[Biology Class Notes] on Food Deficiency Pdf for EXAM

Food deficiency occurs when there is a lack of nutrition in a person’s diet for an extended period of time and is not taken care of immediately. Starvation, malnutrition, and overnutrition are some of the main food supply-related problems our world faces today. This is due to many factors, such as the increasing population, unequal distribution of food, and the growing of cash crops instead of food. Starvation occurs when a human or any other mammal does not receive enough energy in its diet. Therefore, to meet metabolic needs, the body starts to use stored fats and glycogen. When these are gone, the body starts to use available protein, and so, our muscles are utilized. Our heart is also a muscle, and thus, this may seriously weaken our heart. Malnutrition is a little different from starvation because malnutrition results from dietary imbalance. It may be due to an excess intake of nutrients over some time or deficiency. 

Deficiency diseases occur due to the absence of vitamins and minerals in our bodies. We now also know that a lack of dietary fibre results in constipation. Overnutrition occurs when a person consumes more energy than he/she can use up, so he/she becomes fat. Such a person is said to be obese and that is one of the most common problems in developed countries. One of the main problems is the overconsumption of saturated fats and cholesterol, which increases coronary heart disease. This is dangerous because it has been estimated that on average, every 500 grams of fatty tissue requires a kilometer-long supply of blood vessels to cover all the extra fat cells. To conclude, dietary imbalance may be due to economic constraints, poor eating habits, and unwillingness to follow nutritional guidelines. 

Nutritional Deficiency Disorders

• Deficiency in various nutrients causes respective nutritional deficiencies, for example, carbohydrate deficiency diseases include ketosis, which causes the excessive breakdown of protein, leading to fatigue, decreased energy level, and reduced fibre intake by the body. This deficiency of carbohydrates leads to symptoms like a dry mouth, headache, and fruity-smelling breath. 

• Similarly, a disease caused by deficiency of protein is Kwashiorkor, which is a severe form of malnutrition; this disease caused by lack of protein causes an osmotic imbalance in the gastrointestinal system that causes swelling of the gut and retention of water, called edema.

• Fat deficiency diseases are related to essential fatty acid deficiency and it occurs rarely and is seen in infants’ diets. Its signs include alopecia, dermatitis, intellectual disability, and thrombocytopenia.