course material

1. 2 coments each one 150 words (CITATION AND REFERENCE). by 2/15
Topic 4 DQ 2Nutrition is an essential component of health promotion, because without
proper nutrition the risk for non-communicable illness increases. Four of the leading causes
of death in the United States are linked to poor nutrition. However, this problem is directly
linked to over consumption of foods high in fat and calories. This is coupled with an
inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables (Falkner, 2018). Some of the nutritional
challenges present in emerging populations are related directly to their genetic
predisposition. However, many of the challenges are due to food preferences. For instance,
some cultures prohibit certain food items. Additional consideration must be made for
ceremonial or religious food, as well as food preparation methods. The problem is
exacerbated by the quantity of high fat, high sugar, processed foods that are readily
available at low cost. Healthier food choices often cost more. This creates even more of a
problem for a lower-income family (Falkner, 2018).Both nutritional deficits and nutritional
excesses have a role in disease processes. For instance, certain disease processes, such as
hypertension and type 2 diabetes occur more frequently in obese populations. In fact,
dietary modifications greatly reduce the risk of poor outcomes related to obesity (Falkner,
2018). In addition, nutritional deficits can also lead to illness. A recent study concluded that
58% of women with polycystic ovary disease were also vitamin D deficient
(Hanif,Qamar,Aslam,Omar, Mustafa,& Masood, 2019). Another case study showed that a B12
deficiency can cause neuropathy and hyperpigmentation of the lower extremities
(Turnquist & Holt, 2020). A balanced diet with the proper intake of vitamins and minerals is
essential for health in all three stages of health promotion. When implemented in primary
health promotion, proper nutrition may significantly reduce the risks of illness or
disease. Falkner, A., (2018). Cultural Awareness. In Grand Canyon University (Eds.), Health
promotion: health and wellness across the continuum. Retrieved from
https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-
continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/3Hanif, Q., Qamar, S., Aslam, P., Omar, H., Mustafa, N., &
Masood, S. (2019). Association of vitamin D deficiency with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, 69(2), 241–244. Retrieved from https://eds-b-
ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=63e3b836-df2d-
4857-a070-d16c4fd4bfaa%40pdc-v-sessmgr05Turnquist, M. & Holt, C., (2020) Fresh fruits
and vegetables really do keep the doctor away: symptomatic vitamin deficiency in a middle

2. aged man, Journal of maine medical center 2(1), 1-3. Retrieved
from https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&co
ntext=jmmcTopic 4 DQ 2In order to provide holistic care to patients, health promotion
becomes a necessity whereby patients are empowered with tools to practice and live
healthy lives. Having said this, nutrition therefore becomes the first step to assisting
patients live healthier lives. Due to the abundance of highly-processed, convenient and in-
expensive sources of comfort food, the US along with other countries globally suffer a
growing crisis of obesity and other co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart
diseases among others secondary to unhealthy feeding (Falkner, 2018). According to
statistics, nearly 1 in 3 adults is considered obese and approximately 81.6% of adults fail to
get the recommended amount of daily activity. Furthermore, the American society is noted
to have moved from being a country of nutritional deficit-related diseases to one of
noncommunicable diseases related to nutritional excess and overconsumption (ODPHP,
n.d.). It is because of this shift that healthcare professionals and other government
programs such as Healthy People 2020 have embarked on working closely with different
community populations to promote and restore health through advocacy of healthy eating
patterns.Despite nutrition being considered rudimentary to all people regardless of culture;
different cultures have varying customs, traditions, religions and routines that impact daily
nutritional preferences. Given the cultural diversity and emerging population growth in the
US, there are different challenges that may be a barrier to healthy nutrition. Firstly, being
new in the US, these populations may have difficulties accessing their preferred food
choices they are used to, and thus may resort to fast foods. Moreover, as they strive to settle
in, most may be financially strained to afford healthy meals and thus would prefer highly-
processed cheaper food which equally poses health concerns. Secondly, some of the
emerging minority populations like LGTBQ face adversities and discrimination and they are
mostly biased from accessing medical information including nutritional knowledge and so
they end up marginalized (Landry, 2017). Thirdly, limited resources, unemployment and
poverty has led to homeless populations whereby they not only exposed to violence and
high stress levels but also lack of clean water and proper nutrition. Last but not least certain
habits of different cultures like the Mexican-American involves frequent family meal sharing
where their food is prepared with lard and served in large portions with less vegetables,
something that is inconsistent with health nutrition (Falkner, 2018).Some diseases such as
obesity, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and cancer have a direct correlation to poor dietary
intake that has consistency in nutritional excesses of salt, fat, calories and cholesterol
(Patience, 2016). On the contrary, nutritional deficiency has also caused malnutrition a
condition that predisposes patients to various communicable diseases such as respiratory
problems for lack of adequate immunity. While most of the causative factors to nutritional
excesses may be lifestyle-related and modifiable, other factors of nutritional deficiencies
may be due to lack of access to resources and thus requiring an interdisciplinary team effort
and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to eliminate barriers to balanced nutrition.
Careful consideration of nutritional aspects therefore becomes paramount when doing
health promotion as ignorance of it can lead to different diseases that can be avoided.
Conclusively, nutritional health ultimately becomes relevant to health promotion and

3. preservation, and if well mastered leads to family wellness and prevention of
diseases.References. Falkner, A. (2018). In GCU’s Health Promotion: Health and Wellness
Across the Continuum. Retrieved fromhttps://www.gcumedia.com/digital-
resources/grand-canyon-university/2018/health-promotion_health-and-wellness-across-
the-continuum_1e.php Landry, J. (2017). Delivering culturally sensitive care to LGBTQI
patients. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(5), 342-347. doi:
10.1016/j.nurpra.2016.12.015Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.).
Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. Retrieved from
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-
topics/Nutrition-Physical-Activity-and-Obesity/dataPatience, S. (2016). Advising patients
on nutrition and healthy eating. British Journal of Nursing, 25(21), 1182.