What the Health - Eating Healthy

There have been controversies in western countries on the type of diet that people can adopt, as there has been a sharp rise in health problems and diseases linked to poor eating choices. Access to a balanced diet and proper nutrition, according to Tuso et al. (2013), is important for disease prevention, body maintenance, and growth and development. As health practitioners concentrate on reversing and preventing obesity, lowering cancer risks, lowering cholesterol, slowing the development of some forms of cancer, lowering the risk of diabetes, and reversing and preventing heart disease, global nutrition has become an important target. They are mainly concerned with ensuring and encouraging a balanced family diet.
Effect of Eating Meats and Dairy Products on the BodyToday, billions of people around the globe consume animal products every day. They take products such as meat, milk, and other dairy products which are a vital source of nutrition. In addition, the purchase and consumption of these products have become common as they are a source of livelihoods for a significant number of people in the dairy and meat value chain. However, there have been concerns about the benefits of these animal products on the body and how they contribute to human nutrition. People, especially from the western parts of the world, have their diets characterized by a high consumption of meat and dairy products. Huth and Park (2012) state that the role of milk and dairy products in their nutrition has been increasingly questioned. According to Tuso et al. (2013), these products cause a high intake level of fats and red meat in quantities that go above the recommended dietary levels. Milk, the primary raw material for all dairy products, is a complicated food that contains numerous nutrients that are involved biological processes that are linked to health effects. A high consumption of dairy products has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and prostate cancer especially with the high fats available in milk (Davoodi, Esmaeili, & Mortazavian, 2013). On the other hand, milk and other dairy products when consumed raw or poorly processed can lead to cases of food illnesses in humans. Meat is abundant in the animal protein whose high intake raises the risk of different chronic diseases such as cancer.Types of Diseases Attributed with These ProductsMeat and dairy products are linked to high levels of animal proteins which are a risk to human health as they increase cases of cancer and diabetes. Davoodi, Esmaeili, and Mortazavian (2013) state that consumption of red meat has been positively associated with risk of cancer of rectum and colon, pancreas, lung, liver, and esophagus. These trends contribute to the spread of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Meat and dairy products increase the chances of being overweight that contribute to high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancer.Benefits of a Plant-Based DietIncreased health risks associated with the different animal products has forced people to switch to a plant-based diet which is an ideal source of protein. There are rising costs of health care, and concerns have been raised towards the unhealthy lifestyles that people live. Physicians are coming up with practical interventions that would help improve the health outcomes while ensuring that a healthy lifestyle is adopted. According to Tuso et al. (2013), a plant-based diet offers a healthy eating that is centered on whole plant foods while it discourages meats, dairy products, and processed foods. A plant-based diet encourages vegetables, soybeans, peas, beans, fruits, and other plants that are low in fat.Huth and Park (2012) suggest that a plant-based diet offers a better weight management than foods that have animal products since it is more nutritious. Research that has been conducted to study the risks of overweight have revealed that a plant-based diet offers the benefits to prevent obesity, especially in children. Huth and Park (2012) state that this diet is low in energy density and high in complex carbohydrate, water, and fiber. The authors add that the low-fat diet helps prevent and treat diabetes. Davoodi, Esmaeili, and Mortazavian (2013) indicate that a plant-based diet is cost-effective and has a low-risk intervention that is important in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index. In addition, they contribute to the reduction of the need for medications that are required to treat chronic diseases and lower ischemic heart disease mortality rates.How Plants Prevent and Remedy Some of the Cancers and the Sicknesses that People deal with TodayA plant-based diet is a highly recommended option to patients especially those with cases of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease. Plant foods are the healthiest diet because they are high in healthy fiber, antioxidants, essential minerals and vitamins, and proteins. The unprocessed whole foods of plants provide enough protein and calories for the body. These nutrients are also readily available for the body to process hence promote proper body functioning and healing. Individuals with high blood pressure, stroke, or coronary artery disease benefit from the low-sodium. Those with obesity and diabetes benefit as plant-based diet includes vegetables and fruits and also has a low-calorie diet.ReferencesTuso, P. J., Ismail, M. H., Ha, B. P., & Bartolotto, C. (January 01, 2013). Nutritional update for physicians: plant-based diets. The Permanente Journal, 17, 2, 61-6.Huth, P. J., & Park, K. M. (January 01, 2012). Influence of dairy product and milk fat consumption on cardiovascular disease risk: a review of the evidence. Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 3, 3, 266-85.Davoodi, H., Esmaeili, S., & Mortazavian, A. M. (May 01, 2013). Effects of Milk and Milk Products Consumption on Cancer: A Review. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 12, 3, 249-264.AUM Films & Media. (2017, February 13). Watch WHAT THE HEALTH Online | Vimeo On Demand [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/ondemand/whatthehealth. Accessed November 7, 2017.