Food and nutrition.pdf

Nutrition Disorder Related to Food 151Tartrazine is used in foods, beverages, drugs and cosmetics. It hasbeen estimated that about 100 000 persons in the United States are sensitiveto this substance. Symptoms of allergy include generalized urticaria,swelling, often of the face and lips, runny nose, and on occasion even lifethreatening asthma. Since tartrazine is found in a large number ofproducts, tartrazine-sensitive individuals are advised to read labels andavoid food containing tartrazine.The allergic-type reactions range from mild to severe, and in somecases can cause death. "Sulfites" or "sulfating agents" are general termsused to describe sulfur based substances that have been in widespreaduse for many years by the food and drug industries. They include sulfurdioxide, sodium sulfite, sodium and potassium bisulfite, and sodium andpotassium metabisulfite. Although they have various permitted uses, theirprimary function is as a preservative or antioxidant to prevent or reducespoilage and discolouration during the preparation, storage anddistribution of many foods.There is some evidence that some non-asthmatics also can sufferadverse reactions to sulfites. For example, out of more than 500 reports ofsulfite reactions investigated by the FDA, about one-fourth involvedpeople who had no known history of asthma.Approximately 10 percent of people with asthma are sensitive toingestion of sulphite, which induces asthma. Foods containing sulfurdioxide, as a preservative, should be used with caution.Vitamin C may help alleviate some of the inflammation associatedwith chronic allergies and a daily dose of about 400 milligrams ofmagnesium should be taken to relieve respiratory problems.AsthmaAsthma is a Greek word meaning panting. It is a chronic (conditionthat has a long duration) lung disease, characterized by recurrent episodesof breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness, termedexacerbations. The severity of exacerbations can range from mild. to lifethreatening. Exacerbations can be triggered by exposures and conditionssuch as: respiratory infections, house dust mites, cockroaches, animaldander, mold, pollen, cold air, exercise, stress, tobacco smoke and indoorand outdoor air pollutants. Both the frequency and severity of asthmasymptoms can be reduced by using medications and reducing exposureto environmental triggers.It causes bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways) due toinflammation (swelling) and tightening of the muscles around the airways.The inflammation also causes an increase in mucus production, whichcauses coughing that may continue for extended periods.