Diet-Related Diseases - 10 Disorders Caused by Eating Habits
Diet Related Diseases: Want to learn more about diet-related diseases? Then you are right here! Many significant ailments are frequently caused by our dietary habits. Unfortunately, many people have an unhealthy or one-sided diet because they are unaware of the relevance and consequences of their eating habits.
Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the primary causes of death in developed nations. An unhealthy lifestyle provides a breeding environment for many diseases to proliferate, and improper food, among other things, becomes a disease risk.
An appropriate, wholesome diet can have both a preventive and therapeutic effect on diseases and thus make a major contribution to improving the attitude towards life and life expectancy.
In this article, we deal with 10 clinical pictures as a result of poor nutrition, as well as their causes, consequences, and treatment options.
NOTE: This page is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, but rather to give basic information regarding diet-related disorders. If you are feeling poorly or wish to use medical treatment to prevent health concerns, please visit your doctor.
1: Overweight and obesity
Two-thirds of men and a little more than half of all women in Germany are overweight. Almost a quarter of adults are severely overweight, i.e. obese. This not only has serious health consequences for individuals but also burdens the healthcare system with a total of 29 billion euros.
Diet-related development of obesity
In most cases, obesity is caused by a combination of poor diet, lack of activity and exercise, and thyroid disorders. Eating habits are mainly shaped by infancy and childhood, the social environment, and psychological factors. Poor nutrition then becomes a general risk of disease, since obesity often leads to other nutrition-related diseases.
Diagnosis of overweight and obesity
The body mass index (BMI) is primarily used for this purpose. This corresponds to the formula "kg/m²". If the result is over 25, one speaks of being overweight. If the result is even above 30, it is a strong indicator of obesity. However, one has to criticize the BMI that it only considers body weight and not the weight distribution, i.e. the ratio of body fat to muscle mass. Because particularly muscular people weigh more than others but are by no means overweight or obese. Therefore, another useful indicator of overweight is the waist circumference, see table.
gender elevated greatly increased
male > 94 > 102
Female > 80 > 88
Waist circumference in cm to diagnose obesity
Consequences of obesity and poor nutrition
Diet-related diseases such as overweight and obesity increase the risk of secondary diseases in particular. These include type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, gout, blood clotting disorders, gallstones, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, diseases of the skeletal and musculoskeletal system, fertility disorders, skin diseases, reduced mobility and endurance, and psychosocial problems. Phew, that's a pretty long list, but luckily there's a lot that can be done about it.
Dealing with overweight and obesity
Overweight and obesity are treated by reversing the cause. If illnesses are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, they can be addressed by adopting a healthier one. In practical terms, this means switching to a nutritious, plant-based diet with a balanced calorie intake and cutting less on processed foods like sugar and white flour.
The food adjustment should be accompanied by an increase in activity level, with the patient moving about more. You don't even have to start exercising: climbing stairs instead of elevators, walking or cycling to work instead of driving are also good first steps.
2: Diabetes mellitus (type 2)
Another diet-related disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this disease, also known as “senile diabetes”, patients suffer from abnormally high blood sugar levels.
Note: Only type 2 is due to insulin resistance due to an unbalanced diet. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is not a diet-related disease but is believed to be due to genetic and environmental factors.
Diet-related development of diabetes
The cause of abnormally high blood sugar levels is insulin resistance. Overeating and excessive belly fat buildup are the causes. As a result, obesity, malnutrition, and a lack of exercise are all risk factors.
Diagnosis options for diabetes
Several readings can be used to diagnose this diet-related disease. Blood glucose values can be measured either in the morning as fasting blood glucose or during the day as casual blood glucose. The HBa1Cc value is considered a long-term parameter and shows the average blood sugar concentration over several weeks. Accordingly, this value is optimal for diagnosing diabetes.
Risks and complications of diabetes
Late damage that can occur with diabetes is atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, diseases of the retina, and inflammation and vascular changes in the kidneys.
prevention and therapy
Since type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease resulting from an unbalanced diet, a significant contribution to disease prevention lies in changing eating habits and – in general – also lifestyle. Just as with being overweight, this means increasing physical activity in combination with a wholesome diet with an appropriate calorie intake.
A vegan whole-food diet can not only have a preventive but even therapeutic effect on type 2 diabetes due to the increased fiber content, the reduction in saturated fatty acids, and the lack of the risk factor meat.
3: Hypertension
Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the most common cause of death worldwide at around 30 percent. Cardiovascular disorders claimed the lives of 331,211 persons in Germany alone in 2019. Even though western countries' life expectancies are rising, the chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases is rising. Hypertension and atherosclerosis are the most frequent diet-related cardiovascular disorders.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a modern lifestyle condition that affects 44 percent of Germans. Men are slightly more prone to high blood pressure than women on average. Other diet-related issues are exacerbated by hypertension.
Improper nutrition leads to high blood pressure
Diet-related risk factors for high blood pressure are obesity, a high intake of saturated fat, and the consumption of meat, fish, and eggs. Other factors are stress, nicotine, alcohol, and increased salt consumption, as well as increased age.
diagnosis of hypertension
Blood pressure is measured in mmHg; officially, a value of 140 to 90 or higher is considered hypertensive.
NOTE: Blood pressure limit limits have steadily decreased in recent years. The limit was still 160 to 100 in 1980, but first-degree hypertension is now defined as 140 to 90. This lowering of the cutoff values means that considerably more individuals are classified "ill," and antihypertensive medicine sales numbers provide the pharmaceutical sector with substantial revenues. This happened similarly with diabetic limit readings, as seen in the thrilling SWR documentary "I'm Land der Lügen." High blood pressure, on the other hand, can be a major health hazard.
Risks of high blood pressure
High blood pressure leads to atherosclerotic changes and can promote kidney diseases, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, or strokes.
Proper nutrition for a hypertension
Again, the key here is reversing an unhealthy lifestyle into a healthy one. A plant-based diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables, unsaturated fatty acids, and an appropriate calorie intake form the basis for prevention and therapy. A high intake of fruit and vegetables works wonders, as they contain large amounts of the beneficial minerals potassium, magnesium, and calcium. On the other hand, the intake of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids should be reduced.
In addition to natural treatment, drug therapy can also help by reducing the blood volume and thus reducing the tension in the vessels.
4: Atherosclerosis
In the case of atherosclerosis, one speaks of a calcification of the blood vessels, since these become clogged by the deposit of excess substances and lose elasticity. The risk increases with age, and males are affected more frequently than women on average. The risk increases with age, and males are affected more frequently than women on average.
malnutrition and atherosclerosis
An improper diet is the primary cause of atherosclerosis, which results in decreased glucose tolerance, low blood cholesterol levels, and overweight and obesity. High lipoprotein, diabetic Mellitus, and elevated homocysteine levels are all diet-related variables. Genetic predisposition, gender, and advancing age are risk factors that cannot be changed.
Diagnosis of atherosclerosis
The presence of high blood lipid levels is the earliest sign of atherosclerosis. If the values are bad or you belong to the risk group, the blood vessels can be examined with ultrasound, electrocardiogram, or cardiac catheter.
Potential consequences of atherosclerosis
Due to the deposits in the blood vessels, the blood pressure rises on the one hand, and on the other hand, the vessels can become seriously blocked. The rather harmless consequences of this are a lack of blood flow or numbness. Blockages directly on the heart are problematic, as they lead to a heart attack. So, atherosclerosis is a particularly dangerous diet-related disease.
Healthy diet for atherosclerosis therapy
Dietary therapy for atherosclerosis is almost the same as for hypertension. In addition, however, an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids is recommended, as these are considered anti-atherosclerotic.
5: Cancer
Cancer causes increased cell growth or new tissue formation, which in the worst case can lead to death.
Improper diet and cancer
Lifestyle and an imbalanced diet are frequently the breeding grounds for cancer. Obesity, animal proteins, a lack of dietary fiber, and a diet high in grilled, cured, and smoked foods all increase cancer risk. Although the exact role of nutrition in cancer development is difficult to determine, it is believed to be between 30 and 35 percent, making it more important than nicotine or alcohol intake. The exact proportion of diet in the development of cancer is difficult to investigate, it is likely to be 30 to 35 percent and is, therefore, more important than nicotine or alcohol consumption.
Cancer prevention through the vegan diet
In terms of cancer prevention, a vegan diet has numerous advantages. It has no animal proteins and is, therefore, less likely to cause obesity. Instead, fruits and vegetables, fiber, and many secondary plant compounds, as well as selenium, lower cancer risk.
6: Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, also known as bone loss, often develops gradually and results in an increased risk of fractures. The body is constantly building and breaking down bones. These processes, however, are reliant on a variety of factors, including particular foods and physical activity.
Development of osteoporosis through the wrong lifestyle
Lack of exercise, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine consumption, a vitamin D deficiency, and, most importantly, diet are all risk factors for osteoporosis. Diet-related factors include high consumption of animal proteins, too little calcium, fruit and vegetables, and a high intake of phosphate and table salt.
detection of osteoporosis
osteoporosis detection A weak X-ray is used to check the bone density in crucial places to diagnose osteoporosis. The DXA method determines the so-called T-value with this procedure.
normal value > -1.00
osteopenia (precursor) -1.01 to -2.49
osteoporosis < -2.5
Reference values for the T-value in the DXA method
Nutrition-Based Osteoporosis Therapy
Nutritional therapy for osteoporosis includes adequate calcium intake of at least 525 mg/day, sufficient fruits and vegetables, and vitamin D supplementation, as this is needed for calcium absorption. Soy products also seem to have a beneficial effect, which may be due to soy isoflavones.
Ideally, the nutritional therapy is supplemented with muscle-building training and balance exercises to strengthen the muscles and minimize the risk of falling.
7: Gout (Diet Related Diseases)
Gout is a purine metabolism disorder in which painful swelling and inflammation occur due to the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Because purines are ingested through food, gout is a diet-related disease.
Wrong nutrition leads to gout
Uric acid is an end product of purine breakdown - and when the kidneys fail to excrete enough uric acid, the crystallization process occurs. Thus, purine-rich foods such as meat, sausage, offal, fish, and seafood should be avoided. A low purine intake can lower the uric acid level so that the uric acid is excreted via the kidneys and the crystallization process does not take place.
What is exciting, however, is that vegetable purine sources do not show a comparable increase in uric acid compared to animal sources.
detection of gout
To diagnose gout, uric acid levels are measured. Men's reference range is 3.4 to 7.0 mg/100 ml, whereas women's range is 2.4 to 5.4 mg/100 ml.
Proper nutrition for gout
Nutritional support for gout Gout can be cured with a healthy, plant-based diet. The uric acid level declines as a result of the lack of purines, and no additional crystallization occurs. Existing crystals can be progressively broken down by the body, and symptoms will fade away. Alcohol and solo fructose should also be avoided.
8: Diarrhea
The causes of diarrhea or diarrhea are numerous. Secretory diarrhea is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The body then tries to excrete the bacteria and viruses as quickly as possible, so drug treatment that holds back diarrhea should be viewed critically. A safe alternative to this is Moro's carrot soup (also called Moro soup ), in which so-called acidic oligogalacturonides are formed by cooking the carrots for a long time, which dock to the germs in the intestine so that they are excreted more quickly.
It is also particularly important that the body receives enough liquid to avoid dehydration. After diarrhea, it makes sense to rebuild the body with prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are the “food” of the probiotic bacterial cultures.
"The root of health or disease is in the stomach."
Chinese proverb
9: Constipation
A subjectively perceived insufficient evacuation of the stool is regarded as constipation or constipation. According to the official definition, constipation is when you excrete less than three times a week or less than 35 grams per day.
There are various causes of constipation, such as living conditions and psychological factors. Accordingly, there is no general form of therapy, instead, it has to be adapted to the exact cause. In general, it can be said that laxatives should only be used for a short time, as long-term use makes the intestines sluggish and works less.
Simple remedies include physical activity, reducing stress, and adjusting your diet. If you have diarrhea, you should eat fewer animal products and instead increase your dietary fiber, fluid, fruit, and vegetable intake. Flea seed shells can be particularly helpful.
TIP: A varied gut flora results from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Vegans have more anti-inflammatory and protective microorganisms in their stomachs than omnivores. Because a plant-based diet contains more dietary fiber, more short-chain fatty acids are digested, and the pH of the stool becomes more acidic. The amount of harmful putrefactive bacteria is reduced as a result.
10: Metabolic syndrome (Diet Related Diseases)
The metabolic syndrome consists of four indicators that together form a major risk factor for fatal cardiovascular diseases. That is why metabolic syndrome is often called the deadly quartet. This includes:
- abdominal obesity
- high blood pressure
- poor blood lipid levels or lipid metabolism disorders
- Elevated blood sugar level or insulin resistance
Metabolic syndrome is also classified as a diet-related disease since all four diseases can be traced back to poor nutrition. The good thing is that with the right diet, you can reverse the symptoms.
Diet-related diseases are preventable!
Sick from eating? It doesn't have to be. Because with a balanced, plant-based diet you can do a lot for your health - both avoid diseases and heal diseases. Of course, this does not apply to every disease, but many diet-related diseases can be reversed with a lifestyle change.
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