Carbohydrate-related Diseases

By Heiress Oharra E. Comia

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

June 5, 2021
I. Introduction

In some people, eating even small amounts of certain carbs can cause bloating, fatigue,
abdominal cramps, poor digestion and heartburn. Keeping your blood sugar levels in check entails
watching what you eat and, if necessary, taking medications such as insulin. Carbohydrates are
one of the nutrients found in foods that provide energy and other nutrients to the body. They help
fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. For instance, fiber is
a carbohydrate that aids in digestion, helps you feel full, and keeps blood cholesterol levels in
check. Carbohydrates are classified into two types: sugars and starches, which can be found in
foods such as starchy vegetables. Carbohydrates may have a direct impact on human diseases by
influencing physiological and metabolic processes, lowering risk factors for disease or the disease
process itself. Carbohydrates may also have indirect effects on diseases, such as displacing other
nutrients or facilitating higher intakes of a variety of other substances commonly found in
carbohydrate-containing foods. Epidemiological and clinical studies provide evidence of links
between carbohydrates and diseases. There are only a few cases where direct causal links between
carbohydrates and diseases have been established. Thus, the nutrient-disease or food-disease
associations discussed below must be evaluated in terms of the strength of evidence from a variety
of observational studies and clinical trials.

II. Body

Obesity

Obesity is a complex health problem caused by a variety of causes and individual factors
such as behavior and genetics. Physical activity, inactivity, dietary patterns, medication use, and
other exposures are all examples of behaviors. Other factors that contribute to this are the food
and physical activity environment, education and skills, and food marketing and promotion. It is
serious because it is connected to poorer mental health outcomes and lower quality of life. Obesity
is also associated to some of the world's leading causes of death, such as diabetes, heart disease,
stroke, and certain types of cancer. In the short term, high carbohydrate foods promote satiety.
Because fat is stored more efficiently than excess carbohydrate, eating high carbohydrate foods
may lower the risk of obesity in the long run. The extent to which sugars and starches promote
obesity is hotly debated. Health care providers routinely collect family health history to assist in
identifying people who are at high risk of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and some forms of cancer. In genetics, the effects of shared genetics and environment on
close relatives' health are reflected in family health history. Families can't change their genes, but
they can promote healthy eating and physical activity. These changes have the potential to
improve the health of family members as well as the health history of the next generation. Human
population genetic changes happen too slowly to be responsible for the obesity epidemic.
Nonetheless, the way people react to an environment that encourages physical inactivity and the
consumption of high-calorie foods suggests that genes do play a role in the development of
obesity.

Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

Contrary to popular belief, high-carbohydrate diets do not increase the risk of developing
noninsulin-dependent diabetes. In fact, the opposite appears to be true: as the amount of
carbohydrates consumed increases, the risk of developing noninsulin-dependent diabetes
decreases. High-carbohydrate diets improve insulin sensitivity when compared to low-
carbohydrate diets. As a result, many doctors advise their noninsulin-dependent diabetes patients
to switch to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. Although losing weight is the best course of action
for this disease, such a switch appears to reduce the number of symptoms these people experience.
Another reason why a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet may benefit people with noninsulin-
dependent diabetes is that it lowers their risk of developing heart disease, which is a leading cause
of death in diabetics. High rates of NIDDM in all population groups are associated with rapid
cultural changes in previously consuming traditional diets, as well as increasing obesity,
particularly when it is centrally distributed. Although the exact mode of inheritance has not been
determined, there is no doubt that genetic factors are at work. A family history of NIDDM is a
significant risk factor in all populations. Obesity-related diet and lifestyle factors will clearly
influence the risk of developing NIDDM in populations and individuals who are predisposed to
it. Dietary factors have not been conclusively shown to be risk factors for insulin-dependent
diabetes, and the key advice regarding carbohydrates in the management of this condition
concerns carbohydrate distribution throughout the day. Carbohydrate intake must be distributed
on a regular basis and balanced with injected insulin. The general principles of the diabetic dietary
approach to non-insulin-dependent diabetes can be applied to those with insulin-dependent
diabetes as well.

Cardiovascular Disease

Many genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to the etiology of coronary heart disease,
influencing both the atherosclerotic and thrombotic processes that underpin the clinical
manifestations of the disease. Dietary factors may have an impact on these processes directly or
indirectly through a variety of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Obesity, especially when it is
centrally distributed, is linked to a significant increase in the risk of coronary heart disease. There
is also evidence linking specific nutrients to coronary heart disease, with high intakes of some
saturated fatty acids appearing to be important promoters. Heart disease describes a range of
conditions that affect your heart. Heart diseases include:

 Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease

 Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)

 Heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects)

 Heart valve disease

 Disease of the heart muscle

 Heart infection

Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices.
Cardiovascular disease is a term used to describe a group of illnesses that affect the heart and blood
vessels of the body. These diseases can affect a single or multiple parts of the heart or blood
vessels. A person can be symptomatic (physically experiencing the disease) or asymptomatic (not
experiencing the disease) (not feel anything at all).
III. Conclusion

Carbohydrates are a vital source of energy for the human body. Some are better for you
than others. Dietary fiber, for example, is a carbohydrate that protects heart and gut health, whereas
added sugars can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Following a well-
balanced diet that includes unprocessed carbohydrates, as well as getting enough sleep and
physical activity, is more likely to lead to good health and a healthy body weight than focusing on
or eliminating a specific nutrient. Carbohydrates are necessary for providing energy to the body
and allowing it to function properly. People's carbohydrate needs vary depending on their lifestyle,
weight, and level of activity. Most people can eat a healthy diet by including complex
carbohydrates and limiting their consumption of refined carbohydrates. Being mindful of
carbohydrate choices can help a person maintain a healthy blood glucose balance and reduce the
risk of associated health conditions. Carbohydrates may directly influence human diseases by
affecting physiological and metabolic processes, thereby reducing risk factors for the disease or
the disease process itself.