P3: Explain possible influences on dietary intake
Health Factors: (Nut allergy)
Case study with Annie that is 45 years old women and has nut allergy portrays the fact that people with
health factors such as allergies must be careful when consuming certain food. Nut allergy is when a person
cannot tolerate any types of nuts in their diet. For example, if Annie would consume any type of nuts after
a few hours she might get nausea, red bumps on skin, runny nose and might even have shortness of
breath. Annie should avoid nut butters, nut oils, peanut flour to not get allergic reactions etc. As nut allergy
can last lifetime Annie should never forget to be careful with her food and ingredients that she is taking
in. For instance, if Annie would go out to eat with her friends or family, she must inform staff members that
she has nut allergy and that she cannot consume any types of nuts or ingredients that might have nuts
inside them. Also, nut allergy can cause visible symptoms if nut or nut trace is consumed so if Annie has
rash on her skin, she might be embarrassed to go to work or go out and that might also affect her mental
health as she would have anxiety that people are going to see her visible symptoms.
Furthermore, the affect that this health factor might influence Annie’s dietary intakes is that Annie has
to read every label of every food that she is consuming and ensure that the food has no nuts inside.
Also, Annie should always have her medicine that is prescribed to her for her nut allergy in case she
consumes any type of nut by accident. Therefore, she should let all people know that she has nut allergy for
example, friends, family, colleagues to make sure that no one gives Annie something that has nuts.
Dietary Habits: (Eating ready cooked food/takeaways)
Case study with Sabina who is 16 years old is pregnant and has diabetes states that she usually eats out
ready meals and gets takeaways with her friends. Takeaway is considered as fast food that has been made
in a restaurant or a café that you can take and eat elsewhere. Takeaways also help to save a lot of time
instead of cooking. However, this dietary habit might cause big problems for Sabina.
As Sabina has diabetes and is pregnant it is really important that she manages her blood glucose,
cholesterol levels and her weight by also ensuring that she is keeping her baby safe from any pregnancy
complications that can happen due to diabetes. This is why Sabina should change her dietary habit and
start cooking by herself instead of getting takeaway food because she never knows if the levels of salt or fat
in the food that she gets are healthy for her and does not put her in risk of any diabetes complications such
as stroke or cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, Sabina never knows the levels of saturated fats in takeaway
food and that might cause her cholesterol level to increase and lead to the risk of heart attack especially
because she has diabetes. However, Sabina should be very careful and check the food that she is
consuming from takeaways because she did not cook it herself and does not know what is inside that food,
for example, she does not know how much oil or salt was used and that can cause health problems for her.
Sabina should consider eating less takeaway food and start cooking herself by also helping her mom who
works long hours. Also, Sabina should speak to her friends as they might be the influence of her eating
ready cooked food and try to convince them to start cooking with her that might be a good activity and skill
to learn.
Lifestyle: (Occupation)
Annie who is 45 years old lives in a countryside and works five days a week. As her occupation – college
classroom assistant requires to work almost the whole week and long hours it might cause some difficulties
for her dietary intakes. This is because Annie would have to travel from countryside to city everyday by
meaning that she has to wake up early and leave her house and come back late in the evening. This limits
her time to cook food for herself and her children.
However, having a busy lifestyle and working five days a week can determine food choices. For instance,
as Annie has busy occupation, she might skip meals or eat ready cooked takeaway. The consequences of
that would be tiredness and loss of nutrients by also increased risk in deficiencies of vitamins and other
nutrients. Furthermore, Annie’s occupation requires a lot of energy that she might not get from her dietary
intakes as she might not have balanced diet because of limited time she has. For instance, she might not
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