Food related health conditions

Question 1

Which part of food causes allergies?

Answer 1

Proteins found in food.

Question 2

Name 2 types of proteins that can be allergens.

Answer 2

Complete proteins and incomplete proteins.

Question 3

What are complete proteins?

Answer 3

Protein from animals and soya beans like meat, fish, poultry, organ meat, dairy products, eggs and shellfish.

Question 4

What are incomplete proteins?

Answer 4

Vegetable proteins like legumes, nuts and seeds.

Question 5

How do you prevent allergic symptoms?

Answer 5

Avoid eating the food that causes allergic symptoms.

Question 6

What is obesity?

Answer 6

A condition in which excess fat accumulates in the body.

Question 7

What are the consequences of obesity?

Answer 7

Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, stroke, high lipid levels.

Question 8

How do you manage obesity?

Answer 8

Healthy eating habits with less kilojoules, less fat, more fruit and vegetables, white meat over red, and more fibre. Eat meals at the correct mealtimes and increase exercise.

Question 9

What is anorexia nervosa?

Answer 9

It is a psychological eating disorder that occurs mostly in adolescent girls. They have an obsession with being skinny and will do anything to avoid eating. They literally starve themselves to death.

Question 10

What are the consequences of anorexia nervosa?

Answer 10

Influences hormones and stunts growth; stops menstruation; influences fertility.

Question 11

What are the symptoms of anorexia nervosa?

Answer 11

Intense fear of gaining weight; over exercising; refusal to eat

Question 12

How do you manage anorexia nervosa?

Answer 12

Psychotherapy and a balanced, high kilojoule diet as well as taking daily zinc tablets.

Question 13

What is bulimia?

Answer 13

An eating disorder where a person eats large amounts of food and then vomits (binging and purging) using laxatives or drugs.

Question 14

What are the consequences of bulimia?

Answer 14

Malnutrition; vitamin and mineral deficiencies; dehydration; erosion of the teeth; damage of the vocal cords.

Question 15

How do you manage bulimia?

Answer 15

Psychotherapy is required.

Question 16

List the 5 most common food allergens.

Answer 16

Eggs; shellfish; soy; nuts and gluten

Question 17

What are the symptoms of a triggered food allergy?

Answer 17

Skin rashes; nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea; stomach cramps; difficulty in breathing; swelling in the mouth and throat; decreased blood pressure; shock and even death.

Question 18

What is a milk allergy?

Answer 18

Immune system reacts against the protein in milk. Immune system fails to recognise milk proteins as harmless.

Question 19

What are the symptoms of a milk allergy?

Answer 19

Itchy rashes; eczema; swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat, stomach cramps, diarrhoea; vomiting; runny nose; sneezing; watering or itchy eyes; coughing and shortness of breath.

Question 20

How do you manage a milk allergy?

Answer 20

Avoid dairy products.

Question 21

What is gluten intolerance?

Answer 21

It is an immune mediated response to the ingestion of gluten that damages the small intestine. Nutrients pass so quickly through the small intestine that they are not absorbed.

Question 22

What are the symptoms of gluten intolerance?

Answer 22

Diarrhoea; bloating; weight loss; chronic fatigue; weakness; anaemia; muscle cramps; projectile vomiting; dental enamel defects.

Question 23

How do you manage gluten intolerance?

Answer 23

Gluten free diet; eliminate wheat and other grain products from you diet. Eat rice, mealies, soy beans, tapioca, potatoes, butter beans, sorghum, buckwheat, arrowroot or nut flour instead.

Question 24

What is lactose intolerance?

Answer 24

Inability to digest large amounts of lactose which results from a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced in the small intestine.

Question 25

What does lactase do?

Answer 25

It breaks down milk sugar into glucose that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Question 26

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

Answer 26

Diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, halitosis.

Question 27

How do you manage lactose intolerance?

Answer 27

Eat a lactose free diet which means avoiding dairy products altogether. Taking lactase pills will supply the lactase your small intestine isn’t producing.