Diet Cholesterol, Salt, and Sugar - Essay Example

"Diet Cholesterol, Salt, and Sugar" is a great example of a paper on food and nutrition. Nutritionists have defined cholesterol by its waxy and soft appearance, citing its appearance on different body parts, namely the heart, liver, and central nervous system. The body has the potential of synthesizing cholesterol, while animal fats serve as additional sources of the substance (Rezaianzadeh, Namayandeh, & Sadr 2012, p. 556). The body utilizes cholesterol in the synthesis of hormones and bile acid. It is available in the blood vessels for transport into different body parts (Rui Hai 2013, p. 386). Nutritionists have described the different types of sugar in the body. Glucose is one of the categories, and it denotes the sugar in the blood after the breakdown of all carbohydrates in their simplest form (Hasnol, Jinap, & Sanny 2014, p. 516). On the other hand, fructose is the sugar contained in fruits, table sugar bears the name sucrose, and comprises both fructose and glucose (Linhong et al 2008, p. 968). There is a healthy difference between fruit sugar and table sugar because fruit sugar is fructose as mentioned above (Hoppert et al 2013, p. 5). Fruit sugar has other health benefits such as phenol, fiber, and vitamins, which are missing in table sugar (Dias 2012, p. 1360).

 Health practitioners have described metabolic syndrome as denoted by several factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, too much fat in the abdominal region, and high blood sugar levels (Fava et al 2013, p. 217). A diet that has a high level of trans-fats and salt only serves to worsen the situation by enhancing metabolic syndrome (Lisa & Fred 2009, p. 55). This is the case because trans-fats only serve to increase cholesterol levels as well as deposits of more fats in the abdominal region (Langan et al 2012, p.557).

 On the other hand, salt has the potential of increasing high blood pressure (Wannamethee 2008, p. 27). The high salt content in the diet also has other adverse effects on people with osteoarthritis as the fluoride content in the salt serves to enhance the rate of fluorosis (Hong Ji, Young Gyu, & Hae-Jeung 2009, p. 705). Increased fluorosis advances the level of osteoarthritis in serious cases (Akbaraly 2009, p. 500). In order to revert all these health effects, it is important for the individual to consult a nutritionist for advice on the necessary nutritional changes (Mells et al 2006, p. 10). One should avoid animal fats with high cholesterol levels, increase the intake of fruits while reducing the intake of table sugar (De Godoy, Kerr, & Fahey 2013, p. 3099). Moreover, limiting salt content and increased exercise can be of immense help.

 

Read More