Diet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Diet - Essay Example Humans are omnivorous in nature, but both psychological and social factors have a significant influence on the dietary habits of individuals or a community, some of which may be useful and others harmful. For the purpose of this paper, ethnic/cultural and educational factors will be examined under the social angle, while memory and attitude factors will be discussed under the psychological aspect. Such factors strongly influence the deliberate choice of food intake. Indeed, diet has its detrimental effects on health when not undertaken properly and as per guidance from professionals. Individuals wishing to undergo a diet will be restricting themselves in what they drink and eat aiming at losing weight or becoming healthier (Conner & Norman 2005). Although healthy dieting averts complications like diabetes, the partakers may also fall victim to various negative outcomes like the weakening of the immune system. Such negative results deter the body’s ability to manage the changes dieting causes and how well it adapts to new behaviors. The understanding of the variables encountered in the body enables dieting people to decide their failure or success. For example, calories are essential in providing energy and supporting bodily functions. However, if consumed excessively during a diet, they not only increase the body’s fat content, but body weight as well. A deficit leads to lack of energy and constant fatigue. Carbohydrates are also a source of energy, but failure to distinguish between healthy sources is detrimental. Rather than getting the supply from sugary foods like sweets and soft drinks, they should be obtained in a more readily available form like corn, rice and cereals. Over indulging and under indulging in certain nutrients leads to either dangerous and unhealthy weight gain or loss. Life threatening conditions then set in, such as binge eating, bulimia and anorexia. In anorexia, a dieter is tormented by the fear of getting overweight, and in bulimia, a dieter usually ends up in recurring cycles of purging and binge eating. The dieter abuses diuretics and laxatives in a bid to acquire desired looks. Below is an examination of social and psychological factors and their influence on health. Cultural/ethnic Factors Growing up in distinctive traditions, cultural values and beliefs determines diet choices and how food is prepared among diverse communities in diverse sections of the world, with each ethnic group having their own culturally based food habits (Shepherd 1999). Therefore, different cultures, which are further embedded in ethnicity and religion, produce varied health risks in different people. As an example, African Americans are prone to diabetes and heart diseases mainly due to their cuisine. On the other hand, although they cannot be completely written off, such diseases are less prevalent among the East Asian cultures as their cuisine is mainly composed of vegetables, seafood and low-fat foods (Rubin 2004). This is because some diets are already a part of some nations’ culture. Migrating populations may, however, be an exception, as seen among South Asian women who moved to Scotland and recorded an increased intake of fats that was associated with a higher body mass index and more incidences of heart disease. In the same fashion, food is a key aspect of the Mexican