
Public health, a cross disciplinary field, influenced by multifactor where nutrition is a major factor. At present century, the knowledge in nutrition has been unfolded at molecular level, focused that nutrition regulates various dimension of public health. The book consists of ten chapters where information-education-communication has been highlighted for spreading of knowledge in nutrition. Lifestyle cum food and work style that influence the public health has been focused clearly along with strategies adopted for developing health friendly lifestyle to upgrade public health. Drug-nutrient interaction, a new domain in public health which modulate drug efficacy along with nutrient modification.
This is the applied aspect of nutrition in public health upliftment. At present century, nutrient-gene interaction is a major domain that control genomics and epigenetics. A separate chapter has been included here to clear the up-to date idea about gene silencing and gene imprinting by nutrients. Entrepreneurship in general with special emphasis on food science and dietetics field has been reflected in this book. It will give the direction for opening self-employment opportunity, an important aspect of public economy and health status upgradation. Counselling, an indisputable process for public health modulation also highlighted here. Public health is also modulated by food fortification, nutraceuticals which have been incorporated in the separate chapter.
Public health, physical activity, performance and endurance are closely linked. Impact of nutrition on sports event, physical performance have been included in separate chapter. 21 st century is considered as century of oxidative stress. Through food habit modification, oxidative stress-induced health disorders can be combated, included in a separate chapter. Attempts have been made to present the material in understandable and clear forms with use of different diagrams, flow charts, illustration and tables.
Public health is a cross disciplinary field and status of public health is influenced by multifactor where nutrition is a major factor. At present century, the knowledge in nutrition has been unfolded at molecular level which focus that various dimension of public health is regulated by nutrition. The target readers of this book are the undergraduate, postgraduate and research students who have nutrition as major part of their study. Nursing and medical students would be benefitted from this book. It also caters the knowledge about impact of nutrition on public health who need to have knowledge in nutrition. The book consists of ten chapters where information-education-communication has been highlighted for spreading of knowledge in nutrition for public health upgradation. Lifestyle cum food style and work style that influence the public health has been focused clearly along with strategy adopted for developing health friendly lifestyle to upgrade public health. Drug-nutrient interaction is a new domain in public health which modulate drug efficacy along with nutrient modification. This is the applied aspect of nutrition in public health upliftment. At present century, nutrient- gene interaction is a major domain that control genomics and epigenetics. A separate chapter has been included here to clear the up-to date idea about gene silencing and gene imprinting by nutrients. Entrepreneurship in general with special emphasis in the field of food science and dietetics has been reflected in this book through a separate chapter. It will give the direction for opening self employment opportunity, an important aspect of public economy and health status upgradation. Counselling, an indisputable process for public health modulation also highlighted here. Public health is also modulated by food fortification, nutraceuticals which have been incorporated in the separate chapter. Public health, physical activity, performance and endurance are closely linked. Impact of nutrition on sports event, physical performance has been included in separate chapter. 21st century is considered as century of oxidative stress. It also interfere the public health. Through food habit modification, oxidative stress induced health disorders can be combated. This has been included in a separate chapter. Attempts have been made to present the material in understandable and clear forms with use of different diagrams, flow charts, illustration and tables
1.1. Introduction The terms ‘counselling’ and ‘health promotion’ complement each other when it becomes a matter of an individual’s health. Health promotion is a part of behavioural social science that aims to change the systemic strategies adopted by the individual or group or by the mass community for the betterment of their health which can be achieved by talk therapy known as counselling. In the 21st century, from childhood to adulthood, all people are in a ‘rat race’ for their careers and necessities, which is one of the main reasons for stress generation. Not only that, chemical substances consumed by different food ingredients as food additives, preservatives, etc. but also induce oxidative stress and damage the functional activity of cells, tissues, organs, and systems. This ‘stress’ is a major culprit not only for the deterioration of physical health but also psychological health. Such stress imposition in daily life impairs normal physiological functions, skills, performance, and productivity. Unhealthy food, life, and work styles are also linked to the onset of pathophysiological complications that counselling and health promotion are required to overcome. Besides this, for sportsmen, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and growing children, nutritional counselling and health promotion are indisputable. For disease prevention and early recovery from disease, dietary counselling plays an immense role. 1.2. Counselling Counselling is an intermittent, interpersonal interviewing process where the counsellor gives advice or suggestions to the client but never gives any direction. Counsellors assist the client in thinking, analysing, and acting to improve their insight power. The counsellor focuses on both the positive and negative sides of a particular event and allows the client to think and rethink its acceptability and unacceptability.
2.1. Introduction The present century is the century of oxidative stress (OS) that linked to several life-threatening disorders which predominantly affect public health as well as their nutritional status. Unhealthy lifestyle and eating pattern which is major concern for OS. The biological literature first used the phrase “oxidative stress (OS)” in 1970. OS can be defined as a state of imbalance condition between the high level of pro-oxidants and the low level of antioxidant scavenging capacity in the body. The normal oxidative process that occurs in cells is crucial for the existence of life and favours the death of a cell. Free radicals, which are unstable, can form when molecular oxygen breaks up into pairs. This unstable radical has a high level of reactivity and produces reactive molecular species like reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). To resist the OS and to maintain the redox balance, cells have an inbuilt antioxidant defence capacity, comprising of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPOD) etc. But some pathogenic or environmental conditions may overpower this antioxidant defence system, allowing a portion of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) to bypass degradation and create much more reactive radicals. Increased ROS and RNS affect redox balance and damage DNA, proteins, amino acids, and fats, causing alteration of structures as well as action of cells and tissues. This will ultimately produce several pathogenetic elements associated with clinical situations and leads to the development of human aging and numerous diseases. Several dietary components such as whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidative vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals or phytoceuticals that shields the human body from the harmful oxidative injury by scavenging or destruction of free radicals and also by upregulation of endogenous antioxidant defence system. Thereby long-term and sustainable OS remedies can be performed.
3.1. Introduction Sports nutrition is one of the areas of nutrition that closely coordinates with human anatomy research and the science of sports. The application of nutrition science to a practical daily eating plan intended to optimise the performance of athletes in competitive events, speed up the healing and reconstruction process following intense physical activity, and supply the energy for physical activity is known as sports nutrition. It also seeks to promote wellness and general health. Nutrition is strongly connected to fitness, specifically whilst sports activities are involved. It is necessary to recognize the physiology of the workout on the way to recognizing the specific metabolic pathways that coexist in the course of sports activities practice (O’Donoghue, 2014). Three things are necessary for athletic success: genetic endowments, level of training, and nutrition. It is impossible to change one’s genetic makeup. The most efficient method for enhancing athletic performance is specialized exercise training, and any kind of workout regimen must include adequate nutrition. The dietary requirements of athletes and workout aficionados are different from those of physically inactive people due to variations in their calorie needs as well as macro- and micro- nutrient needs. To achieve peak athletic performance, it is crucial to investigate and evaluate the dietary requirements of athletes prior to, during, and following the contest (Cotugnae et al., 2005). Exercises that improve one’s heart health involve swimming, jogging, and climbing. Other exercises that improve one’s flexibility, power, and endurance of muscles involve stretching and hard training with resistance. For example, if someone decides to choose to lose excess fat and to do so, they would design a regular exercise routine that incorporates all of the above-mentioned elements, as well as choosing more nutritious foods in the diet to meet the higher demands to endeavors. Athletic performance requires sports-related abilities. These neuromotor skills, such as balancing, pace, power, durability, stamina, agility, and execution, are particular to sports.
4.1. Introduction The food is the main factor known to affect the health of an individual. By interference in the protein synthesis, function and metabolites and alteration in genome expression, the healthy condition must be altered to diseased condition. Side by side we can say that the dietary component directly or indirectly modulates the molecular fingerprint and understanding of which is dealt with nutrigenomics. So, by modulation of a particular gene for a specific disease by nutrition, we can prevent the specific disease and promote the health of a population. Consuming fruits and vegetables on a regular basis has been linked to better health outcomes and diminution of several chronic or life style linked diseases. Concept of Nutritional Genomics After completion of human genome sequencing, the unique term “Nutritional genomics” tends to replace the old term “Nutrient-gene interaction”. It has been stated that so many polymorphism can influence protein structure and function. There are several regulatory sites where nutrients can impact the flow of genetic information. The two components of the nutritional genomics field are nutrigenomics, which studies how dietary components interact with the genome to regulate changes in proteins and other metabolism, and nutrigenetics, which determines how dietary components affect genetic variations. (Farhud et al., 2010). Nutrients are as environmental influences can interact with genetic material. It is commonly known that DNA metabolism and repair require a range of dietary elements that serve as cofactors or substrates in metabolic pathways. However, little is known about how cofactors and/or micronutrient excess or deficiency affect the accuracy of DNA replication and repair (Caroline and Fenech, 2008). The response to a particular nutrient, which is determined by the individual genotype, must also be taken into consideration, even though the nutrients can influence the development of a particular phenotypic.
5.1. Introduction The people of every nation would be healthier if they adopted healthier lifestyles. A Good nutrition, daily exercise and proper sleep are the base of healthy living. A healthy lifestyle denoted by fit, energetic and at minimize possibility for disease. According to WHO, Healthy living is a way of living that helps you enjoy more aspects of your life. It is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill or dying early. Health is not just about avoiding a disease or illness. 5.2. Concept of Health According to WHO, Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely absence of disease or infirmity. The holistic approach of health is the individual’s health and lifestyle considering all four factors, physical, intellectual, emotional and social. It concern about the whole body and mind not just a part of the body and the symptoms of the problem. It will look at the lifestyle of the individual such as nutritional deficiencies, reason of stress and why there is a lack of good health and wellbeing. A holistic approach will engage the individual taking responsibility for their health and well-being. They do this by educating themselves and being active in maintaining and improving their health and well-being. 5.2.1. Positive Health Positive Health is the scientific study of health assets. A “health asset” is a factor that construct stronger health, over and above risk factors for disease. Positive Health works to find which specific health assets produce longer, healthy life, and which health assets lower disease risk and health care costs. The aim is to strive for optimal health —beyond the mere absence of illness.
6.1. Introduction The best way to combat malnutrition globally among women and children have changed over the last few years keeping pace with the advancement of technology. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become very important for solving the contemporary nutrition related issues because they provide a vast array of new communication capabilities. In addition to meeting society’s actual needs for ongoing health and nutrition care, ICTs are crucial for facilitating interactive, personalized nutrition communication. People can interact or communicate with others in different countries in real-time through instant messaging, video conferencing or voice over IP (internet protocol). Through social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and others, people from all over the world can regularly converse and stay in touch. In the context of health communication, ICT is referred to as Interactive Health Communication (IHC), which is the exchange of health information and advice and support regarding health-related matters between a consumer, patient, caregiver, or professional using an electronic device or communication technology. Nutrition treatments are less expensive when face-to-face interaction is facilitated by electronic means. These are complementary factors that encourage nutrition communication in an information-age healthcare system, especially when combined with consumers’ growing desire to take charge of their own health. Customers can advantageously use information technology in this system to connect with health professionals and support groups, obtain absolutely relevant information, and take charge of their own health. The “global village,” which has been made possible by modern information and communication technology, allows people to interact with each other virtually as if they were neighbours. Because of this, ICT is frequently examined in relation to the ways that contemporary communication technologies influence society.
7.1. Introduction Entrepreneurs serve as the catalysts for the introduction of innovative technologies and systems that ultimately lead to societal advancements. These innovations are linked to enhanced lifestyles, progressive thinking, morale, and bravery, along with an improved standard of living. National and global changes are greatly influenced by such kinds of social change. Joseph Schumpeter, an Australian famous economist, is referred to as the father of entrepreneurship. Dhirubhai Ambani was the most enterprising Indian entrepreneur. Jamsetji Tata set a bar for entrepreneurship development in India with the foundation of the Tata group. The father of entrepreneurship in India is Ratan Tata. In public health, nutrition-based entrepreneurship and self-employment are also another emerging topic nowadays. Several entrepreneurs are found in this field mostly due to the challenge of building a business and craving to control their destiny. Not only that, financial independence, personal satisfaction, relief from the frustration of working for someone else, and the opportunity to create the desired lifestyle. Nutrition entrepreneurship offers numerous business-related resources and provides services for social well-being. As for example, the transformation of raw food ingredients into consumable food products, entrepreneurship plays a key role in diversifying and commercializing agricultural products. It adds value of food, prolongs its shelf life, promotes the export of processed items, generates employment opportunities, boosts farmers’ earnings, and makes a significant contribution to the general development of rural areas. Health entrepreneurs like nutritionists, dietitians, physicians, and health counsellors run their practice and make it available for the client to listen to their problems and solve their problems through mental support, motivation, diet therapy, medication, and so on. As a result, the health burdens due to noncommunicable and communicable diseases are reduced.
8.1. Introduction Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, and nutraceuticals that do not provide energy and do not raise any sensation of hunger known as “hidden hunger” or “insensible hunger”. Hidden hunger that causes micronutrient deficiency affects 2 billion people globally. Due to the deficiency of micronutrients, different diseases are noted among public health professionals that reflect poor community nutrition. To overcome these deficiency-related diseases, one of the important approaches is food fortification. Food fortification is a public health policy to reduce the number of individuals, who suffer from micronutrient deficiencies within a population. Common examples include iodine-tagged common salt, vitamin A-containing oil, and iron-enriched rice all of which are examples of food fortification. In the agricultural field, food fortification (FF) and/or food enrichment (FE) is the most efficient strategy to overcome various micronutrient deficiencies by the addition of essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to enhance the nutritional value of cultivated crops. According to World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), “Food fortification” is defined as “the practice of deliberately increasing the content of an essential micronutrient, i.e., vitamins and minerals (including trace elements) in a food irrespective of whether the nutrients were originally in the food before processing or not, so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and to provide a public health benefit with minimum risk to health” (Pant and Chinwan, 2014). “Fortificant” refers to the incorporation of substances in the food to provide micronutrients. “Micronutrients” refers to the important dietary components, including vitamins and minerals, that are required in very small amounts but are engaged in very critical roles in various body functions and disease prevention.
9.1. Introduction The three basic need for human survival are- food, clothing and shelter. The requirement of food comes first. Human are omnivorous. They eat mainly natural foods. Before 5000 years ago, cereals were the main food for all civilization and then the complexity of life began to make appearing with the advent of industrialization, flourishing of industry and commerce. Unpolished grains were utilised at first, but in contemporary civilisation, we have begun to prepare them, which results in the loss of essential nutrients. The intake of meats, processed meals, and sugary goods has grown while the general intake of cereals has decreased. People now lack vital nutrients as a result of the departure from natural diets. People began to realise a few years ago that health is a significant concern in addition to flavour, convenience, and quality value. They have thus begun taking nutritional vitamin supplements to make up for the nutrients lost from processed meals. People are increasingly opting for natural nutraceuticals in capsules and tablets, a trend known as medicalization in nutrition, instead of relying on natural food items. Hippocrates emphasized the connection between food and medicine, stating that healthy foods has a strong therapeutic advantages. The ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda places a strong focus on the functioning of diet and nutraceuticals in both health and illness. 9.2. What are Nutraceuticals Stephen De Felice, the founder and chief executive of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine (FIM), first used the term “nutraceuticals” in 1989 to refer to the broad category of medicines and nutrition. Nutraceuticals are foods or dietary components that not only offer nourishment and energy but also significantly contribute to regulating and preserving the regular physiological processes that keep people healthy. Nutraceuticals included processed meals such as cereal-grains, soups or stews, genetically engineered foodstuffs, herbal items, nutritional supplements, and extracted nutrients. People are increasingly concerned about their healthy wellbeing these days. However, these include a hectic, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating patterns, body image issues, and being afflicted by a number of illnesses. These are the factors driving the global nutraceutical market’s expansion and generating a lot of interest. Numerous health issues of the century, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, oxidative stress, constipation, and more, can be fought off with the use of these nutraceuticals. Overall, nutraceuticals bring an entirely novel phase in medical science and assist the food companies to promote more creative research strategies. (Dudeja and Gupta, 2017)).
Therapeutic Aspects of Drug-nutrient Interactions Drug-nutrient interactions are expressed as physical, chemical, and pathophysiological relationships between a drug and a nutrient. This reaction is multifactorial. The drug has the potential ability to interact with nutrients which may lead to a reduction or enhancement of therapeutic efficacy, nutritional risk, and drug toxicity. Even such interactions lead to the discontinuation of drug therapy. But these kinds of interactions vary from person to person. Infants and children are the most vulnerable group in this concern as they are in the developmental phase where there is a lack of proper drug-metabolizing enzymes and inefficient renal function. Generally, DNIs signify negative impacts on human health but sometimes these interactions work in a positive way by reducing irritation in the GI tract or by increasing the absorption of drugs. Proper updated knowledge about DNIs is important for the appliance of diet therapy simultaneously with drug therapy as both of these are important strategies to manage or treat public health issues (Table 10.1., Table 10.2.).
