Final answer:
Nutrients are critical in disease prevention and management, with calcium and vitamin D preventing osteoporosis, iron preventing anemia, and vitamin A preventing eye diseases. Excess or insufficient intake can cause health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nutrients play a crucial role in both the prevention and management of diseases. Here are three examples that highlight this relationship:
- Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for maintaining strong bones. Deficiency in these nutrients can lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, a disease characterized by brittle and fragile bones.
- Iron is crucial for the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells. An iron deficiency can cause anemia, a condition where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to its tissues, causing fatigue and weakness.
- Vitamin A deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia and night blindness. Vitamin A is vital for maintaining healthy eyesight, skin health, and supporting the immune system.
Maintaining a balance of nutrients is essential, as over- or under-consumption of certain nutrients can lead to health problems such as excessive calcium interfering with iron absorption, or high sodium intake contributing to heart and kidney diseases.