Such phrases such as “we are what we eat” has gained prominence today as people engage in debate on the best eating habits that we need to embrace. Everything that we eat has consequences in as far as our overall health is concerned. It is therefore our responsibility to make informed choices when it comes to choosing dietary alternatives.
Dieting is a means of maintaining a good healthy body. A well balanced diet includes both vegetarian foods and carnivorous or meat based food. Vegetarian diet totally excludes meat or any animal products. While nutritionists propose a well balanced diet, substituting meat and other animal products with vegetable equivalent reduces chances of lifestyle diseases, which are a major concern today. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how a vegetarian diet is more beneficial for better health.
Smith (para. 2) argues that meat is a very healthy source of high quality proteins, which builds our bodies. Essential amino acids necessary for our bodies growth are contained in diet rich with red meat. Phosphorous found in meat is easily absorbed in our bodies than phosphorous found in vegetables. Meat is a source of important micronutrients such as iron, selenium, vitamins A, B12 and folic acid, which are not available in plant based foods.
Further, Anderson, Konz and Jenkins (1243) state that meat-based products are helpful in short term weight loss. Therefore, meat and animal products play an essential diet supplementary role. Meat contains essential amino acids and micronutrients. In addition, it also plays a vital role in the regulation of energy metabolism processes (Koebnick et al 3215).
However, a diet rich in meat and animal products has been found to have severe detrimental effects to people’s health. Smith (para. 3) argues that people retain the hormones fed to dairy animal to accelerate growth. When they meat and animal products these hormones lead to an increased weight gain. Uncontrolled intake of roast meat is also a major cause of gout and arthritis. He continues to argue that fish and other edible marine foods are preserved using boric acid.
A sustained intake of this chemical may cause brain and liver damage Biesalski (1243) argues that continued intake of meat exposes one to risk of contracting cancer, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Anderson and colleagues (1243) report that increased intake of meat increases serum cholesterol levels, which put people at the risk of contracting cardiovascular and coronary diseases. Therefore, meat should be consumed in controlled portions to avoid such negative implications.
Vegetarian diet too has its own disadvantages. Smith (para. 5) report that important vitamins responsible for formation of red blood cells (for example, vitamin B2 and B12), are absent in vegetarian diets. A fiber rich vegetarian diet may also lead to malnutrition as victims lack other food supplements available only in meat-based foods.
If a vegetarian diet is not properly planned, a person may miss several nutritional intakes such as proteins iron zinc calcium vitamin B (12) and essential amino acids. This can however be overcome if a well balanced vegetarian diet is observed.
Despite these shortcomings, Lietzmann (148) argues that a wholesome vegetarians diet offers more advantages compared to meat based diet. Well balanced vegetarian diets are essential in all stages of human development form childhood, adolescent, pregnancy stage, adult hood to old age. Anderson et al (1244) states that low fat vegetarian diets are responsible for improving cardiovascular status.
Smith Biesalski (510) says that vegetarian diets reduce the level of cholesterol intake to the bare minimum. Vegetarian diets have been found to play an important role in the prevention and treatment of life threatening diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer osteoporosis among others.
Low fat vegetarian diet is responsible for altering serum cholesterol intake for improved health in pre menopausal women. Lietzmann (149) reports that research in England have found that vegetarian diet is responsible for reducing diabetes and heart disease. All these benefits explain why vegetarian diet is gaining a worldwide popularity for its health benefits.
Vegetarian diet goes beyond health concerns (Lietzmann, 2005). Vegetarian diet has more benefits to a human being than meat based diet. Some religious denominations such as the Adventist strictly follow a vegetarian diet as a religious culture (Levin and Vanderpool 70).
Despite all the advantages of a herbivorous diet a carnivorous diet is still essential to humans as it contains essentials nutrients absent in plant food. A well balanced diet that incorporates both meat and vegetables is essential. To achieve proper health and reduce chances of contracting life threatening diseases, intake of meat and animal products should be reduced to a minimum.
A balanced diet that contains both the animal sources of nutrition on the one hand and those from the plant sources is more ideal. This is because some of the nutrients in the plant sources are in a bound form and for maximum absorption they need to be supplemented with their equivalent from animal sources, and vice versa.
Works Cited
Anderson, John, Smith, Michael and Gustafson, Joseph. Health Benefits And Practical Aspects Of High-Fiber Diets. American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition 59.5(1994):1242-47.
Biesalski, Henry. Meat As A Component Of A Healthy Diet – Are There Any Risks Or Benefits If Meat Is Avoided In The Diet? Meat science, 70.3(2005):509-24.
Koebnick, Corinna, Hoffmann, Ingrid, Dagnelie, Pieter, Heins, Ulrike, Wickramasinghe, Indrika D., Ratnayaka, Sindy and Lindemans, Jan. Claus L. Long-term ovolacto vegetarian diet impairs vitamin B-12 status in pregnant women. J. Nutr. 134.(2004): 12 3215-3218.
Levin, Jeffrey and Vanderpool, Harold. Is Religion Therapeutically Significant For Hypertension? Social Science & Medicine, 29.1(1989):69-78.
Lietzmann, Charles. Vegetarian Diets: What Are The Advantages? 2005. Forum Nutr., 57(2005):147-56.
Smith, Heather. The Pros and Cons Of Vegetraina Diet. 2010. Web.
People in the developed world have over the last few decades have shown a great interest in achieving and maintaining ideal body weight. Saltzman, Thomason, and Roberts (2001) report that at any given time, 44% of women and 29% of men in the U.S. are trying to lose weight. This determination has, in part, been promoted by the advice given by health care workers and nutritionists.
These professionals have highlighted that an individual’s body weight impacts his/her health. Specifically, it has been pointed out that being overweight leads to many negative health outcomes. Obesity is linked to diseases such as diabetes and a higher risk of heart attacks. The mental health of the individual is also affected by being overweight since research links being overweight to higher depression rates. For these reasons, many people are keen to maintain proper weight.
However, most people hope to achieve this with a minimal amount of effort. As such, instead of engaging in healthy eating and exercising, many people prefer diets that promise quick results with little effort. To meet this demand for quick weight loss solutions, many authors and nutritionists have come up with diets that provide short term results with little concern for long term weight loss or the health of the individual.
These diets are referred to as fad diets, and their major characteristic is that they are extreme diets that people follow as a trend to lose weight. Fad diets are very popular in the U.S., and most people have experimented with at least one.
The popularity of fad diets has been increased by the high prevalence of obesity and the relatively moderate success of traditional weight-control methods. This paper will set out to argue that fad diets should be avoided since they lead to health problems, are expensive, and do not lead to sustained weight loss by the dieter.
Arguments against Fad Diets
Fad diets are bad because they cause health problems to the dieter. Typically, fad diets are based on either avoidance of particular foods or intake of macronutrients in particular proportions. These variations often have negative health effects on the dieter. Debruyne, Pinna, and Whitney (2011) assert that most fad diets are not based on any credible research on their benefits or dangers. Dieters are, therefore exposed to various health problems.
Fad diets that encourage very low carbohydrate intake may lead to ketosis, which is a condition characterized by elevated levels of the ketone. In this case, the body uses fat to produce energy since it is unable to use glycogen bodies (Source Number Two, n.d.). The body can tolerate ketosis for a short time, but if it is allowed to continue for extended periods, the body’s P.H. level changes to acidic (Saltzman, 2001). This leads to dehydration and kidney problems due to the high levels of glucose in the body.
Increased protein diets, which are characterized by protein intake exceeding current recommendations and moderate levels of carbohydrates intake, may have adverse health impacts. High protein diets increase the risk of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis (commonly referred to as kidney stones) formation (Saltzman et al., 2001).
Source Number Two (n.d.) confirms that as high protein diet provides more protein than most people need, “the liver and kidneys have extra work to do in breaking down and excreting the excess” (p.2). In addition to this, high protein diets are linked to increased urinary calcium excretion and bone resorption. Dieters, therefore, risk having fragile bones since the bone density is reduced as a result of these diets.
Another demerit of fad diets is that they are expensive to maintain. To begin with, the individual has to purchase the diet book that has a detailed explanation of the permitted foods and the quantity of each serving. Once a person has purchased the book or the diet plan, he/she has to follow the instructions fully for the best results.
Many people are lured to fad diets by the claim that you can lose weight with little effort. However, most fad diet plans involved complicated rules and regimes that the individual has to follow. Dieters are often required to purchase special products that will aid in their weight loss.
In some cases, the dieter must consult a nutritionist to calculate his/her food intake correctly. Moyad (2004) explains that some diets require assistance to compute the daily protein requirement since this depends on the dieter’s weight, level of physical activity, and percentage of body fat. In addition to this, the foods required in some diet plans are expensive.
Moyad (2004) notes that most diets include the regular intake of fairly expensive beverages such as flavored seltzer and the consumption of vegetables and fancy garnishes. In addition to this, some diets include pharmaceutical supplements that must be purchased and consumed regularly as part of the diet plan. Source Number One (n.d.) indicates that in the U.S., over $40 billion is used on dieting and dieting related products each year.
A significant demerit of fad diets is that they do not lead to sustained weight loss by the dieter. Most people take up diets with the hope that they will lose the excess body weight and sustain the desirable body weight. However, this is not possible to achieve by relying on fad diets. Debruyne (2011) observes that while fad diets might appear to work for a while, more often than not, their success is short-lived. Most fad diets achieve quick results since the diets cause the loss of more body water in the short term.
However, the weight is regained as soon as the diet is discontinued. It is impossible to continually engage in fad diets since most of them are impractical. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the High-protein, low-carbohydrate fad diets are nutritionally inadequate (Source Number Three, n.d.). As such, they are unsustainable over long durations of time. Research indicates that 95% of all dieters regain their lost weight in one to five years (Source Number One, n.d.).
The argument in Favor of Fad Diets
A major argument in favor of fad diets is that they lead to tangible results for the dieter within a few weeks. These results serve as motivation since individuals realize that it is possible to attain their desired weight or size. Saltzman et al. (2001) state that most fad diets assist individuals in achieving the type of weight loss that appears impossible by traditional means. After realizing that fad diets are unsustainable, most people move on to sensible weight loss programs to achieve the results first obtained through fad diets.
In addition to this, the diets increase awareness of the various types of foods and their benefits to the body (Crowe, 2008). A person is, therefore, likely to engage in healthy eating after experimenting with a diet. While it is true that fad diets might encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles, this is not the case with most people.
The positive results of fad diets encourage some dieters to engage in pathological dieting, which may be harmful to their health since fad diets are nutritionally inadequate. In addition to this, some dieters develop full-blown eating disorders due to their involvement with fad diets.
Conclusion
This paper set out to argue that fad diets are deleterious and should, therefore, be avoided by all individuals who are attempting to lose weight. It began by noting that fad diets are very popular because of their offer the promise of quick and easy weight loss in a nation overwhelmed by obesity. The paper then noted that fad diets are undesirable since they expose the dieter to a number of health problems. In addition to this, the diets are expensive to sustain and may require the dieter to purchase specialized equipment.
Finally, fad diets only offer temporary weight loss, making them unhelpful since the desired goal is a sustained weight loss. The paper has taken care to note that fad diets may serve as an incentive for people to adopt healthy habits. However, this positive outcome rarely happens, and most people only end up becoming pathological dieters or develop eating disorders. In light of the numerous negative effects associated with fad diets, there is little reason to encourage anybody to follow any of these diets.
References
Crowe, T. (2008). Nutrition Messages Given by Fad Diets Can Alter People’s Food Perceptions. Nutrition, 19(2), 1-4.
Moyad, M. (2004). Fad Diets and Obesity – Part III: A Rapid Review of Some of the More Popular Low-Carbohydrate Diets. Upologic Nursing, 24(5), 442-445.
Saltzman, E., Thomason, P., & Roberts, S. (2001). Fad Diets: A Review for the Primary Care Provider. Nutrition in Clinical Care, 4(5), 235–242.
Source Number One. Fad Diets.
Source Number Three. Cautioning Patients About Extreme Diets.
Everyone yearns for a healthy lifestyle. There are many companies promoting products to sustain them in the market. They are very audible and visible because of the funds they have from their businesses. It has led to people living with lifestyle diseases. Los Angeles Children Hospital has had challenges in providing healthy diets. Being a private non-profit organization, it relies on well-wishers. However, its food program suffers challenges of providing healthy meals. The donation of $100,000 from Atticus Chi will help the hospital to shape the way people think about a diet for healthy life. It is a large organization with a good reputation in Los Angeles, California and the rest of the world. Its decision will affect its beneficiaries’ choices and hence lead to the revolution in other sectors. The media, the models, and the promotion of the fresh farm produce are primary methods for enhancing healthy food practices.
Introduction
Background
Los Angeles Children’s Hospital has been treating children ever since 1901. It is in Los Angeles, California. It is also the largest regional referral center for children in critical conditions who need life-saving care. It is a non-profit hospital. Los Angeles Children’s Hospital has 300 beds and is working with the University of Southern California (“Children’s Hospital Los Angeles” par. 2). It has employed some of the highest-ranking orthopedic pediatricians. Each year the hospital takes care of over 150,000 infants, children, and young adults. It provides more than 350 pediatric programs and services.
The U.S. News & World Report has placed the hospital in the Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll. It is also the top-ranked hospital in California. Another milestone is that the American Nurses Credentialing Center has granted it the Magnet Recognition. CHLA is also home to the Saban Research Institute. It is the only freestanding research institute that deals with the pursuit of advancing medicine for children in Southern Carolina (“Children’s Hospital Los Angeles” par. 2). The children who get admissions in the hospital come from Los Angeles County and the other seven county areas. Other referrals come from all over the world. It has a global impact on matters of children health.
Problem
Despite all the health successes addressed, the hospital has a problem with its feeding program. Patients, staff, and visitors benefit from the food that the hospital provides to them. The food does not comprise the healthy diet. The hospital is working with the large food manufacturers who supply it with junk food (Ahmad 270). There is no real care to what the patient eats during the stay at the hospital. They rely on food that the relatives and friends come with to the hospital. The county and the state have high rates of obesity since its inception in the 1970s. Other maladies affect the residents due to unhealthy diets. As the center for most of the information about children’s health, the hospital should become the best example to shape the way healthy meals should be determined (Hurley et al. 308).
Purpose
Everyone knows that the children’s hospital is a giant of robust solutions finder for all children (Schaefer 100). Other hospitals get to learn a lot of information from this center. It has one of the best-known research institutes and therefore can provide direction, solutions to community health challenges. It is where Mr. Atticus Chi comes in to help solve the matter. The report explains the causes of the health problem in Los Angeles, South Carolina, and the rest of the world (Shah 301). However, the study should enhance the primary children’s hospital in the region to start off the process. It also indicates how the $100,000 from Mr. Atticus will go a long way in saving the children and the population in Los Angeles first, and then to the rest of the region.
Scope
The children’s hospital has a 100-bed capacity and an outreach of over one million clients in a year. It means that what happens in the hospital affects this population. Its affiliation with Keck School of Medicine provides an avenue for reaching out even to the University of South Carolina and other partners (Shah 301). By saving the health of children, Mr. Atticus will also be saving a generation’s health and the benefit will extend to their parents and neighbors.
Discussion
Causes of the Decline in the Provision of Healthy Food
The manufacturing companies are making partnerships with the hospital and others around to promote their products (Cleden 112). Some of them are offering some free samples to children in the hospital. They are also using the fashion models to promote the fatty and unhealthy products to the population. The radio stations are also full of such advertisements.
Healthy Food Promotions
The children nutrition specialists will be part of the team that will oversee the program become successful. They will advise on the nutritional needs of the children both at the hospital and after discharge. The research program should encourage the hospital to stop going after the big manufacturers for food that only ends up harming the children (Ahmad 270).
Solution
The hospital should improve the quality of the food it is offering to the patients. They should start using certified organic produce from the local market. The food should be fresh and in the season. The vendors should provide full nutritional value. The food can include meat, eggs, fish, and dairy products from the farms that promote the environmental welfare and good animal management (Allen and Wilson 316). The program should use the media personalities to promote a healthy lifestyle through dietary measures. Fliers will be available at the reception and given to every patient at admission, booking, and at the discharge point. The notice boards will be in every corridor, waiting rooms, reception, and parking lots advising people on a proper diet (Combi 333).
Cost Analysis
The following is the budget for the program;
Particulars
Cost
Radio (102.7 KIIS FM) annual cost for advertisement
$30,000
Celebrity/model to speak about healthy diets (weekly)
$5,000
Hospital posters and fliers
$20,000
Promotion of fresh farm produce (incentives)
$20,000
Nutrition specialist’s advise
$5,000
Restructuring the hospital’s kitchen department to prepare fresh foods
$20,000
Total
$100,000
Table reference
Table 1. Radio station 102.7 KIIS FM rate per year for morning sessions from January to December this year.
Celebrity rates have an upfront payment of $2,500, and then clear the balance at the end of the fifth week.
The hospital posters will only be about 500 pieces while the fliers for customers will be in thousands to cater for all visitors.
Each specialist will get at least $500.
The hospital will need advice from different nutrition experts. The figures in the table are for initialization purposes. Later on, the hospital will source for other funds by setting up a kitty for donations.
Conclusion
The population needs information that is clear and concise. Manufacturers are giving distorted information because they want to popularize their products. The donation will enhance healthy living because people will have a choice between truth and half-truth. The promotion of fresh farm produce will also create more jobs and more earnings at the farm.
There are various claims and misconceptions in the field of nutrition due to the fact that it is highly difficult to identify the core influencing factors. Therefore, confident and assured statements should be questioned and treated with skepticism. The given article argues that low-carb diets are linked to an early death because proteins are known to cause cardiovascular diseases and cancer (Dennett). However, these pieces of evidence are not fully plausible, and they require deeper analysis.
It is important to understand that the impact of various diets on a person’s health and longevity cannot be clearly outlined. The main reason is that a number of factors should be included and considered before making strong claims. For example, the article states that low-carb diets lead to increased consumption of protein, which can be found in red meat, thus, it causes cancer and heart problems (Dennett). It is not necessarily true due to the fact that it is not known if people use red meat as a primary source of proteins. In addition, the author makes an assumption that low-carb dieters eat mostly animal-based fats, which needs more clarification and informative research (Dennett). It is possible that the given individuals are more educated and aware of their health, thus, they would avoid consuming unhealthy food. It is also highly difficult to identify specific influencers affecting one’s longevity and lifespan because death can be caused by non-dietary factors.
In conclusion, it is critical to understand that diets cannot have a direct impact on an individual’s overall longevity. These claims require in-depth research and prolonged studies in order to verify the cause-and-effect relationship. In addition, both lifespan and nutritional habits include a number of important variables, which needs to be considered. Therefore, the given article should conduct more specific research on low-carb dieters and their food preferences.
Work Cited
Dennett, Carrie. “Cutting Carbs Could Lead to Premature Death, If You Replace Them with the Wrong Things.” The Washington Post. 2018, Web.
It should be noted that among the most common diseases we have nowadays, issues on cardiovascular diseases concern us the most. These diseases are directly interconnected with other health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart failure, etc. And with this, it is important to reiterate the importance of maintaining a good and proper diet coupled with a healthy lifestyle.
There is an increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases affected people in the UK. Reports revealed that this prevalence is caused by inappropriate diet and sedentary lifestyle that the UK people now have. This paper provides an insight into how important proper diet and nutrition are in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Specific nutritional requirements of the body are highlighted and how it assists the body systems and organs. Some of the most highlighted diet-related information highlighted in this paper is the roles played by the dietary fats (saturated fat, MUFA, PUFA, trans-fat, carbohydrates, dietary Fibres, anti-oxidants, and much more in the prevention of the onset of diseases such as CVD.
Introduction
Background
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death and disability in today’s society. In the year 1997 alone, nearly 1 million people are pronounced dying year of heart disease and stroke in the United States, and an estimated $150 billion will be spent on the care of these patients (American Heart Association, 1996).
More so, research reveals that cardiovascular diseases are prevalent in the aging population and are the main cause of death even in the UK countries, e.g. in Finland cardiovascular diseases cause nearly half of all deaths (Statistics, Finland, 2002). Moreover, they still belong to the most common reasons for disability pension after mental and musculoskeletal disorders. The primary cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, overweight, smoking, and physical inactivity have been well studied and recognized (Renaud, 2001).
The reason for the appearance
But, despite these frightening statistics related to cardiovascular diseases, physicians and other medical health providers are firmed in saying that cardiovascular disease, i.e., primarily coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, are potentially preventable diseases. After many years of epidemiological, animal experimental, and clinical trials, the primary determinants of cardiovascular disease have been identified, as well as the efficacy of specific interventions.
Cardiovascular diseases are now increasing in less urbanized, developed populations across the world, as their lifestyles change to a so-called “western-style”, with increasing consumption of dietary saturated fat and cholesterol, cigarette smoking, salt, decreased physical activity and obesity, and the rise in risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease (Renaud, 2001).
UK Statistics
As stated above, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the UK is frightening. There are hundreds of credible reports providing new information on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors: alcohol consumption; smoking; poor diet; lack of physical exercise; obesity and high blood pressure. Some of the worth noting numbers include (Colhoun H and Prescott-Clarke, 1996):
The overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the UK decreased between 1993 and 1994 and increased again in 1998 with an overall prevalence of IHD or stroke increased between 1994 and 1998. In men, it rose from 7.1 to 8.5% of the total population, while the increase for women was from 5.2 to 6.2%.
There is an equal proportion of men vs. women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) conditions (angina, heart attack, stroke, heart murmur, and abnormal heart rhythm, other heart trouble, diabetes, or high blood pressure). Excluding those with high blood pressure, because men tend to be affected more by this illness than women.
It also evident that in the UK, there was a socio-economic slope in the prevalence of CVD and IHD. The age-standardized prevalence of IHD was lower in men in lower social class compared to higher social status and the same thing goes to women.
In both sexes, the prevalence of high fat and low fiber intake was higher in manual social classes and in is lower-income households.
There was a marked decline in men’s physical activity with increasing age and further probing reveals that women’s activity levels were much lower than men’s in the younger age groups
The age-standardized proportion of men meeting the guidelines for physical activity was considerably higher in manual than non-manual social classes
The Role of Diet
As it is important to be vigilant against cardiovascular diseases that can kill most of us, it is also very necessary to know more about how can the upsurge of cardiovascular diseases be prevented. And with this came the idea of diet and nutrition.
Today most of us dwell in mechanized urban settings, leading largely sedentary lives and eating a highly processed synthetic diet. As a result, two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. The lifetime incidence of hypertension is an astounding 90%, and the metabolic syndrome is present in up to 40% of middle-aged American adults. Cardiovascular disease remains the number 1 cause of death, accounting for 41% of all fatalities, and the prevalence of heart disease in the United States is projected to double during the next 50 years (Macaulay, et. al., 1999). Despite remarkable pharmacological and technological advances, the pandemic of cardiovascular disease continues.
At least for today, the genes we are born with are those that we will live and die with. Thus, the most practical solution for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis is to realign our current maladaptive diet and lifestyle to simulate the milieu for which we are genetically designed (Flegal, et. al, 2002).
Living organisms thrive best in the milieu and on the diet to which they were evolutionarily adapted; this is a fundamental axiom of biology. All of the food consumed daily by our ancient ancestors had to be foraged or hunted by wild plants and animals in their natural world. In many respects, that Paleolithic world is gone forever, but insights gained from a wide array of disciplines are providing a clear picture of the ideal diet and lifestyle for humans. The hunter-gatherer mode of life became extinct in its purely non-westernized form in the 20th century (Macaulay, et. al., 1999). At the beginning of the 21st century, we are the first generation to have the genetic and scientific understanding to allow us to reconstruct the essence of this lifestyle and the means to afford it (Flegal, et. al, 2002).
Historical and archaeological evidence shows hunter-gatherers generally to be lean, fit, and largely free from signs and symptoms of chronic diseases. When hunter-gatherer societies transitioned to an agricultural grain-based diet, their general health deteriorated. Average adult height was substantially shorter for both men and women who consumed cereals and starches compared with their hunter-gatherer ancestors who consumed lean meats, fruits, and vegetables (Ford, et. al., 2002).
Furthermore, studies of bones and teeth reveal that populations who changed to a grain-based diet had shorter life spans, higher childhood mortality, and a higher incidence of osteoporosis, rickets, and various other minerals- and vitamin deficiency diseases. When former hunter-gatherers adopt Western lifestyles, obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other diseases of civilization become commonplace (Daniel, et. al., 1999).
Perhaps no scientific topic has generated more controversy and confusion in recent times than the question of the ideal human diet. Medical experts espouse divergent views of human nutrition with evangelical zeal, each citing scientific data to validate their respective contradictory conclusions. This confusing dialogue is epitomized by the Atkins vs. Ornish debate. The Atkins diet includes high protein, high saturated fat, and avoidance of nearly all carbohydrates (Atkins, 1998). In contrast, the Ornish diet consists of 80% carbohydrates and minimized consumption of all animal protein fats (Ornish, 1990). Proponents of both diets insist theirs is the answer to the American epidemics of obesity and cardiovascular disease; however, the advice for these diets is mutually exclusive and opposed (Daniel, et. al., 1999).
In truth, the ideal diet is neither of these extremes nor what many medical professionals now promote. In a recently published large review of approximately 150 studies on the link between diet and cardiovascular health, the authors concluded that 3 major dietary approaches have emerged as the most effective in preventing cardiovascular events (Ford, et. al., 2002):
replacing saturated and trans-fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
increasing consumption of omega-3 ([omega]-3) fats from either fish or plant sources such as nuts
eating a diet high in various fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and avoiding foods with a high glycemic load (a large amount of quickly digestible carbohydrates).
Despite common misperceptions, it was found out that there is no strong evidence for a link between the risk of cardiovascular disease and intake of meat, cholesterol, or total fat.
These broad characteristics are consistent with the diet that Paleolithic humans evolved eating. This is the diet that our hunter-gatherer ancestors thrived on until the advent of the agricultural revolution. Through the millennia, our genome and physiology became adapted to this diet. Of course, this diet varied by paleontological period, geographic location, season, and culture, but many characteristics remained consistent until recent times (Daniel, et. al., 1999).
Throughout most of human history, food consumption (energy intake) was obligatorily linked to food acquisition (energy output). Accordingly, our ancient ancestors expended more energy finding and obtaining food calories than do typical sedentary, westernized citizens for whom there is virtually no connection between energy intake and energy expenditure (Daniel, et. al., 1999).
Our cravings for calorie-dense foods, such as fats, sweets, and starches, are legacies of our Paleolithic ancestors, who sought these foods because they conferred positive survival value in an environment in which these food types were scarce. These cravings betray us in our modern world, where calorie-dense foods are abundant and inexpensive, and most people die of caloric excess manifested as obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (Daniel, et. al., 1999).
Compounding the issue is the fact that our genome became adapted to an environment in which caloric intake was often sporadic and sometimes inadequate. This promoted efficient energy use and storage commonly referred to as the thrifty gene hypothesis. Although this genetic adaptation (which results in the storage of excess calories as intra-abdominal fat) provides a survival advantage in an environment of scarcity, it becomes a liability in the setting of long-term excessive caloric intake (Joshipura, et. al., 2001).
Although the key to weight loss is simply the daily consumption of fewer calories than are expended, it is easier to moderate caloric intake in a diet that has adequate quantities of protein and fat because of superior satiety compared with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. This strategy in part accounts for the success of the Atkins diet in inducing weight loss, but its high levels of saturated fat, low levels of antioxidants, and net metabolic acidosis, which may promote osteoporosis and atherosclerosis, make this a suboptimal eating style (Ford, et. al., 2002).
A growing consensus indicates that a diet containing moderate amounts of beneficial fat and protein in addition to carbohydrates consisting exclusively of low-glycemic-load foods (non-starchy vegetables and fruits) in conjunction with daily exercise is the most effective way to achieve and maintain ideal body weight and prevent cardiovascular disease. This approach was the eating pattern and lifestyle of prehistoric humans (Joshipura, et. al., 2001).
The polyunsaturated fats are classified as [omega]-6 (generally pro-inflammatory) and [omega]-3 (anti-inflammatory with several other inherent cardioprotective effects), [omega]-3 Fats were abundant in the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors. In the natural world, the broad base of the food chain is composed of ubiquitous algae in the sea and grasses and leaves on land.
The small amount of fat in algae, grasses, and leaves is rich in [omega]-3 fatty acids, which become more concentrated in larger animals up through both the land and marine food chains, especially in fish and larger grazing animals. Today, meat from domesticated animals is low in [omega]-3 fats because these animals are generally grain-fed or corn-fed rather than grass-fed. This and other issues have resulted in a much lower intake of [omega]-3 fats today compared with our remote ancestors (Ford, et. al., 2002).
The correction of this [omega]-3 deficiency in the modern diet is a key step to improving the cardiovascular risk in our population. Two randomized trials, the Lyon Diet Heart Study, which involved 600 post-infarction patients, and the Indo-Mediterranean Diet Heart Study, which involved 1000 coronary heart disease patients, evaluated a standard low-fat American Heart Association diet vs. the traditional Mediterranean. The patients on the Mediterranean diet rich in [omega]-3 and monounsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts experienced 50% to 70% reductions in risk of cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up.
Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats made up approximately half of the total fat in the diets of most hunter-gatherers. Monounsaturated fats reduce cardiovascular risk, especially when substituted for easily digestible starches and sugars. Nuts are a valuable source of monounsaturated fats and are cardio-protective in at least 6 epidemiological studies. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors relied on nuts as an easily accessible source of calorie-dense, highly nutritious food that was often available in non-summer months. The calories in nuts typically are 80% from fat, but most of this is in the form of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Epidemiological studies show that frequent nut consumption (5 or more times per week) is associated with up to a 50% reduction in risk of myocardial infarction compared with the risk of people who rarely or never eat nuts. Other studies show that nut consumption reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, lowers the atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level without lowering the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level,40 and provides plant-based protein and other potentially cardioprotective nutrients such as vitamin E, folate, magnesium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Because of their high levels of fiber, protein, and fat, nuts also provide better and longer-lasting satiety compared with high-glycemic-load snack foods typically consumed today.
Oleic acid is the major monounsaturated fat in our diets and is found in meats, nuts, avocados, dark chocolate, and olive oil. Although some of these foods were not part of the ancient ancestral diet, they can improve the cardiovascular risk profile when substituted for sugar, starches, trans-fats, and saturated fats that are prevalent in the modern diet. Studies suggest that replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated fat would result in a 30% reduction in risk, or 3 times the risk reduction achieved by replacing saturated fat with carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates
Many current vegetarians would be more appropriately labeled “breatharians.” Modern vegetarian diets often rely heavily on processed carbohydrates such as white rice, potatoes, and white flour and sugars. The South Asian paradox refers to the relatively high prevalence of coronary heart disease despite low levels of LDL cholesterol and low prevalence of obesity in urban vegetarians from India who consume a diet high in refined carbohydrates.
In westernized societies, sugar intake has increased substantially during the past 2 centuries. A recent study showed that a high-glycemic-load diet is the most important dietary predictor of HDL level (as an inverse relationship). A high-glycemic-load diet predisposes a person to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease and is one of the most atherogenic features of our modern eating pattern (Cordain 2002).
Meat
It should be noted that although increased meat consumption in Western diets has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, hunter-gatherer societies were relatively free of the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease. The flesh of wild game is typically about 2% to 4% fat by weight and contains relatively high levels of monounsaturated and [omega]-3 fats compared with fatty grain-produced domestic meats, which can contain 20% to 25% fat by weight, much of it in the form of saturated fat (Cordain 2002).
Wild game meat is not widely accessible today, and many people do not prefer the “game” taste, which is at least in part conferred by a higher [omega]-3 content and by aromatic oils from plant foods consumed by the herbivore. The modern-day alternative is to choose animal protein sources that are low in saturated fat, such as skinless poultry, fish, eggs (especially high-[omega]-3 varieties), and lean cuts of red meat with visible fat trimmed (Renaud, 2001).
This generalized the idea that it is not the amount of meat eaten but rather the composition of the meat and cooking methods that determine the health effects of this food. Accumulating scientific evidence indicates that meat consumption is not a risk for cardiovascular disease, but instead, the risk is secondary to high levels of saturated fat typically found in the meat of most modern domesticated animals. Diets high in lean protein can improve lipid profiles and overall health, especially if care is taken to trim any visible fat from the meats and to allow the fat to drain when cooking (Renaud, 2001).
Lean animal protein eaten at regular intervals (with each meal) improves satiety levels, increases dietary thermogenesis, improves insulin sensitivity, and thereby facilitates weight loss while providing many essential nutrients. However, cooking red meats at high temperatures produces charring and high levels of heterocyclic amines, which have been implicated in the risk of gastrointestinal and prostate cancers. Highly salted and preserved meats may also contain carcinogens. Lean, fresh meat cooked appropriately is a healthy and beneficial component of a varied diet, especially in conjunction with a high intake of vegetables and fruits (Cordain 2002).
Trans-Fatty Acids
Trans-fatty acids are found in small quantities in the fat tissues of all ruminant animals. However, in recent decades, the intake of trans-fatty acids has increased markedly because of their ubiquitous presence in commercially prepared foods (Renaud, 2001). Trans-fatty acids are synthesized when hydrogen is applied to edible oils under high pressure and temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
Hydrogenation of the edible oils is typically done in the prepared food industry to prolong shelf-life in commercial baked goods such as cookies, crackers, donuts, croissants, and processed snack foods. Trans-fatty acids are also found in shortenings, most margarine, and deep-fried foods, and recently in many brands of commercially available canola oils.67 Trans-fats lower HDL levels, increase LDL levels, and increase the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cancer (Cordain 2002).
Studies indicate that replacing trans-faulty acids (typically 2% of total daily calories in the American diet) with the same amount of natural unsaturated fatty acids would result in a large (50%) decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease.
Fibers
Based on a series of studies, a conclusion has been made that fibers really help a lot in the prevention and even in some form of treatments of cardiovascular diseases. Pairing niacin or psyllium fiber with a statin can enhance the regimen’s ability to reduce a patient’s cardiovascular risk factors, according to the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association (Zoler, 2005). Such information resulted in a more positive conclusion that treatment with 3.6 g/day soluble fiber will have the same incremental impact on lowering LDL cholesterol as did doubling a patient’s dosage of simvastatin from 10 mg/day to 20 mg/day. In addition, the psyllium fiber dosage used was very well tolerated. In fact, most physicians who treat high cholesterol levels have heard of the benefits of using dietary fiber. These results document the effect.
Fruits, Vegetables, and Anti-Oxidants
Several studies have suggested that there is a strong link between dietary phytochemical intake and a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. Dietary flavonoids have been inversely correlated with mortality from coronary artery disease, plasma total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Oxidized LDL has been proposed as an atherogenic factor in heart disease, promoting cholesterol ester accumulation and foam cell formation.
Dietary antioxidants from fruits and vegetables get incorporated into LDL and become oxidized themselves, thus preventing the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Phyto-chemicals also reduce platelet aggregation, modulate cholesterol synthesis and absorption, and reduce blood pressure. Systemic inflammation may also be a critical factor in cardiovascular disease. C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, may be a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than LDL cholesterol, and the anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemicals may play an important role in the health of the heart (Sanchez, et.al., 2000).
Beverages
Recent data suggest that generous water intake, 5 or more glasses daily, is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. This may be simply a function of the fact that water, when consumed frequently, displaces calorie-dense beverages such as sugared sodas from the diet. Or it may be that water provides adequate hydration and reduces blood viscosity better than other commonly ingested drinks. In any event, water is the beverage we are adapted to drink, and evidence suggests that it should remain the principal fluid we drink (Cordain 2002).
Sugared sodas are the predominant beverage consumed in America today. These are calorie-dense, nutritionally barren drinks that have contributed to the rise in obesity and insulin resistance. Generally, fruit juices are also high in sugar, and thus it is preferable to eat the whole fruit, which provides fiber and a lower glycemic load (Cordain 2002).
The Course of Action
With all facts and figures presented, it can be realized that in order to somewhat prevent today’s generation from the burden of cardiovascular diseases, it is the people’s responsibility to be conscious enough with the kinds of food to take and the kind of lifestyle to participate with.
It is strongly suggested to understand the importance of maintaining a good and proper diet coupled with a healthy lifestyle.
That is what all people must do in order to keep themselves away from various cardiovascular illnesses. And this is also what should be shared with other people, including friends and companions, in the hope that that they too shall pass this along so as to somehow help other people too.
Indeed maintaining proper diet and exercise will help a lot in preventing oneself from getting any cardiovascular illnesses. Nowadays, there is an increased prominence on healthy living. Living healthy is to achieve ideal body weight or figure through exercise and diet. Exercise and diet is an effective strategy for losing bodyweight than dieting alone. Most people think that dieting for a certain number of days would lose weight. However, losing weight for a short time would turn the body bingeing for more food.
Eating and exercise habits determine whether the body loses or gains weight. This uncovers how many calories take in and use up. To lose body weight, there is a need to control the number of calories through obtaining a balanced diet and increase the number of calories burned through exercise (Diet and Exercise, 1998). It is also recommended to consult the physician before starting any reduce-calorie diet and exercise program, especially for people who have a history of health problems such as cardiovascular disease or other unknown conditions, pregnant or lactating mothers (Diet and Exercise, 1998)
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Cordain L. The nutritional characteristics of a contemporary diet based upon Paleolithic food groups. J Am Neutraceut Assoc. 2002;5:15-24.
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Zoler, Mitchel “Niacin, psyllium fiber may augment statins’ risk reduction” Internal Medicine International Medical News Group. 2005.
Vegetarianism, with its pluses and minuses, is the most widespread alternative to the traditional food system. Millions of people in the world consider themselves vegetarians and make a choice in favor of products of vegetable origin, as well as certain components of the animal kingdom such as eggs, milk, etc. In this regard, one should not confuse vegetarianism with veganism; the first concept implies the rejection of meat and most animal organisms, while vegans do not eat absolutely any animal products and prefer exclusively plant foods.
Vegetarianism is widespread, and it is required to not only consider its features but also to determine whether such a diet has benefits and disadvantages. The analysis of the effectiveness of such a nutritional principle for the body can confirm, or, on the contrary, refute the theory about the advantages of vegetarianism and its beneficial effect on body functions.
Peculiarities of Vegetarian Diets
Almost all diets that are based on the principles of vegetarianism have similar rules of nutrition. Thus, for example, different products of animal origin are replaced by vegetable ones in the form of legumes, cabbage, nuts, etc. The liquid is used in sufficient quantity since the danger of dehydration can emerge; in this case, at least two liters of water should be consumed daily (Nordqvist, 2017).
Any sweet foods are usually excluded from the diet as they contain various impurities and oils, which are considered unacceptable in vegetarianism. As Wells (2015) remarks, the replacement of flour confectionery products is usually made up of dried fruits. On the whole, according to Wells (2015), virtually any vegetarian diet provides meals in the standard model, that is, four to five times a day, and does not imply any starvation as some people suppose.
Reasons for Refusing Meat
The roots of the so-called ideological vegetarianism, which implies the refusal to consume meat for moral reasons, lie in the matters of ecology or animal protection. The idea of stopping eating meat is also often received by people who have some health problems and are forced to abandon animal protein for practical reasons. Also, a vegetarian diet is typical for a number of Eastern religions, including world beliefs, and all their new adherents, even those living on the other side of the world, prefer to consume such food.
Based on a variety of reasons, it is necessary to consider the merits and demerits of such a principle of nutrition in detail and pay attention to some significant facts that are scientifically confirmed. Certain arguments can be cited in favor of vegetarianism and against it. Thus, it is essential to pay attention to all possible and evident pluses and minuses. According to the analysis, competent conclusions can be made about the benefits or harm of such diets.
Advantages of Vegetarian Diets
Today, vegetarian diets are very popular all over the world and are preferred by people from different countries. Many adherents of vegetarianism claim that this food system is the source of health and youth and helps to prevent and treat many diseases. Some organizations, fighting for animal rights, advocate the refusal to eat meat, fish, and poultry. If it is about the health benefits, it is possible to highlight several essential benefits that the use of products of vegetable origin gives.
Reducing the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
The set of products of any vegetarian diet contains a very small amount of fats with a high content of saturated fatty acids. As a result, such a type of nutrition minimizes the risk of gaining excess weight (Nordqvist, 2017). It, in its turn, minimizes the possibility of developing diseases associated with the cardiovascular system because excess fat mass often leads to heart problems, increased blood pressure, and other related factors. Nordqvist (2017) also notes that, based on the studies conducted in 2016, people who often consume red meat have a slightly higher risk of death from excess calories than those who completely abandoned such a product. Accordingly, vegetarianism has a beneficial effect on the general tone of the body and the cardiovascular system.
Prevention of Heart Attacks and Strokes
Vegetarian food normalizes the level of cholesterol, strengthens the immune system, and also supplies the body with a very important fiber. Earlier, it was supposed that the reduction of animal fats in the diet was insignificant but still led to a drop in the level of cholesterol. However, the situation is more optimistic than it seemed, and the more radical the rejection of meat and meat products is, the more benefits for heart and brain vessels it brings. According to Wells (2015), this type of nutrition contributes to normalizing the level of cholesterol in the blood, which has a positive effect on the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. Therefore, this advantage is undoubtedly very significant.
High Content of Antioxidants for Recovery from Injuries and Diseases
Vegetables and fruits are known to provide the body with vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the normal operation of all systems. Beans and seeds are good sources of protein. Vegetables consist of phytochemical combinations that prevent some chronic diseases. Green vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Also, plant products are suppliers of natural sugars, various useful enzymes, and microelements.
As Coleman (n.d.) notes, many useful substances that are found in green vegetables are almost the best regenerating elements that stimulate the recovery of the body after severe injuries or illnesses. Moreover, as Lamuye (2018) remarks, the increased content of antioxidants in a diet is natural prevention against intoxication of the body, for example, through the polluted air or an increased level of radiation background. Therefore, such a type of nutrition deserves particular attention.
Reducing the Risk of Cancer Development
Any diet with high-fat content, namely meat, increases the secretion of bile in the intestine, which leads to the emergence of cancer tumors. It is also such food that causes the risk of breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. As Heid (2016) claims, vegetarians have a lower level of secondary bile acids than non-vegetarians. Differences in the microflora of vegetarians’ intestines and meat-eaters are also significant. The bacterial flora of vegetarians has a much lesser ability to convert bile into a potential carcinogen. In general, scientists agree that the possibility of forming a cancerous tumor depends on nutrition by 50-70% (Heid, 2016).
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain substances that protect the body from dangerous neoplasms. Moreover, the human digestive tract is poorly adapted to digesting meat because this food is too heavy and high-calorie. Accordingly, vegetables and fruits are not only useful but also compulsory products that should be present in the diet to prevent cancer in various forms of its manifestation and protect the body from other severe diseases.
Shortcomings of Vegetarian Diets
Despite the advantages mentioned above, vegetarian diets can sometimes harm the body. Essential shortcomings can be caused by different reasons; although different people individually perceive certain diets, some principles of vegetarian nutrition are rather controversial. Therefore, these disadvantages should be considered in more detail.
Lack of Useful Vitamins and Minerals
Despite the fact that a vegetarian diet provides the body with all the necessary nutrients, some of them can be obtained in larger quantities only from meat or fish. The vegetarian principle of nutrition does not fully meet the human needs for protein, calcium, vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. For instance, the shortage of B12, as Fetters (2014) notes, is fraught with fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and depression.
Vitamin B12 is abundant in soy, grain products, as well as in food of animal origin. Meat is considered the basic source of this useful element. Milk and dairy products are generally rich in vitamin D. Meat, chicken, fish, and poultry contain large amounts of iron and zinc. Milk, cheese, yogurt are valuable sources of calcium. Meat contains protein, and it is also the source of essential amino acids that the body needs. The phosphorus that meat contains is digested more easily than that found in legumes and cereals. All these nutrients are not contained in large quantities in a vegetarian diet; therefore, health problems can arise in case of the lack of them.
Contraindications to Pregnant and Lactating Women
During pregnancy, the need for nutrients and useful elements increases. According to Illmatical (2016), pregnant women should constantly monitor whether they receive enough protein. Different fatty acids and other useful elements are the basis of the baby’s nutrition both in the womb and during breastfeeding. Therefore, a vegetarian diet is extremely undesirable in such cases as it can harm children.
Meat and Other Animal Products Are Delicious
Perhaps, the factor of pleasant and rich taste is not a significant argument in favor of an anti-vegetarian diet. Nevertheless, many lovers of meat and fish dishes confirm that they feel a surge of energy when they feel the smell of their favorite product and then taste it. According to Morris (2013), a huge number of people around the world confirm the fact that the presence of meat in the ration makes eating not only more diverse but also tasty, and many supporters of meat diets cannot give up eating animal products. Also, in addition to taste, consistency plays a significant role; the body gets used to receiving food in the form of animal fiber and eventually adapts so much that people experience not only a psychological but also a physiological need for meat. Therefore, such a factor as taste should also be considered.
Conclusion
Thus, a proper analysis of the effectiveness of vegetarian diets can confirm that it has both specific advantages and disadvantages, and various arguments for and against such a diet can be cited. The principles of healthy eating do not necessarily have to provide for a complete rejection of a particular diet. It is essential for the body to receive a certain amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It especially applies to pregnant women, as well as those who need recovery from injuries and illnesses. Vegetarian diets have a number of advantages, but it is important to keep a balance in the diet in order for the body not to feel the necessity of certain substances.
The Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) is a health promotion and a disease prevention agenda for the nation and was introduced in the year 2000. It aims at identifying the most significant preventable threats to the health of the citizens and to establish national goals to curb these threats at all cost. It provides a general idea that can be used by different people, communities, organizations as well as professionals and curriculum developers to come up with workable health programs to foster a healthy nation. The Healthy People 2010 vision is characterized by 467 science based goals which are further organized under 28 chapters.
Main body
It is in line with this HP 2010 vision that this paper develops a proposed program in recognition of the great need for health promotion and disease prevention. This paper will develop a program that will be piloted to the citizens living at Warren township of Illinois state. More so the government state department of health of Illinois has indicated in its recent study that health nutrition and exercise habits has in the recent past contributed to three of the leading causes of death; cancer, diabetes type 2 and heart diseases.
Despite the broad range of communities in need to be recognized, this paper will look and develop a proposed program which can be introduced at both private and public universities nation wide that specialize with diet and exercise that will help the people of Illinois to live a healthy life. After the implementation of this program, it will have immense benefits to the aged or rather the senior citizens of the nation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010).
The proposed program‘s main objectives is to establish a relevant education as we as a training program in diet and exercise science. The program aims at introducing a Bachelor and a Master program in Diet and Exercise in universities to offer students an advanced study in both theory and application of nutrition and exercise science. This proposed degree programs include concurrent enrollment in the Bachelor of Science and masters of Science degrees with thesis program with both BS and MS degrees awarded jointly upon completion of this program. According to this proposal, this program will serve as a good model for other interdisciplinary programs already in use in various universities in conjunction with ministry of health.
This proposal for this program is as a result of careful observation of health behaviors among the citizens of Illinois and in particular the aged living at Warren Township. This proposed program will collect its data from the grassroots; that is from the aged and the incoming university students. The method of collecting the data will mainly be through interviews as well as oral and written questionnaires. The analysis of the collected data shall be based on Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component.
The respondents in this proposed program will be the aged people from the Township of Warren. This proposal also will incorporate weighted logistic regression models especially in examining the factors contributing to overweight and obesity among the aged people residing at Warren Township. The proposed program shall conduct a door to door interview as well as visiting government institutions such as hospitals as well as health departments within this particular area. In addition to these, the proposal intends to further receive information from the non-governmental organizations as well as surveys both from the recent past and the most current ounces.
A data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that over 60% of the aged people from Warren Township are overweight and more than half of them are obese (Weddle, D 2000). Over the last decade, the numbers of overweight related illeness have almost doubled to twenty-five percent. Further, a study has shown that in every ten overweight adults, at least four are obese bringing the figure to be the heaviest state in the whole nation. It has been observed that more than half of the Warren aged persons do not engage in exercises or physical activities that are necessary to provide health benefits.
Both the past and the most recent data give a suggestion that obesity and other related diseases are not likely to end soon (Anderson, J 1998). This epidemic will lead to significant increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes type 2. There has been a projection by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics that the employment of nutritionist and dietitians will rise by twenty percent between the year 2000 and 2010 due to the increased preaching on health promotion and prevention through dietary eating habits.
Objectives of the Proposed Program
The program will instill in students the understanding of dimensions of issues facing professionals in the field of dietary and exercise science and most importantly identifying health related interactions between the nutritients and the exercise. The students should also be in a position to evaluate and synthesize dietary, synthesize as well as exercise programs for promoting and maintaining health they should be in apposition to conduct research, analyze data and interpret them and consequently apply the theoretical information to solve the practical issues.
If this proposed program will be implemented, the 80% of the graduates of this particular program will secure themselves placement in a supervised dietetics programs. Seventy five percent of the graduates will get employment in cardiovascular rehabilitation programs as well as health clubs, community health services, health fitness centers among other related programs by the first year of completion.
Description of the program
The proposed academic program is on Diet and Exercise under the Bachelor of Science and a Master in Science with a thesis program. The students will be awarded after successful completion of this program. However, this program is interdisciplinary in totality such that one will be said to have completed the program after completing both the BS and MS degree. According to this proposal, the BS and MS degree program will consist of 122-125 undergraduate credits and further 40 graduate credits. This proposed program is designed to be completed within a period of 6 academic years. However, this will be determined by the student’s selection on major units or research area of interest which the students pursue to complete the degree.
In line with this proposed program, the interested students in Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Diet and Exercise shall be enrolled and admitted as freshmen in either of the appropriate program areas; dietetics or health promotion and human performance in the department of health science, food and nutrition or food science and Human Nutrition.
Students will be admitted to this program based upon: GPA, GRE, successful completion of the required coursework, at least two recommendation letters and lastly a comprehensive application letter stating individual’s professional goals and research areas of interest. While the students perusing the bachelor degree for forty hours while those pursuing masters degree will be required to have a minimum of thirty hours in addition to a complete and comprehensive thesis.
References
Anderson, J (1998). The role of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention programs. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 98(2), 200-208.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010.
Weddle, D. (2000). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition, aging, and the continuum of care. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 100(5), 580-95.
Diet pills are also referred to as weight-loss drugs or anti-obesity drugs. They are agents that control body weight by altering basic human body processes either through regulation of metabolism or through regulation of the appetite. They are attributed to a number of side effects and hence they are discouraged and instead people who are having problems with their weights are advised to involve themselves with physical exercises. However, in some cases, they are prescribed in cases of obesity only if the benefits are by far much more than the risks involved (DiCyan, p. 58).
Diet pills operate through various mechanisms one of them being appetite suppression. The main drugs used for appetite suppression include drugs derived from catecholamine and amphetamine-based drugs. There is research going to see the viability of new drugs which are believed to block the cannabinoid receptors and they are being considered as the future diet pills. Another mechanism is the drugs raising the body’s metabolism activities. Another mechanism is the drugs interfering with the body absorption of certain foods which are believed to be the main cause of increased body weight. These drugs include Orlistat-based drugs which prevent the body from absorbing fats and they include Xenical and Alli. Anorectics have been used traditionally to suppress the appetite, but they can also be used as stimulants and some people have feigned their desire to fight weight gain only for them to use the drugs for stimulation (Silverman, p. 25).
Why the government should regulate the usage of diet pills
The government is responsible for ensuring that its citizens are safe from all fronts. It is in this respect that the government is expected to react and come up with policies directed to the production and usage of these drugs which are accompanied by numerous side effects and consequences. One of the reasons the government regulate the diet pills market is that the companies that make these drugs are often lying to the consumers about how marvelously they work when in the real sense they do not work but are only used to enrich the companies with the huge sales they record (Bosker, p. 212).
Companies that are in the field of diet pills do not tell the consumers of the side effects and consequences that the usage of these drugs may expose them to. Many of the consumers are ignorant and hence they just buy the drugs and start taking them just because the company put in a few good words and shied away from telling the truth. This is putting a lot of users in life-threatening situations as the drugs have numerous side effects that the government should compel the companies to inform the uses so that the users can either change the brand or alternatively change their lifestyles to healthier lifestyles (Silverman, p. 25).
It is a common thing for companies to try to ensure market status security. Just like the tobacco companies are known to add additives to tobacco that makes smokers addicted to cigarettes, the companies that make diet pills have also come up with a new strategy which is to add stimulants to the diet pills. These pills in the real sense make the consumers addicted and there have been cases where people have been using diet pills in a camouflage method of accessing stimulants while in the real sense they are not having any weight problems (Caldwell, p. 96).
The companies have also been proved to have been producing inconsistent and poor-quality products. This has further jeopardized the health of the consumers because these drugs which are produced under the covert name of supplements do not require many tests to be done to them by the government like the medication is subjected to. The side effects are not even checked and hence these are directly transferred to the consumers. There are a lot of health cases that have come up because of such things as diet pills which did not meet the standards of the government. The government is a task here to ensure that the diet pills are subjected to the tests that other medication products are subjected to. This is because human lives are at risk here (Rybacki, p. 325).
The companies have also taken up the habit of selling drugs that are supposed to help in weight loss only for the drugs not to work. This habit has led to the loss of consumers’ income as well as unscrupulously enriching the owners of these countries. Worse still is the companies selling stimulants under the name of diet pills and they have gained a lot of income after various users have become addicted to these drugs. The consumers find themselves in a fix because they cannot quit the drugs. This is raising concern and the government should move in to curb this behavior from these companies (Opus Communications, p. 158).
One of the major reasons the government needs to regulate this industry is the fact that continued use of diet pills is culminating in deaths from various causes which can all be rooted in diet pills. Apart from the fact that the drugs subject and expose their users to a contingency of terminal diseases and conditions like cancer and diabetes, other side effects are leading to the death of thousands of people. One of them is the fact that diet pills have subjected many people to the culture of abnormal eating behaviors which are causing a lot of deaths in recent times.
Why government should not regulate the use of diet pills
The people have the right to use any supplement they find are to their advantage and government regulating the use of diet pills may be seen by some as an infringement of the peoples’ rights. This is because many people feel that diet pills work and they are beneficial to them. This can explain the increased use of diet pills. What the government can do is to put policies in place which prohibit manufacturing companies from adding addictive additives and stimulants from the diet pills.
Many people’s lifestyles cannot allow them to engage in physical exercises and if the government comes up with policies regulating the usage of diet pills, then many people will have problems with their weight. Many people who work cannot find the time to indulge in physical exercises and hence they may require to use diet pills to control their weight. These people may face health problems and this may lead to even death and the government also has the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their citizens.
The United States already has a weight problem and a substantial percentage of the population have weight problems and are obese. The government should encourage everything that will help fight this health threat in the country. One of the things that might help is the use of diet pills and the government’s regulation may hinder their successes. The only thing government needs to do is to place policies that control the chemicals used in the production of the diet pills so as to reduce the risk involved in using them.
Side effects
There are many side effects related to the use of diet pills. The side effects may range from simple conditions and be elevated even to cause some terminal diseases like cancer and diabetes. Some of these drugs are related to exposing their users to life-threatening conditions and also severe side effects. These side effects are mostly related to their mechanism of operation in the human body and they may subject their users to such conditions as palpitations, faster heart rate, agitation, restlessness, closed-angle glaucoma, drug addiction, and even high blood pressure (Bosker, p. 211).
The drugs that control the body’s absorption of various food into the body system also have a number of side effects. Orlistat, which prevents the body from absorbing fats may cause the user to have some conditions which range from oily stools, flatulence, oily spotting bowel movements, and stomach pains (Silverman, p. 15).
Consequences of diet pills use
In today’s society, being thin is a fashionable thing and people are very cautious of their looks. This has made the use of diet pills skyrocket and people are using these drugs without considering the consequences that are involved in the use of diet pills. It is an important fact to note that the best way to control body weight is to eat healthy food and be involved in some form of exercise. The use of diet pills has been classified by some experts as a temporary solution to a problem that may take one’s lifetime to solve. The perfect body weight is only achievable if the individual adopts a healthier life and stick to the discipline that prevents weight gain and related complications that are related to body weight. When one is involved in healthy activities, he or she not only gains control over the bodyweight but he or she is also able to prevent some other diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases (DiCyan, p. 125).
The individuals who use diet pills are not rid of the problems forever and they may have to use the pills for the rest of their lives. This is because as soon as they stop using the drugs, their weight shoots up again and may even be more than it had been when they started using diet pills. This has been nicknamed the ‘yo-yo syndrome’ because the weight keeps going up and down like a yo-yo. The consequences of using diet pills include psychological dependency because of the feelings of failure that an individual feels until he resorts to using the pills. It may also result in muscle loss and perturbed concentration especially in various occupations where mental concentration is vital. There is also the addition of these pills especially the pills that also double up as stimulants (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, p. 122).
Another consequence of using drugs is the condition of eating disorders which has affected many people around the globe today. There are various symptoms of eating disorders which include bone mass reduction and mouth and teeth infections and changes that make the teeth erode and become brittle. Eating disorders are a serious condition and may even lead to death if it is not taken care of in good time and the proper medication given to the victim of such a condition (Silverman, p. 23).
There is also the concern of people struggling with some unrealistic small bodies which is a concern in modern times. Although obesity is a problem in developed and developing countries, there is the concern that people are struggling with such small and thin body figures that they look unhealthy and weak. In a real sense, these people are sometimes weak and unhealthy and they have an image of themselves that is unrealistic (Opus Communications, p. 158).
How the government can regulate the production and usage of diet pills
One way the government can regulate the production of diet pills is through establishing policies that will discourage the use of diet pills as an over-the-counter transaction, but only in cases where the drugs are seen as being more beneficial to a patient than risky. This can be achieved by restricting the retailers of drugs against selling diet pills to people who do not have prescriptions from hospitals and medical organizations. These will help reduce the wanton use of these drugs which bring a lot of physical and mental health complications (Griffith, p. 69).
The government should also come up with policies that dictate to the pharmaceutical companies that are involved in the production of these drugs to give all information to the consumers as well as other institutions concerned so that the consumers and the government institutions of the side effects so that the consumers can judge for themselves if it is worth to take the drugs and the government institutions concerned should also come up with their judgment whether the drug is worth to be in the market or whether it is hazardous to the consumers and hence should be banned from being sold in all outlets in the country (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 126).
The government should also ensure that the drugs produced by these companies are for their intended purposed and not other purposes like stimulation. Many companies have been known to increase the sales volume when they are involved in unscrupulous deals which give way to the rising of stimulants being passed as diet pills. Appropriate measures and policies should be introduced to deter these companies from doing such things as they act as a health hazard to the people. Heavy penalties should be directed to culprits and the possible closure and license cancellation of these companies should be effected upon the companies being found guilty of those behaviors (Caldwell, p. 96).
Conclusion
Diet pills have been seen by many experts as causing more problems than solutions to the people. However, this has escalated with the diet pills companies taking advantage of an excited population who are keen about their weight and how they look to increase their commercial advantages and they have played tricks by advertising about drugs that do not work, drugs rigged with stimulants, and drugs which have severe side effects and consequences (Bosker, p. 231).
The government is responsible for ensuring the safety of their citizens has the task of regulating the flow of these pills and they can do so by coming up with policies, legislations, and acts which discourage the use of diet pills and the abuse that is directed to the consumers by the producers. The consumers should also adopt lifestyles that are healthy and hence remove the need for them to be dependent on these pills as they cause a lot of harm than good.
The government should come up with policies that control the use of diet pills as they are both beneficial and harmful to the population who use them. Many people need diet pills to keep in shape since they cannot afford to live a healthy lifestyle that involves doing physical exercises. The government should come to a compromise to ensure the safe usage of diet pills which should be free of any addictive additives and stimulants.
Works cited
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The Pharmacist’s Guide to Your Medication. Maryland: ASHP Publications, 2000.
Bosker, Gideon. Pills That Work, Pills That Don’t: Demanding and Getting the Best and Safest Medications for You and Your Family. New York: Harmony Books, 1997.
Caldwell, Chip, and Charles Denham. Medication Safety and Cost Recovery: A Four Step Approach for Executives. Chicago: Health Administration Press, 2001.
DiCyan, Erwin, and Lawrence Hessman. Without Prescription: A Guide to the Selection and Use of Medicines You Can Get Over-The-Counter for Safe Self-Medication. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1972.
Griffith, H. Winter. Complete Guide to Prescription & Nonprescription Drugs. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 2002.
Opus Communications. First Do No Harm: A Practical Guide to Medication Safety and JCAHO Compliance. Massachusetts: Opus Communications, 1999.
Rybacki, James J. The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs 2003: Everything You Need to Know for Safe Drug Use. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Silverman, Harold M. The Pill Book. 10th Ed. New York, NY: Bantam Books. 2002.
The Paleo fad diet has been available for quite a while now. The actual idea that by switching to consume ‘paleolithic’ food one will get much healthier can be traced to as far back as 1975. Nevertheless, it was not up until the year 2002 (which saw the publishing of Loren Cordain’s book The Paleo Diet) that the concerned diet began to enjoy much popularity with people.
The diet’s philosophy is not too difficult to grasp, “Eat like our ancestors, and you could not only improve your health but also lose weight” (Orenstein, 2012, par. 1). Such a claim is backed by the assumption that processed food, eaten by the majority of people in just about any country, is much too high on fats and carbs – something that naturally results in increasing the likelihood for this food’s aficionados to end up gaining some excessive weight. The foods of a cave dweller, on the other hand, could not have had such a quality by definition, since there were no food-processing plants during the Paleolithic era. These foods include red meat, eggs, fish, fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, seeds/nuts, and olive oil. The diet’s presumed main benefits are as follows:
While on this specific diet, a person will never have to worry about getting enough lean proteins, which play an important role in ensuring the proper functioning of his or her immune system. One’s willingness to replenish his or her body with lean proteins daily is also commonly recognized as the foremost precondition for the concerned individual to be able to enjoy having strong muscles and bones.
Those on the Paleo diet are guaranteed to receive adequate intakes of different vitamins and minerals (contained in fruits and vegetables) as well, which in turn will reduce these people’s chances to succumb to several different illnesses, believed to be at least partially triggered by the factor of ‘nutritional deficiency’.
The Paleo diet does tolerate some moderate intakes of the so-called ‘healthy fats’ (such as Omega 13), on the part of its affiliates. This results in both – causing the discussed diet to enjoy the reputation of being ‘tasty’, on one hand, and showing that its provisions are continually updated to correlate with the latest discoveries in the field of nutriology, on the other. It is understood, of course, that this increases rather substantially the diet’s popular appeal.
According to the nutritionists who endorse the Paleo diet, it only takes a few weeks from the time when a particular person decides to become a ‘Paleo dieter’ for such his or her decision to begin paying off in several different ways. Among the most notable effects in this respect are commonly listed, “Improved blood lipids, weight loss, and reduced pain from autoimmunity” (Wolf, 2014, par. 7). Moreover, it has also been reported that the diet’s committed practitioners tend to exhibit a positive attitude towards life. Many nutritionists regard such reports as yet additional proof that by becoming affiliated with the Paleo diet, people can increase the efficiency of metabolic processes in their bodies.
Nevertheless, there also appear to be a few cons to the diet in question. Among the most notable of them can be named:
It usually proves very challenging for ordinary people to remain thoroughly observant of the diet’s provisions while taking practical advantage of it. The main reason for this is that the organically grown fruits and vegetables, which account for the bulk of food items on the menu of just about every ‘Paleo dieter’, are pricy. Moreover, they cannot be stored in the fridge for too long.
There is an apparent lack of empirically obtained evidence as to the diet’s ability to help the affected individuals, within the context of how they go about trying to lose weight.
There is still much uncertainty as to what may account for the diet’s long-term effects.
Many of the diet’s discursive provisions appear clearly unscientific, if not to say deliberately misleading. For example, those on this particular diet are expected to refrain from consuming sugar, unless it comes in some ‘natural form’. However, there is very little rationale for acting in such a manner, “There’s little evidence that choosing ‘natural’ sweeteners such as agave nectar, date sugar, honey or maple syrup, rather than sugar, has any health benefits” (“Should you eat”, 2015, p. 5). This naturally presupposes that the Paleo diet should primarily appeal to individuals with very little (if any) education.
Discussion/Recommendation
When it comes to assessing the effectiveness of a particular diet, one should pay little attention to other people’s personalized opinions of it, especially if these opinions appear strongly supportive (uncritical). Instead, it will make much more sense to look for the statistical data of relevance, regarding this diet. Once evaluated in conjunction with what different analytical studies have to say about it, the benefits of the Paleo diet will emerge exaggerated, to say the least. The reason for this is that the findings of most studies conducted to define the diet’s effects on the selected participants are best defined as mutually inconsistent and even contradictory.
For example, according to the study by Masharani et al. (2015), “Even short-term consumption of a Paleolithic-type diet improved glucose control and lipid profiles in people with type 2 diabetes compared with a conventional diet containing moderate salt intake, low-fat dairy, whole grains and legumes” (p. 944). However, according to the findings of the Australian study (conducted at Edith Cowan University), which aimed to identify the effects of the Paleo diet on women, “The Paleo diet causes more negative side effects than traditional diets… (The female participants who agreed to consume the Paleo diet for one month) reported higher rates of tiredness and difficulty sleeping” (“Paleo diet probed”, 2016, p. 21). The most plausible explanation for this is that the Paleo diet is not so much of a diet per se, but rather yet another method for capitalizing on the irrational desire of many gullible people in the West to lose weight without having to lead a physically active lifestyle. (Johnson, 2016). The striking dichotomy between the findings of both mentioned studies is most likely signifies that the Paleo diet has no spatially stable effects on people, whatsoever and that there must have been some unaccounted factors at play affecting the concerned outcomes – pure and simple.
In light of the above-stated, one can hardly be in the position to recommend the adoption of the Paleo diet by just about anyone, with the possible exception of those men and women who happened to be bored with themselves and who have enough money to consider throwing it in the air.
References
Johnson, A. (2016). Paleo diets and utopian dreams. Skeptic, 21, 10-18.
Masharani, U., Sherchan, P., Schloetter, M., Stratford, S., Xiao, A., Sebastian, A… Frassetto, L. (2015). Metabolic and physiologic effects from consuming a hunter-gatherer (paleolithic)-type diet in Type 2 diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 69(8), 944-948.
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to avoid use of diet pills.
Thesis: We all should avoid diet pills like a plague as there are too many side effects risking health of innocent people and causing them to suffer just because they did not know. Also, we should spread this information to everyone we know. You could be saving a life.
Attention Step
[Attention Getter] Every modern person’s big question is “what is it I could eat to get thinner?”
Medical workers widely promote healthy lifestyle, which includes having healthy weight. Diet pills seem to be preferred by the majority of weight watchers because they grant quick results easily. Yet, not many people know about the danger these pills present.
Side effects of diet pills are unknown and rarely mentioned because they would harm the reputation of the pills that need to be promoted. The manufacturers of diet pills prefer to emphasize the positive effect they bring.
Consumers come to pharmacies and get those magic pills that help to lose weight in the shortest time possible. Tossing these pills into their mouths weight watchers expect to live better and healthier lives. In reality, they give their bodies a chance to develop fatal conditions, such heart kidney and liver diseases.
[Credibility] I am sure some of us know of a similar case and will admit it is not worth it at all.
[Topic Justification] We have all been at that point when we felt we needed to cut down a little. The thought of a pill that makes it all go away appealed to us and some of us actually fell for it. Had we been better informed we would have escaped. Well, here is the chance.
[Preview] Today I would like to explain that even though taking diet pills seems like the easiest way out, in reality it turns out to be the most costly. Watching what and how you eat and exercising regularly is the simplest yet most ignored advice given to weightwatchers. In the end, they suffer for taking the easier way out. I am here to persuade you to always avoid that easier path.
Transition: you may think, “I have never been in such a situation and may never be”, but you are wrong. Weight gain may occur due to a number of reasons; childbirth, old age, diabetes. You may one day find yourself struggling with arthritis and imagine how much easier it would be on your knee-joints if you weighed a few pounds less.
Need Step
Modern society members are under the constant pressure of being skinny and petite promoted by the mass media.
Just because the trend is to be as skinny as possible does not mean we have to follow it. Self-image and self-love is supposed to come from within us. When we dislike our appearances, we become ready to do anything to change it.
Unfortunately, most of the people who are addicted to drugs stimulating weight loss did not even need them in the first place. They used to be healthy individuals who over criticized themselves.
This does not mean it is necessary for overweight people to take drugs. There are much better stipulated means of losing that weight rather than risking their lives.
Taking diet pills is highly dangerous because the way they work harms human body.
Diet pill usage leads to many health conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disease, congestive heart failure, urinary tract difficulties, stomach pains, glaucoma, insomnia, respiratory failure and even stroke.
Taking diet pills worsens chronic conditions a person may have. The “best” diet pills that grant the fastest results are based on psychotropic substances that destroy nervous system.
You can choose to ignore all this or actually take it up. Statistically, girls start worrying about their weight at the age of fourteen or fifteen. Basically, any female older than that is at risk of getting her health harmed by weight loss drugs.
A study performed among high-school aged females found that the use of diet pills especially has gone up almost double from 7.5 percent to 14 percent. Around 20 percent of 19-20 year olds surveyed were found to have used diet pills.
Over 50 percent of people with eating disorders tend to abuse diet pills (Diet Pills, par. 7).
Transition: now you have a clear picture of how diet pills affect our health and that of people we love. You also know that it is not a minor problem that can be ignored. It is affecting more and more people daily at a much higher rate.
Solution Step
[Evaluation of suggested solution] Healthy lifestyle may seem to be a hard work. Yet, this is the true way that guarantees permanent weight loss without negative effects on health.
[Statement of Solution] Exercise and healthy eating is the only healthy way out. Being strong-willed and principled is probably all you need to achieve success.
Eat smaller proportions of food many times a day. Ensure well balanced meals high in fiber to improve digestion.
A jog or an intense long walk is excellent for heart. Do warm up exercises before you begin training to avoid muscle damage. With time you will get more comfortable exercising and will actually learn to like it.
[Explanation of solution] The alternative method may not be as fast in effect in weight loss as diet pills but it is more effective in the long run and has no fatal side effects.
Statistically, women between the ages of 18 and 30 who walk at least 4 hours in a day are 44 percent more likely to lose weight than women of the same age who do not, even if they used diet pills (Diet Pillls, par. 3).
[Effectiveness of the solution] Weight loss through the regular exercising is more stable
Human body reacts to rapid weight loss by storing fat.
As soon a starved body gets a chance, it will re-gain all the lost weight by increasing the person’s appetite, so they are likely to become heavier than before the use of pills.
[Refutation] It is believed that some diet pills are harmless because they work though diuretic of depletive effects.
Diuretics cause loss of liquids, which harms kidneys, heart and causes muscle spasms and headaches.
Depletive drugs may cause stomach disorders, hemorrhoids and tie people up making them stay home all the time causing a lot of discomfort.
Transition: now that we have figured out that it is not that hard to exercise or watch what you eat, let us consider the benefits of exercising besides weight loss.
Visualization Step
[Positive Visualization] Imagine a world without diet pills, eating disorders, cigarettes and drugs – this is what healthy lifestyle for everyone means.
Conclusion Step
Healthy lifestyle benefits include; keeping fit, reducing your chances of heart failure, becoming a generally happier person, better skin, better sexual drive, etc.
[Closing Statement] Today I have given you the tools you need to reconsider your choices and make a pro-health choice.
Audience Analysis
My audience is made up of young people of around 20-30 years like in a higher education institution
Ethos Analysis
I implied to my audience to look at the facts objectively and tried to make them connect with the situation by telling it could be them or their loved ones next. This was not to scare them into agreeing with me but to get them to act upon the information I gave.
Stylistic Devices
Simile: Avoid diet pills like a plague.
Enthymemes
Side effects of diet pills are unknown and rarely mentioned because they would harm the reputation of the pills that need to be promoted.
Diet pills seem to be preferred by the majority of weight watchers because they grant quick results easily.
Motive Appeals
Fear: I scared the audience by telling them this could happen to anyone including them or their loved ones.
Self-pride: I appealed to the audience by making them imagine how great they will feel when they actually achieve their goal of losing weight.