Promoting Good Health: The Role Of Fruits And Vegetables Among Adults, An Essay.

Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

Question:

Discuss about the Promotion of good health and prevention of chronic diseases by improving the intake of fruits and vegetables young among adults between 30 and 40 years.

Promoting good health and prevention of chronic diseases by improving the intake of fruits and vegetables young among adults between 30 and 40 years.

The intake of a diet that is high in vegetables and fruits promotes good health and reduces chronic illneses including coronary heart disease and stroke among consumers (Nguyen, et al., 2016). Fruits and vegetables have numerous health benefits to consumers, and that is why their intake is highly recommended. For example, in the year 2013, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that people should consume at least 400g of fruits on a daily basis (Wang, et al., 2014). The recommendation was with the aim of preventing diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. However, despite the above health benefits, the findings of numerous research studies show that a considerably high percentage of people are suffering from poor health and chronic diseases due to inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables in their diets (Rasmussen, 2006).

An estimated 10 million across all ages and gender are victims of poor health and chronic diseases due to poor intake of fruits and vegetables in their diets. This is attributed to poor health habits throughout the various stages of life despite the calls by WHO and FAO for increased intake of diets consisting of fruits and vegetables. It is evident that vegetables such as broccoli have strong protective effects from chronic diseases and cancer; however, a low percentage of people still record minimal intake of vegetables. This attribute makes this particular topic researchable and measurable because a researcher can examine the factors contributing to the less intake of fruits and vegetables. Besides, there are both independent (intake of fruits and vegetables) and dependent (poor health and chronic diseases) variables that can be measured.

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Search terms used

Fruits
Vegetables

Young adults

Unhealthy habits

Broccoli

Those who consume less fruits and vegetables are more susceptible to poor health and chronic diseases. According to a research study that was carried out by Donaldson (2004), it was established that a high intake of vegetables ad fruits, the lesser the likelihood of dying at any stage from chronic diseases. Consuming at least eight different portions of fruits and vegetables reduces the chances of dying from cardiovascular related diseases and cancer by 31% and 25% in that order (Kunnumakkara, 2015). Recent research studies show that vegetables are more effective in reducing chronic diseases than fruits. Fresh vegetables have a more protective effect from heart diseases and various types of cancer, and they reduce mortality rate by up to 16% per portion (Lim, et al., 2012). Fresh fruits also have strong protective effect; however, their effect are smaller as compared to that of fresh vegetables.

Inadequate Intake and Chronic Diseases

Diets lacking vegetables and fruits are among the five major factors leading to chronic diseases across the globe (Usfar & Fahmida, 2011). Current research studies show that the consumption of diets highly composed of vegetables and fruits have significant protective effects on stroke and coronary heart disease. The consumption of three to four portions of fruits and vegetables combined or separately is inversely related to lower risks of all-cause mortality. In his research, Lippmann et al. (2014), stated that stated that the relationship between the intake of fruits and vegetables and mortality rate of cancer is not very clear. He added that the mortality rates from the different types of cancer can be specific to the different types of fruits and vegetables that are not consumed by the victims. Therefore, he concluded that since cancer and other heart diseases are the major causes of death in both developed and less developed countries, it is necessary that research studies should be carried out on the effects of specific types of fruits and vegetables on specific types of cancer or chronic illnesses.

Cohort studies have also researched the association between the prevalence of chronic diseases, cancer, and the rate of mortality in comparison with the intake of cooked verses raw vegetables. In the majority of these studies, the findings reveal that raw vegetables have a stronger protective effect than cooked vegetables (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2012). In-depth research studies show that the cooking process has a modifying effect on the nutritional characteristics of vegetable, and this reduces their protective effects. Investigations regarding nutrition cohort and cancer shows a greater inverse relationship were recorded between the consumption of raw vegetables as compared to the consumption of cooked vegetables (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2010). Conversely, the intake of raw and processed vegetables and fruits do not have a significant relationship to the prevalence of heart diseases, cancer or stroke. Research studies involving cohort studies and case-control reveal that the intake of raw vegetables have a strong protective measure on particular types of cancer as compared to that of cooked vegetables.

The intake of diets consisting of raw fruits and vegetables reduces blood pressure and ensures low cholesterol levels. This is because they have a complex network of nutrients that enables them to clean the blood vessels while boosting the immune system (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2012). Besides, fruits and vegetables are high in anti-oxidants that minimizes the damage to DNA, hence, reducing cancer.

Impact of Fruits and Vegetables on Chronic Diseases and Cancer

The majority of research studies shows that diets inclusive of fruits and vegetables have high impact in reducing the mortality rate by preventing chronic diseases and cancer. However, other researcher studies provide opposing views, for example, every portion of fruit juice and frozen fruits contributes to a 17% increase of death from a chronic diseases (Usfar & Fahmida, 2011). This is because canned fruit juices and frozen fruits have high levels of sugar that contributes to overweight and obesity, which are major factors of heart diseases.

As already alluded in the literature review, a lot of research have been done how the intake of diets high in fruits and vegetables improves health and prevent heart diseases and different types of cancer. However, limited research have examined how the intake of specific types of vegetables or fruits help in preventing specific types of heart diseases or cancer. Besides, most research studies have focused on the relationship between the intake of fruits like apple and pears and vegetables like kales and carrots while neglecting cruciferous vegetables. In this regard, there is a huge gap in knowledge on how cruciferous vegetable like broccoli and cauliflower help in preventing different types of cancer (Ferruzza, et al., 2016). While cruciferous vegetables have a wide variety of nutritional values that provide integrated nourishment, there is limited information on how they help fight cancer. In this regard, new research studies should be carried out on this topic.

What is the impact of the consumption of Broccoli on liver cancer among young adults aged between 30 and 40 years?

In order to fill this gap in knowledge, it is important to know the following.

1. The current consumption habit of broccoli among the target group.
2. The source of data, for example, doctors, nutritionists and, patients of cancer; their consumption habit of broccoli.
3. The sampling method and sample population to be used, for example, the simple random sampling or stratified sampling method.
4. The most appropriate method of preparation of broccoli, for example, whether it should cooked thoroughly, steamed or consumed raw.
5. Nutritional profile of broccoli, for example, the vitamins and phytonutrients.
6. Medical values of broccoli, for example, how it helps in the prevention of liver cancer.
7. The appropriate amount/proportion to be consumed per day. FAO and WHO have recommended the intake of 500 to 600g a day fruits and vegetables, therefore, to fill the gap in knowledge, it is necessary to know the recommended portion of broccoli for daily consumption.

Aims

1. To improve the rate of consumption of Broccoli
2. To identify how broccoli can help prevent liver cancer

Benefits

1. To reduce the prevalence of liver cancer among young adults
2. To identify the nutritional benefits of broccoli
3. To reduce the mortality rate from hear diseases and other types of cancer
4. To reduce the cost of treating liver cancer

References

Donaldson, M. S. (2004). Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer   diet. Nutrition Journal, 3(19), 1-21. Doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-3-19

Ferruzza, H., Natella, F., Ranaldi, G., Murgia, C., Rossi, C., & Trošt, K. et al. (2016).  Nutraceutical Improvement Increases the Protective Activity of Broccoli Sprout Juice      in a Human Intestinal Cell Model of Gut Inflammation. Pharmaceuticals, 9(48), doi:   10.3390/ph9030048.

Kunnumakkara, A. J. (2015). Anticancer Properties of Fruits and Vegetables: A Scientific Review. Danvers, MA: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Lim, S. S., Vos, T., Flaxman, A. D., Danaei, G., Shibuya, K., Adair-Rohani, H., et al. (2012).   A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk    factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the  Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 380, 2224–2260.

Lippmann, D., Lehmann, C., Florian, S., Barknowitz, G., Haack, M., & Mewis, I., et al.    (2014). Glucosinolates from pak choi and broccoli induce enzymes and inhibit        inflammation and colon cancer differently. Food Funct., 5, 1073–1081.

Nguyen, B., Bauman, A., Gale, J., Banks, E., Kritharides, L., & Ding, D. (2016). Fruit and           vegetable consumption and all-cause mortality: evidence from a large Australian        cohort study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,    13(9), 1-10.

Peltzer, K. & Pengpid, S. (2010). Fruits and vegetables consumption and associated factors  among in school adolescents in seven African countries. Int. J. Public Health, 55,      669–678.

Peltzer, K. & Pengpid, S. (2012). Fruits and Vegetables Consumption and Associated Factors among In-School Adolescents in Five Southeast Asian Countries. Int. J. Environ. Res.   Public Health, 9, 3575-3587. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph9103575.

Rasmussen, M. (2006). Determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among children and       adolescents: a review of the literature. Part I: quantitative studies. International     Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3(22), 1-19.  Doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-22

Usfar, A.A. & Fahmida, U. (2011). Do Indonesians follow its Dietary Guidelines? Evidence related to food consumption, healthy lifestyle, and nutritional status within the period        2000–2010. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr., 20, 484–494.

Wang, X., Ouyang, Y., Liu, J., Zhu, M., Zhao, G., & Bao, W. et al. (2014). Fruit and        vegetable consumption and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and    cancer: systematic review and dose–response meta-    analysis of prospective cohort  studies. BMJ, 349:g4490. Doi: 10.1136/bmj.g4490.