The link between diet and disease has long been recognized. Hippocrates, the Greek physician regarded as the father of Western medicine, famously said, "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food." If you have a health condition, ask your doctor if changes to your diet should be an appropriate part of your regimen.
Vitamins and Disease
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientists discovered that certain nutrients were necessary in small quantities for preventing devastating diseases such as scurvy, pellagra and beriberi. Modern researchers believe that the role of vitamins extends far beyond preventing vitamin deficiency diseases. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, a lack of micronutrients can damage the DNA and contribute to common health conditions associated with aging, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
Obesity
Obesity is caused by a mismatch between caloric intake and energy expenditure. It is a risk factor for common diseases such as stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can forestall or prevent these health conditions, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. A slow and steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds can help you keep weight off permanently, while weight lost through crash diets is usually quickly gained back.
Diet and the Immune System
The immune system is a network of organs, cells and tissues that protects the body from harmful substances, including viruses, bacteria and pollutants. A weakened immune system leaves the body vulnerable to disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a healthy diet is crucial for maintaining immune system health. Vegetables and fruits are especially important. They are rich in the antioxidants that provide protection against free radicals, unstable molecules that can suppress the immune system and damage cells.
A Varied Diet is Key
The American Dietetic Association maintains that eating a nutritious, varied diet is the best approach to getting the nutrients necessary for health and disease prevention. Choose vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy oils, low-fat dairy products and unrefined grains. Large doses of vitamins and expensive dietary supplements are generally unnecessary, although a multivitamin supplement with minerals can help close the nutritional gaps that can occur with an inadequate diet.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health: Nutrition Insurance Policy: A Daily Multivitamin
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: How Are Overweight and Obesity Treated?
- Cleveland Clinic: Diet, Exercise, Stress and the Immune System
- American Dietetic Association: Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrient Supplementation
