Malnutrition; Consequence of Unhealthy Weight Loss

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With the wrong concept of diet that some of us practice it will likely result to some imbalances of nutrients and vitamins in our body. These imbalances may contribute from simple to the most unexpected complication of doing unhealthy weight loss management that could result to malnutrition. Malnutrition is the result of eating too little, or getting too little nourishing food, or when the availability of a nutrient is consistently inadequate or excessive, and suffers from starvation or obesity. The person who is on diet and consumes inadequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, and other essential vitamins and nutrients may lead to malnutrition and obesity. This usually happens to those individuals who limit themselves in consuming certain foods even though they don't have any form of medical conditions experienced that prohibits them from consuming a certain food.

* Carbohydrates, is a heat producing source that helps us provide energy to sustain the daily caloric demands. This is usually found in foods like cereals, rice, corn, and sweet potato. Carbohydrates when consumed inadequately may result in caloric deficiency known as Marasmus. Marasmus is a nutritional deficit disorder that is characterized by wasting away of the body’s stored fats and proteins with manifestations like weight loss, poor skin turgor, old- mans’ face appearance, decreased muscle tone, distended abdomen; and too much consumption of carbohydrates may contribute in weight gain and obesity of the individual does not perform any physical exertion that will help burn those calories gained from consuming carbohydrates.

* Protein are responsible for the growth and repair of the muscle tissues and helps in building up muscles, it also helps in maintaining fluid and acid base balance and it also provides us energy. It is usually found in foods like meat, fish, dairy products, nuts, legumes and egg. A deficit of protein can lead to a disease called Kwashiorkor which is characterized by lethargy or drowsiness, inadequate growth, loss of muscular tissues, weight gain due to edema; and too much consumption of protein may lead to damaged kidneys which could lead to renal impairment.

* Vitamin A also known as retinol and belongs to the fat- soluble vitamins, it helps us build good vision, improves skin integrity, and helps in the growth of hair, nails, bone, and glands; it also helps us in preventing infections. This is commonly found in dairy products, green leafy vegetables or yellow- orange vegetables and liver from animal source. A deficit of consuming at least 700 to 900 microgram may lead to manifest with loss of appetite and taste, night blindness, bumpy or scaly skin. And too much of Vitamin A may lead to the manifestations of dry lips, eyes, nasal mucosa and skin. It can also lead to gingivitis, ostealgia or bone pain, hair loss and liver disease.

* Vitamin D is also belongs to fat- soluble vitamins and it helps in calcium and phosphorus absorption and bone mineralization, this can be found on dairy products, fatty fish, eggs and yolks. A deficit in vitamin D may manifest softening of the bones, joint pain, and fatigue and muscle tetany. Too much vitamin D may lead to calcification of soft tissues or the tympanic membrane which can lead to deafness.

* Vitamin E is also a fat soluble vitamins and an anti- oxidant that helps prevent cell damage, and commonly found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and whole grains. A deficit of vitamin E may lead to problems of lipid (fat) absorption or transport abnormalities and problems with neural transmission. Too much vitamin E consumption may lead to pulmonary deterioration, thrombocytopenia or a decrease in amount of platelets in the blood which can lead to blood clotting problems.

* Vitamin B complex (Vitamin B1 or Thiamine, Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine, Vitamin B9 or Folic acid, Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamine and Panthothenic acid) are water soluble vitamins that is responsible for energy metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, metabolism of amino acids and protein. It also aids in the metabolism of our DNA and RNA, red blood cell maturation and folate metabolism. A deficit of vitamin B complex may manifest poor body coordination, sore or reddened tongue and mouth, glossitis or inflammation of the tongue, headache, anemia and convulsion. And too much of vitamin B- complex may lead to liver toxicity, impairment of the position and vibratory senses, dysrhythmias and nerve damage.

These are just some of the vitamins and minerals that when consumed too much or too low will have an effect to our body.