Study Guide: Diet as a Risk for Chronic Disease

What are human chronic diseases? What distinguishes a chronic disease from an

infectious disease?

Chronic disease is a long lasting health conditions

• slow progression

• long duration

• degeneration of organs

• due to lifestyle

What is a risk factor? What is the difference between a modifiable and a non-

modifiable risk factor?

factors that increase the probability of developing a disease, but not CAUSE it

• modifiable: can be changed

  • smoking

  • high blood pressure/cholesterol

  • inactivity

• nonmodifiable: can’t be changed

  • age

  • sex

  • genes

Cardiovascular disease

disease of the heart/blood vessels 

• Main type of CVD is atherosclerosis: plaque in arteries, limits blood flow 

Atherosclerosis

• Fatty deposits form in artery walls, then it hardens and forms plaque 

• Plaque oxidizes and narrows the vessel opening 

• Contributors are: high saturated fat intake, inflammation, high LDL, hypertension, diabetes 

What happens after atherosclerosis

• Plaques rupture, and the body responds by forming a clot (can break off or close entire artery) 

• Lack of blood flow = lack of oxygen 

• heart: heart attack

• brain: stroke

How to reduce risk

• identify risk factors

  • knowing your family history

  • getting checked up

  • evaluating your lfestyle

• reducing/eliminating modifiable risk factors

  • less/no smoking/drinking

  • increase physical activity

  • better diet

  • manage stress

Cholesterol Risk

• At risk 

  • 200+ total cholesterol 

  • HDL cholesterol: <40 for male, <50 for women 

  • LDL cholesterol: 100+ 

• Healthy: 

  • Total cholesterol: <200 

  • HDL: 40-80 for male, 50-80 for female 

  • LDL cholesterol: <100 (the lower the better) 

 

Nutritional strategies to reduce risk of CVD and hypertension

• limited processed foods, saturated fat, sodium, and alcohol

• eat a wide variety of fruits and vegs

• eat legumes, fish, low-fat/fat-free dairy

• lean cuts of meat

What is the TLC eating pattern

formed by NIH to decrease blood cholesterol through diet and lifestyle changes

What does the TLC eating pattern suggest?

• Promotes high fiber and plant sterols 

• Limits saturated fat + sodium 

TLC eating pattern: changes these factors will reduce your LDL by…

• <7% saturated fat: 8-20%

• <200 mg dietary cholesterol: 3-5%

• lose 10 lbs if overweight: 5-8%

• add 5-10 g soluble fiber a day: 3-5%

• add 2 g plant sterols a day: 5-15%