Introduction
In the human body, some essential nutrients are required to maintain good health. These nutrients that are responsible for energy are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Besides these, there are also micronutrients such as copper, chromium, iodine, zinc, fluoride, manganese, molybdenum, sulphur, selenium. These nutrients keep the body in good shape, keep the immunity in balance and maintain overall good health.
Dietary fibres, minerals and vitamins such as iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and chloride are other essential supplements. The lack of certain nutrients can cause disorders such as scurvy, rickets, anaemia, beriberi, goitre and xerophthalmia.
Digestive Disorders
The human digestive system consists of the alimentary canals and other glands which are the gastrointestinal tract (GI Tract), the liver, pancreas and gallbladder. When we consume food or water that is contaminated or infected by other people, disorders and diseases can be caused in our digestive systems.
The disorders of the digestive system are chronic diarrhoea, chronic constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disorders (GERD), gastroenteritis, ulcers, haemorrhoids and many others.
Nutritional Disorders
Nutritional disorders or diseases are caused due to nutrient deficiencies, which means lack of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D or any other vital nutrients. There can be other causes also such as an excessive diet causing obesity or eating disorders.
Some of the chronic diseases are cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Diseases can also be hereditary.
The following diseases occur due to lack of nutrients in the body:
- Scurvy: The lack of vitamin C or ascorbic acid causes scurvy. This deficiency leads to the common symptoms of anaemia, gum disease, weakness and skin problems. Since humans cannot synthesise vitamin C, we need to obtain it from external sources like fruits and vegetables
- Xerophthalmia: Xerophthalmia is a condition that occurs in the eye, which causes night blindness and does serious damage to the cornea, the outer layer of the eye. The inability to see in dim light is called night blindness. This condition can occur due to the lack of vitamin A. Vitamin A is also known as retinol. Since we cannot produce it on our own, we need to make sure that it is present in our diet. The foods that are rich in vitamin A are fish liver, meat, eggs and dairy products
- Rickets: The lack of vitamin D causes rickets. Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones in children due to deficiency of vitamin D. Some symptoms of rickets are delayed body growth, bowed legs, muscle weakness and delayed motor skills. One can obtain vitamin D from sunlight and foods such as fish, milk and egg yolks
- Anaemia: Anaemia is a condition that occurs because of a lack of red blood cells in the body or if the haemoglobin count is lower than normal. If you have less red blood cells, there will be a decreased amount of blood that is needed to carry oxygen to the body. The most common cause of anaemia is deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin A
- Beriberi: Beriberi is caused by the deficiency of thiamin, also known as vitamin B. The main symptoms of this disorder are mental confusion, fatigue, cardiovascular problems and nausea or vomiting. The foods which are rich in vitamin B are pork, grains, dried beans and sunflower seeds
Digestive Disorders
The digestive system is made up of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and gastrointestinal tract, which helps the body to digest food. Digestion is the process of breakdown of large food molecules into small water soluble molecules and nutrients which are important for the body to gain energy.
Some digestive disorders are:
- Jaundice: It is a condition where the skin and the white part of the eyes called sclera and mucous membranes turn yellow. This colour change is caused by high levels of bilirubin, a bile pigment. The common symptoms of jaundice are abdominal pain, chills, fever and change in skin colour
- Vomiting: Vomiting can occur by consuming an excessive amount of food. It can also be caused by drinking alcohol. Some of the conditions that can lead to vomiting include headaches, food poisoning, indigestion and motion sickness
- Diarrhoea: It is caused by a virus that infects our bowel movements. It causes loose and watery stools. The most common cause of diarrhoea is contaminated food or water due to parasites which may be present in it. The symptoms of this condition are loss of bowel control and pain in the abdomen. It can be cured by drinking enough water and fruit juices and by eating fruits and vegetables
- Haemorrhoids: Haemorrhoids, also called as piles, is a condition that causes swollen veins in the rectum region. They can form inside the rectum which are called internal haemorrhoids or outside of the rectum which are called external haemorrhoids. The symptoms of this condition are bleeding and swelling around or inside the anus region
- GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the region between the oesophagus and the stomach. The region between them is the ring muscles called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The symptoms are chest pain and heartburn
- Indigestion: It is a condition that brings discomfort in our upper abdomen. It is also known as dyspepsia or upset stomach. In this condition, we normally get a feeling of fullness after we eat. The symptoms are abdominal pain and bloating
- Constipation: Constipation is a condition where we might have fewer than two or three bowel movements in a week. Due to constipation, stools become hard, lumpy or get dry and are difficult to pass. It can cause great pain to the anal region. By getting enough fibres in our diet, it is possible to prevent constipation
- Gastroenteritis: This condition is also called stomach flu. It can occur through contact with an infected person or by having contaminated food and water. It is a normal disorder for adults which can be cured with the right medication but can be deadly for infants and children. The symptoms that mainly occur in this condition are abdominal pain, nausea, muscle pain and fever
Conclusion
The lack of nutritional energy causes many nutritional disorders. While some of them last for a short period, some of them are chronic and are long-lasting disorders. These disorders can be prevented at the earliest by receiving a proper diet and the essential nutrient supplements.
Digestive disorders occur due to bacterial or viral infections. These infections are also caused by parasites like hookworm or tapeworm.