Essay: Therapeutic Foods For Health Issues.

Therapeutic impact of foods in each case

Therapeutic foods refer to the foods that are designed for the specific, nutritional, and therapeutic purpose. This can be given as the form of dietary supplement (Andrade & Radhakrishnan, 2017). Some examples of the therapeutic foods for the particular problems are tomatoes for prostate cancer, kiwi fruits for constipation and haemorrhoids, walnut for dementia, and ginger for ulcerative colitis. The assignment focuses on the therapeutic impact of foods in each case. After that, the rationale of using the foods is discussed. The assignment provides brief idea of the practical consumption and cautions or contraindication. Various traditional knowledge, principles, and theories are used.

Lycopene is the key carotenoid that is found in tomatoes (content.iospress.com. 2017). On the other hand, tomatoes are effective to reduce the risks of the prostate cancer as well as heart disease (Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention. 2017). The vegetables of the cruciferae family have therapeutic impact on the diseases. The tomato juice and tomato paste helps to provide the lycopene to the body that helps the body to   build the immunization power to reduce the risks of the prostate cancer.

The kiwi fruits have the mild laxative effect on the constipation. This is used as the dietary supplement as it contains the large amount of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and folate. Kiwi fruits help in the digestion. Therefore, it is beneficial for the elderly people who are suffering from constipation. (Giovannucci, 2017) The problems of Marion can be resolved if the problem of the constipation can be reduced. However, it should not be taken in high amount as it may have side effects.

Walnut is rich in antioxidants that help to reduce the risks of the dementia. Parents of Rob suffered from the dementia therefore; there is a high risk of dementia in Rob as dementia can be genetic disorder. Walnut contains the neuroprotective compounds that include the vitamin E, omega-3 fat, antioxidants, and folate (Holzapfel et al., 2017). These compounds help to develop the brain health. Thus, it reduces the risks of the dementia.

Ginger has the potential effect on the ulcerative colitis. It helps in the pain management as it has the properties of pain management. It reduces the risk of the colon cancer and the ulcerative colitis. It contains potassium, magnesium, folate, zinc, phosphorous and zinc (in less amount) that helps to reduce the inflammation and pain.

Table 1: Rationale of using these foods

(Source: apjcn.nhri.org.tw 2017)

People need to 2 ¼ cups of tomato in every week that can help to reduce the potential risks of prostate cancer. It contains large amount of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for health. It helps to manage the weight gaining that is another reason of the prostate cancer (Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention. 2017). Excess intake of the tomatoes can be harmful for the health. It may cause the food intolerance, acid reflux, and may cause the formation of kidney stones (europepmc.org 2007). Intake of tomatoes with the olive oil is beneficial for health. As the kiwi fruit contains 100 mg of vitamin C and dietary fiber therefore, daily one kiwi fruit can be consumed that will help in the wellbeing of the constipation. However, the excess intake has side effects on health that are it may develop the allergic reaction. Moreover, rashes and swelling, dermatitis may occur.

Rationale of using these foods

Walnut can be consumed daily as it contains fatty acid, vitamins, and folate, which is very good for the brain health. It helps to develop the poor blood- vessels function. Walnut is healthy but should be taken in a limited amount otherwise side effects can occur like increase of BMI and changes in weight, allergy, diarrhea, nausea, rashes and swellings, lip cancer and asthma attacks. Ginger has also the health concerns (Kavanaugh, Trumbo & Ellwood, 2017). People can consume four grams of ginger per day, which is beneficial for health. It works as the medication as it contains various effective vitamins and minerals. However, it can cause harm to the body if it is taken more than four gms per day. It can cause diarrhea, blood clotting, burning sensation in the stomach, heartburn, and stomach discomfort.

Tomato leaves may be poisonous for health if it is taken in huge amount. It can cause of vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and mouth and throat irritation. Sometimes it can cause of the death in particular cases. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the extra dosage of tomato intake. Kiwi fruits are dangerous for health when it is taken in huge amount. It may cause allergy in people as well as may create the bleeding disorders. Kiwi may decrease the blood clotting property as a result the bleeding occurs after the surgery. Hence, people need to be aware to intake the kiwi fruits. In usual amount, the English walnut is helpful for the health. However, it has allergic properties. It contains a particular type of chemical that causes the lip cancer. side effects can occur like increase of BMI and changes in weight, allergy, diarrhea, nausea, rashes and swellings, lip cancer and asthma attacks. Therefore, people need to be careful before eating the English walnut in large amount as it can cause of serious and harmful adverse effects on the health (www.apjcn.org 2002). Another foodstuff that is helpful for health is ginger. However, it is necessary it is necessary to take it in limited amount. It can cause of the diarrhea, blood clotting, burning sensation in the stomach, heartburn, and stomach discomfort (Holzapfel et al., 2017). Moreover, it can cause irritation on skin and may cause serious skin problems.

Conclusion:

From the above discussion, it can be said that therapeutic foods can help to overcome some of the health issues. Those are tomatoes for prostate cancer, kiwi fruits for constipation and haemorrhoids, walnut for dementia, and ginger for ulcerative colitis. Tomato contains the lycopene that is the key carotenoid. It is effective to reduce the risks of the prostate cancer.  Kiwi fruits help in the digestion. Hence, it is effective for the treatment of the constipation. Walnut is rich in antioxidants that help to reduce the risks of the dementia. Ginger helps in the pain management as it has the properties of pain management. It reduces the risk of the colon cancer and the ulcerative colitis.

References

Andrade, C., & Radhakrishnan, R. (2017). The prevention and treatment of cognitive decline and dementia: An overview of recent research on experimental treatments. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5545;year=2009;volume=51;issue=1;spage=12;epage=25;aulast=Andrade

 apjcn.nhri.org.tw (2017). Increases in plasma lycopene concentration after consumption of tomatoes cooked with olive oil. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/14/2/131.pdf

content.iospress.com (2017). Content.iospress.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://content.iospress.com/download/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad140675?id=journal-of-alzheimers-disease%2Fjad140675

Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention. (2017). Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention.Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11280514_Cruciferous_Vegetables_and_Cancer_Prevention

europepmc.org (2007). Increasing dietary fiber intake in terms of kiwifruit improves constipation in Chinese patients. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC4611199&blobtype=pdf

Giovannucci, E. (2017). A Prospective Study of Tomato Products, Lycopene, and Prostate Cancer Risk. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/94/5/391/2520089/A-Prospective-Study-of-Tomato-Products-Lycopene

Holzapfel, N., Holzapfel, B., Champ, S., Feldthusen, J., Clements, J., & Hutmacher, D. (2017). The Potential Role of Lycopene for the Prevention and Therapy of Prostate Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from

Kavanaugh, C., Trumbo, P., & Ellwood, K. (2017). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Evidence-Based Review for Qualified Health Claims: Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Cancer. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/99/14/1074/937795/The-U-S-Food-and-Drug-Administration-s-Evidence

www.apjcn.org (2002). Kiwifruit promotes laxation in the elderly. Retrieved 5 June 2017, from https://www.apjcn.org/update%5Cpdf%5C2002%5C2%5C164-168%5C164.pdf