Disease and Nutrition

Nutritional Paper
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Nutritional Paper
Part I, Criterion 1: Identification of nutrients
RDAs represent the sufficient level of daily intake to meet the average (97-98%) nutrient requirement. According to Mann & Truswell, (2017), the recommendation applies for health individuals considering their health and gender. However, when estimating the nutritional needs for people with health disorders like our case, Crohn’s disease, professionals do not only use RDAs but also consider and fit them with the health needs of the individuals (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Thus, although the RDAs programs may apply, the individuals ought to stick to specific diets considering their health conditions and the type of medication processes they indulge in intervention for the health issue.
The Atkin’s diet by DR, Robert C. Atkins
The Atkins diet entails low carb diet that could be essential for weight loss and it is implemented in a four-phase plan strategy.
Phase 1-Induction
Less then 20gms of carbs per day in two weeks (Gunnars, 2018). The kick starts with intake of low carb vegetables accompanied by high fats and proteins
Phase 2-Balancing
Add low-carb vegetables, nuts and some small amounts of fruits on to the original diet.
Phase 3-Fine-tuning
Getting close to the anticipated goal requires additional of more carbs to slow down the process of weight loss (Gunnars, 2018).
Phase 4-Mantainance
This level allows intake of various carbs as the body is tolerant to sustain them without regaining of the lost weight (Gunnars, 2018).
The incarnation of the process involves various meals in specific days that must be followed strictly. However, the strict diet could result to deficiency in essential macronutrients in the body. Looking into the induction phase, the Atkins diet incarnates a diet including less than 20 grams carbs (Gunnars, 2018). This level reveals that the patient is deficient of carbohydrate, the macronutrient that should providing energy to the body. Thus, she does not meet the RDA average recommendation of nutrients despite her health condition, meaning she’s deficient of some essential nutrient requirements.
However, the diet involves continuous high fat and high protein intake throughout the course. Although the nutrients are limited to products like salmon, eggs, extra virgin, and avocado oils, they offer the best nutrient requirements in line with her health needs (Gunnars, 2018). Thus, the patient takes enough if not more than the required levels of fats and proteins outlined in the RDAs nutrient program (Gunnars, 2018). The high protein levels make the engaged individuals feel less hungry over a long period after eating, resulting to the ultimate achievement of the anticipated goals.
Part I, Criterion 2: RDA Approval Analysis
As mentioned earlier, Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) is the daily average diet intake level to meet the substantial nutrient requirement (97-98%) of healthy individuals at a specific age and gender (Mann & Truswell, 2017). In this case, the Atkins diet provision of nutrients to the patient does not reach the optimal requirements relating to RDAs. However, the deficiency levels differ among different individuals depending on aspects such as the health issue in question. Generally, the Atkins diet does not support 100% sufficiency of RDAs. It lacks six essential macronutrients including; Vitamin B7, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, chromium, iodine and molybdenum (Calton, 2010). Although the nutrients may exist in some meals, they occur in very small amounts that are not sufficient for the patient.
The macronutrients are essential in the body, and they play various significant roles. Vitamin B7 aids in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins and creation of enzymes (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Its soluble nature metabolizes the nutrients appropriately resulting to effective digestive processes. Vitamin D helps in maintaining an excellent shape of the immune system (Mann & Truswell, 2017). The powerful antioxidant vitamin E helps in the repair of damaged cells. Chromium is essential for fats and sugar metabolism (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to produces thyroid hormones that ultimately help in controlling functions including and not limited to growth and development (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Lastly, Molybdenum helps in the activation of enzymes that aid in the breakdown of harmful sulfites and prevent build-up of toxins in the body (Mann & Truswell, 2017). Thus, the patient on Atkins diet lack the essential macronutrients in her body.
Part II, Criterion 1: Nutrition and Pathophysiology
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, with increased prevalence across the globe. According to Torres et al. (2017), the issue might originate from a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and altered gut microbiota. The interaction leads to dysregulated innate and adaptive human responses. The clinical implications of Crohn’s disease in young patients include abdominal pains, severe diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue (Torres et al., 2017). Therefore, the patients experience drastic changes over a short period at the first encounter with the disease.
The bowel disease can affect all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. However, it mostly affects the colon and distal ileum (Torres et al., 2017). The invading inflammation starts with mere implications that eventually grow into ulcers accompanied by mucosal edema with a cobblestoned appearance on the affected parts of the bowel (Torres et al., 2017). Torres et al. (2017) argues that the disease alters digestion if it is located in the small intestines. It also interferes with the normal digestion, affecting the absorption of food. However, patients are different depending on their food intakes where some meals could upset the stomach and fail to indicate how the affected individual should manage their daily intake. Thus, it is essential to identify the location of ...