Food And Human Health

Naru disease was a serious problem in Rajasthan and its causative agent is Dracunculus medinensis worm and is caused due to drinking polluted water.

Normal blood pressure of a healthy body is 120/80. The upper part is systolic pressure and lower is diastolic pressure.

Tobacco belongs to the Solanaceae family, it also includes tomato, potato, egg plant, bell peppers etc.

Ethanol/ethyl alcohol i.e. C₂H₅OH is the main constituent of alcohol.

Deficiency of iodine causes goitre where there is a swelling in the neck region. Iodine is an essential component required for synthesis of thyroxine hormone.

the Scientific name of the opium plant is Papaversomniferum. Opium is obtained from the milk of raw fruit of the plant- Papaver somniferum.

Consumption of alcohol continuously causes liver cirrhosis disease where protein and carbohydrate synthesis is affected.

Nicotine is a harmful element found in tobacco. The leaves of the tobacco plant contain 1-8% nicotine.

The pathogen of naru disease is Dracunculus medinensis worm. This worm lays eggs in water so this disease spread by using this polluted water.

Sphygmomanometer is the instrument used to measure blood pressure.

A balanced diet is one which includes food items which supply all the necessary items. It contains all the principal constituents like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals of food in proper quantity.

A balanced diet is required for good health and makes our body strong and increases our immune system, makes memory sharp and healthy.

Malnutrition is the condition in which a person suffers due to a lack or deficiency of one or more essential elements of food. There is various malnutrition like protein, vitamins and minerals malnutrition. This malnutrition occurs due to lack of vitamins, minerals or proteins in our diet.

Due to protein deficiency, two types of diseases occurs- Kwashiorkor and Marasmus. In kwashiorkor disease children stomach grows, irritability, loss in appetite, change in skin and hair color occurs, growth stops, weight decreases etc. In marasmus disease along with protein if there is insufficient energy in diet children lost a lot of muscle mass, the body becomes weak, eyes go inside and sometimes blindness also occurs.

Some properties of drinking water should be-

a. No visible particles and plants in water.

b. Water should be microbe-free.

c. pH should be balanced.

d. Dissolved oxygen amount in water should be proper.

Some adverse effects of polluted water are we will suffer from many water-borne diseases, many infections like cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery will spread. Viral diseases like hepatitis, jaundice, flu can also be spread. Polluted water is the main cause of several diseases.

Milk of opium contains nearly 30 types of alkaloids like morphine, codeine, nicotine, somniferous, papavarin etc. Some of them are used to make analgesic drugs and some are very poisonous.

Some harms of tobacco are-

a. Regular chewing of tobacco can cause cancer of mouth, tongue, throat, lungs etc.

b. Nicotine present in tobacco thickens the arteries and results in increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

c. Development of embryo slows down on consumption of tobacco by pregnant ladies.

d. Smoke released from tobacco smoking reaches other people and causes diseases in them.

e. Carbon monoxide present in smoke of tobacco reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

It is a chronic debilitating disease of oral cavity characterized by inflammation and progressive fibrosis of submucosal tissues. Its symptoms are the inability to open mouth, scarring, pain and burning sensation of consuming spicy foods, increased salivation, change in gustatory sensation etc. Jaw lock problems occur due to hardening of muscles of jaws. It is caused due to consumption of gutkha, tobacco, and other intoxicant substances.

Kwashiorkor is a severe protein deficiency disease mainly affecting young children. In kwashiorkor disease children stomach grows, irritability, loss of appetite, change in skin and hair colour occurs, growth stops, weight decreases etc. Children should be given protein-rich diet to avoid this disease.

We should create awareness programme about harmful effects of opium. We should discourage people to use them or to offer them on occasions. We should tell people about various ill effects of consuming opium, how it affects health, decrease immune power, causes death etc. Regular consumption makes it habituated thus destroying lives. By teaching about ill-effects of opium we can prevent the custom of opium offering in society.

Diseases caused by vitamin malnutrition are-

a. Vitamin A causes night blindness where a person is not able to see at night.

b. Thiamine deficiency causes beriberi where heart beat decreases, muscles and nerves become weak.

c. Riboflavin deficiency causes Ariboflavinosis where mouth side, lip skin ruptures, memory loss.

d. Niacin deficiency causes Pellagra where scalp occurs on tongue and skin.

e. Deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy whose symptoms are gingival bleeding, skin rashes.

f. Deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets where bones of arms, legs get tender, bumps occurs in rib cage.

Cold drinks are adulterated with linden, DDT, Malathion etc. which cause cancer, reproductive dysfunction, low immune response, acidity, indigestion etc. Phosphoric acid in it affects teeth, boric acid, benzoyl acid in it causes acidity, indigestion, irritability, irritation in stomach. Lead in it damage nerves, brain, kidney, liver, muscles. Caffeine creates sleeplessness, headache problems.

There is an increased rate of adulteration of food items nowadays which causes serious health issues. Milk, ghee, oil, spices, tea etc. are adultered. Life-saving drugs are also sometimes adulterated. Cold drinks are adulterated with linden, DDT, Malathion etc. which cause cancer, reproductive dysfunction, low immune response, acidity, indigestion etc. Milk is adulterated with urea, soda, colour. Mustard oil is adulterated with palm oil and Argemone. Artificial green colour in saunf, red brick powder in chilli powder, sulphur in coriander, corn flour in besan etc. are found. Fake mawa, khesari dal in chana dal and arhar dal are found. The government should take strict rules to stop adulteration.

Deficiency of minerals causes many abnormalities. Deficiency of iron causes anemia i.e. deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood. Deficiency of iodine causes goitre disease due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland, calcium deficiency weakens our bones and also makes them brittle, causes poor skeletal growth. Deficiency of sodium and potassium causes electrolyte imbalance in our body, nerve impulses do not get transmitted. Deficiency of sodium causes muscle cramps.