Poor nutrition can lead to a host of risks for diseases and conditions, such coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. Too many calories from nutrients such as saturated fats or cholesterol can cause health problems. Too few nutrients can also lead to health problems because they either contribute to stronger bodily functions or combat the effects of health problems. Nutrition plays a key role in both good and bad health.
Overweight
When many people think of diet, they think of weight-loss diets. Being overweight or obese cause many physiological problems, including joint and lower back problems. Back problems from being overweight are so common that workers miss more than 100 million days due to lower back pain each year, according to the Wellness Council of America. Being overweight comes from eating too many calories, many of which may come from nutrients that lead to the aforementioned health problems. In addition to the physiological problems associated with excess weight, being overweight causes psychological problems. The Office of the Surgeon General says obese children report increased levels of social discrimination, low self-esteem and depression.
Atherosclerosis
Too much cholesterol in your diet can lead to a build up of this waxy substance in your arteries, causing decreased blood circulation, leading to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, according to MayoClinic.com. Atherosclerosis also occurs in the arteries leading to the arms and legs, and causes erectile dysfunction. Cholesterol is found in animal products, including meats, dairy products and eggs. You can use dietary measures to combat this condition by decreasing the amount of low-density lipids you eat, and improving your high-density lipid, or "good cholesterol" numbers by nuts and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, and eating adequate dietary fiber. Fiber helps remove cholesterol from your body while it's in your digestive system, before it can cause problems.
Mineral Deficiencies
A poor diet causes health problems by creating a lack of nutrients necessary for healthy bodily functions. Too little calcium, for example, leads to decreased bone mass. As you age, this can lead to osteoporosis, especially in women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. More than 50 percent of women will suffer a bone fracture during their senior years, according to the NOF. Vegans or others who do not eat an adequate quantity of foods containing iron can develop iron deficiency anemia. Beef, liver and eggs are rich sources of iron, and eliminating these from your diet requires eating adequate sources of other iron-rich foods, such as spinach or soy, or taking an iron supplement to make up for this.
