You are What you Eat The impact of nutrition on sustainable health and well-being Globethics, 4-6 June 2018

Transcription

1 Globethics.net International Managing and Teaching Ethics in Higher Education: Policies, Skills and Resources You are What you Eat The impact of nutrition on sustainable health and well-being Globethics, 4-6 June 2018 Shima SAZEGARI Pharmacist & Nutritionist CEO of Swiss Alternative Medicine (SAM)

2 You are what you eat Anthelme Brillat-Savarin 1826 lawyer, politician & gastronome "Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es. Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach 1863 philosopher "Der Mensch ist, was er ißt. Victor Lindlahr, 1920, Catabolic diets nutritionist Ninety per cent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat. 4/6/18 2

3 How balanced nutritional strategy impact our health? A few examples Nutrition & behavior Malnutrition is associated with poor social and intellectual skills in children. Studies in rats indicate that very early malnutrition can result in permanent brain damage, with fewer and smaller neurons present in the brain. Also, it is known that various vitamin and mineral deficiencies result in alterations in the nervous system. For example, in severe niacin deficiency, people are known to become demented, delirious, and manic. Zinc deficiency results in lethargy, apathy, decreased sexual drive, and decreased taste perception for various flavors. Ref: Winick,M.MalnutritionandBrainDevelopment.OxfordUniversityPress,London,1976. Determinants of the Availability of Nutrients to the Brain (R. J. Wurtman and J. J. Wurtman, Eds.), Raven Press, New York, 1977, pp /6/18 3

4 How balanced nutritional strategy impact our health? A few examples Nutrition & cardio-vascular disease To prevent cardiovascular disease or to avoid additional risk while treatment with chemical drugs, the public has been told to eat less fat and more carbohydrate, yet Eskimos are known to have a very low incidence of atherosclerosis and they eat virtually only fat and protein. Based on the diet of the Eskimos, we could predict that they would experience a high rate of cardiovascular disease; however, the is very low in this population because of important consumption of fatty fishes that contain a good deal of omega-3 fatty acids. 4/6/18 4

5 How balanced nutritional strategy impact our health? A few examples Nutrition & Cancer It has been estimated by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund that percent of all cancers can be prevented by appropriate diets, physical activity, and maintenance of appropriate body weight. WCRF/AICR. Food, nutrition and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective: World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research [PubMed] The role of microbial flora in immunity is now very clear; to maintain the right balance between symbiotic bacteria and pathological bacteria which is influenced by what we eat on a daily bases. Investigators have suggested that a deficiency in fiber intake is involved in colonic cancer, diabetes, varicose veins, and a variety of gastrointestinal diseases as well as cardiovascular disease. 4/6/18 5

6 Nutrition Is The Key It is evident that nutrition is one of the most essential parameters in preserving a healthy state of life, according to WHO, 60% of related factors to individual health and quality of life are correlated to lifestyle. Ziglio E, Currie C, Rasmussen VB. (2004). The WHO cross-national study of health behavior in school aged children from 35 countries: findings from J School Health, 74 (6): [PubMed] But we encounter problems in maintaining a balanced nutritional lifestyle. Why? 4/6/18 6

7 Ethics & Nutrition Genetically Modified Foods Allergenicity : the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic organisms to non-allergic organisms Gene transfer : Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract if antibiotic resistance genes Outcrossing : The migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild 4/6/18 7

8 Ethics & Nutrition Food industry: incitation for using processed food The major dietary risks are low consumption of fruit, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and whole grains and elevated intakes of sodium, fat, processed meats, and trans fats. 4/6/18 8

9 Ethics & Nutrition Agriculture & Trade policy: Dumping According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, maize, rice and wheat together make up 51% of the world s calorie intake. Billions of people rely on these crops for survival. Export dumping has been cited as one of the most damaging of all current distortions in world trade practices. Export dumping refers to the practice of selling products at prices lower than their cost of production. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, st Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN, 55404, USA. 4/6/18 9

10 Higher Education & Nutrition Lack of adequate educational model by including other interfaces such as functional medicine and nutrition theories in medical schools and other institutions. Rare integrative medicine approach which includes preventive & holistic education based on clinical trials that respect each individual needs. Lack of salutogenic s educational approach to health, that respects human dimension and individuality that support human health and well-being by prevention rather than focusing on treating disease. 4/6/18 10

11 Solution SAM Offers An Approach Education A fundamental transformation in basics and experiences at academic levels and higher education Bringing awareness and nutritional guidelines to maintain a dynamic balance for sustainable health Comprehensive Health approach Promoting Prevention & Well-being across all healthcare institutions & professionals through an alternative medicine and integrative approach Cultural Adaptation Building local capacity to ensure embedding of sustainable health principles and guidelines for cultural and environmental autonomy & independency SAM s MODEL TO HEALTHCARE Swiss Alternative Medicine (SAM),2017 4/6/18 11

12 In Conclusion The rate of deep and severe pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune disease as well as cognitive disorders in children is alarming. Orthodox medicine is not the only solution to health although promoted by pharmaceuticals and health insurances, because of an evident inability of this method to reduce the number of diseases. A comprehensive integrative health approach is the key. There is an urgency in embedding health prevention by nutrition as an essential ethical and sustainable act to restore the balance of our well-being and our environment. At this point, it is crucial to rethink the design of our educational model of medical programs by including other health complementary approach and to create diverse educational centers as to emphasize on primary health prevention education at all levels specially for our children at their early age. 4/6/18 12