and stent deployment, he had a fasting advanced lipid profile. The results were total cholesterol 188 mg/dl, HDL 34 mg/dl, triglycerides 176 mg/dl, LDL 98 mg/dl, pattern B LDL typing at 19 nm, homocysteine 18 mg/dl, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS CRP) 12 mg/dl, fasting blood glucose (FBG) 101 mg/dl, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 1.04 mg/dl. Total Cholesterol 60 34 Triglycerides 45-155 176 LDL 5% and greater than placebo) of niacin are flushing, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased cough, and pruritus. Flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin) may vary in severity and is more likely to occur with initiation of therapy...

Words: 1704 - Pages: 7