2016년 9월 1일 목요일

A high fat diet leads to coronary heart disease (CHD). Discuss.

Usually, the lipid that is associated the most with coronary heart disease is cholesterol. Because of this cholesterol has received a bad reputation over the years as one of the main agent causing CHD.

Like all essential nutrients, cholesterol is necessary in small amounts. However, most modern diet incorporates too much saturated and trans fat which raises the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol is bad because it contributes to the buildup of plaque which if not treated can cause CHD.

Patients who suffer from high LDL cholesterol concentration in blood are advised to replace their saturated fat intake (animal fat) with unsaturated fat intake (vegetable oil). They are also advised to consume food rich in fiber (vegetables) and complex carbohydrates (whole grains). This is because unsaturated fats, fiber and complex carbohydrates help raise the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is good because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from arteries and bring it to the liver where it is broken down and excreted.

Although a high-fiber and a high-carbohydrate diet increases the level of HDL cholesterol and therefore decreases the level of LDL cholesterol, it is not always a good choice for someone with a high triglyceride concentration in their blood to follow this diet. Triglycerides are often an overlooked lipid compared to LDL cholesterol when it comes to CHD. However, overconsumption of triglycerides is also a major cause of CHD. Since a diet rich in carbohydrates (and of course fats) can raise the level of triglyceride in one’s body, patients with high triglyceride concentration are advised to implement a low-carbohydrate diet.

In conclusion, a diet high in saturated and trans fat increases the risk of CHD, while a diet high in unsaturated fat has a potential to decrease the risk of CHD. Also, a high-carbohydrate diet can increase the risk of CHD. However, CHD is not influenced by diet alone as there are many other factors such as genetics.

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  1. 작성자가 댓글을 삭제했습니다.

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  2. WWW: Well explicated with copious details. Allows the readers to comprehend the context relatively easily. The crux of the essay concerns the essential information regarding the field of study.

    EBI: Try to link coronary heart disease with the function of liver as we are currently learning such topics.

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  3. WWW: The structure is well organised, logically leading to the point you made and clearly conveying the point about the relationship between high fat diet and CHD.

    EBI: It might have been better if you explained how LDL causes CHD and how HDL counter acts the effect of LDL.

    Q1> How does LDL lead to the build up of plague in the artery walls?

    Q2> How does high carbo-diet raise the level of triglyceride?

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    1. 1. LDL carries cholesterol to the coronary arteries. The cholesterol accumulates on the walls of arteries and causes leukocytes to undergo phagocyotosis and grow large which also contributes the buildup of plaque. Smooth muscle also forms a layer over the plaque causing even more blockage.

      2. If one doesn't get enough exercise, the excess digested carbohydrates (sugars) are converted to triglycerides for storage as fat.

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  4. Q: How can you link CHD to the function of the liver? Please explain.

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    1. A: When LDL is ingested in excess, the liver produces more than enough amount of 'bad' cholesterol which may eventually lead to CHD.

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  5. Word count: 327
    Originality: 100%

    I like your opening paragraph which addresses a pertinent point in a clear manner. You have written a good blog post, with lots of details, and you have kept to the topic; only at the end did you mention in passing that there are other non-dietary factors believed to contribute to CHD. Be aware the cholesterol is not a 'essential nutrient'. In biological terms, it is defined as non-essential. In addition, you have not cited any sources, nor have you given a bibliography.

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