The Role Nutrition Can Play in the Prevention of Bacterial and Viral Infections - Essay Example

Provide an Overview of the Role Nutrition Can Play In the Prevention Management of Bacterial and Viral Infections Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Differences between Bacterial and Viral Infections 3 Difference in Structure amid Bacteria and Virus 4 Replication Difference amid Bacteria and Virus 4 Conventional Treatment 5 Dietary and Lifestyle Factors in Prevention / Management of Bacterial and Viral Infections 6 Conclusion 7 References 9 Bibliography 13 Introduction Health, safety and wellbeing are between the primary and the most importance aspects of human life. People in the recent society are deemed quite concerned towards the increasing number of diseases that at often instances leads to its emergence as a threat to human life. Diseases can have their sources from viruses, bacteria and fungi among others. Treatments to such diseases include both conventional as well as medicinal approaches. However, it is believed that apart from proper treatment, intake of appropriate diet and failure to practice a healthy lifestyle to maintain a nutritional balance is also important to prevent bacterial and viral diseases upto a major extent (Rio & et. al., 2010). In this paper, the role of nutrition will be assessed in brief, with the intention to examine its importance in the prevention of bacterial and viral infections, which are often deemed as unmanageable through medical interventions. Discussion Differences between Bacterial and Viral Infections Every disease imposes a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the people living in the society. To be mentioned, there are different types of diseases, with their sources rising from microorganisms including bacteria and viruses primitively. There are certain noteworthy differences amid the infections caused by bacteria and infections caused by virus. Accordingly, it will be vital to note that the infections caused by bacteria include tuberculosis and urinary tract infection, while infections from viruses include pox, common cold and AIDS among others. Most of these infections are quite severe and life threatening being identifiable only at their latter stages, when even medical intervention programs may have severe effects on the patient’s body (Steckelberg, 2014). The differences amid the two groups of microorganisms are provided in detail hereunder. Difference in Structure amid Bacteria and Virus Viruses are widely known as the pathogens that if transmitted to human body, can unfavourably affect their cells and tissues. These pathogens are among the smallest microorganisms and their sizes ranges in between ‘20-200 nanometres’ (Patton, 2008). Their sizes do not allow people to see them through naked eyes or even through a common microscope. On the other hand, bacteria are the microbes that have a variety of shapes. They are quite large in size in comparison to that of virus and can be seen with a general microscope (Kratz, 2009). The structural difference amid the two also includes the difference in their complexity. Observably, the structure of bacteria is quite complex in comparison to that of viruses. In general, any bacterium has a ‘cell wall’, which is quite stiff and ‘cell membrane’, which is rubbery and thin in nature, enclosed by cytoplasm. It is crucial to note that a bacterium is genetically capable to reproduce itself (McGraw Hill, 2013). This is owing to the fact that it contains ribosomes, which are also regarded as necessary tools when concerning the reproduction of bacteria. On the other hand, the structure of virus is deemed to be quite simple in nature. It might or might not contain an outermost layer as that of bacteria. However, it is known that all viruses have a ‘protein coat’ along with a core that contains a ‘genetic material’, which is absent in bacteria (might be either RNA or DNA) (George Mason University, 2014). Replication Difference amid Bacteria and Virus There is also considerable difference between viruses and bacteria in terms of their replication. There are two cycles of replication in viruses, which include the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, “the host cell” develops considerable number of copies of the Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) or Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Observably, in this particular cycle, the genes in the virus instruct “the host cell” to develop “viral proteins capsids” as well the enzymes that are needs for the process of “viral replication”. On the other hand, in ‘lysogenic cycle’, the DNA of the virus assimilates into a particular chromosome inside ‘the host cell’. Once these DNAs are assimilated inside ‘the host cell’, viruses become able to infect the cells permanently in the host body (Cuthbert, 2014). On the other hand, replication in bacteria is largely dependent on the condition of their growth. When ‘the host cell’ is rich in nature, the replication of bacteria is deemed to be quite large whereas if ‘the host cell’ is scarce in nature, the speed of replication is deemed to be quite sluggish. The cells presents in bacteria accomplish the process of replication through re-initiation. Though the frequency of re-initiation varies, the replication cycle within ‘the host cell’ remains constant (Beck & Levander, 2014; Giraldo, 2006). Conventional Treatment The diseases caused owing to viruses or bacteria are often intervened to be cured with the assistance of conventional methods of treatment. For example, the treatment of “Hepatitis B e antigen-negative CHB” is conducted mostly with a conventional approach owing to the fact that it is less vulnerable to therapy. These sorts of virus needs to treated right from the early day before replication of the virus takes place. In this regard, Conventional IFNα is examined to be quite effective. It is a dual mode action, which includes both “immune-modulatory actions along with antiviral activity” (Lavanchy, 2004). On the other hand, there are a few conventional processes with regard to the treatment of bacterial diseases such as Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). Sour milk as well as fermented milk was conventionally utilised in the treatment of BV. Products such as yogurt, acidophilus milk, and Lactobacillus powder” are also used as a conventional means for treating the disease (Kumar & et. al., 2011; Sharma & et. al., 2009). Dietary and Lifestyle Factors in Prevention / Management of Bacterial and Viral Infections Bacterial or viral diseases are quite common nowadays all over the world. In this regard, it will be crucial to mention that apart from proper treatment, dietary foods and lifestyle practices also play a major role in preventing or managing bacterial or viral diseases for a longer duration of time. Notably, the nutritional status of ‘the host body’ also plays a major role towards ascertaining the susceptibility of the body towards infectious diseases (Capasso, 2012). Illustratively, a person suffering from zinc deficiency defects the immunity of the humans, which further results in night blindness, diarrhoea and mental disturbances among others (Shankar & Prasad, 2013). In this regard, people can include food items rich in zinc as a part of their diets. Such food items may include beans, mushrooms and spinach among others to deal with the diseases associated from their deficiency. Furthermore, studies have also identified that obesity in humans provide maximum exposure to viruses, which again makes the body susceptible towards influenza (Smith & et. al., 2007; Walker & Black, 2004). In this regard, people can ensure a lifestyle where they are involved with regular exercises along with including citrus fruits and vegetables extensively in their diet so that they could prevent or manage their obesity, which will eventually prevent influenza up to a larger extent preserving their immunity level. Furthermore, the effects of Quercetin, which is mainly found in fruits and vegetables also has major influence on reducing the impact or influence of influenza on the human body (Kumar & et. al., 2003). This also depicts the importance of fruits and vegetables in diets to prevent bacterial or viral infections. Resveratrol is also an important compound, which can enhance the quality of dietary habits of humans. It is regarded as a compound that potentially acts as an anti-cancer agent and as an anti-inflammatory therapy in various cases of bacterial or viral infections. This compound is usually found in mulberries, cranberries, turmeric and hops among others (Udenigwe & et. al., 2008). This also depicts the importance of diet in preventing such diseases implying a crucial relation between the immune system of human beings with that of its nutritional habits. Correspondingly, Keusch (2014) affirms that the lower nutritional level among humans will probably attract bacterial and viral diseases owing to the vulnerability of their immune system, often as a consequence of improper nutrition or malnutrition. This also shows about how a better a nutritional diet to enhance immunity of the body, which will ultimately prevent diseases (Keusch, 2014; Ritz & Gardner, 2006). Honey is also regarded as a medicinal dietary ingredient that acts as an antibacterial agent. Researchers believe that antibacterial activity of honey and found that “natural unheated honey” acts as an antibacterial agent against ‘pathogenic bacteria’ ‘oral bacteria’ and ‘food spoilage bacteria’ among others (Mandal & Mandal, 2011). Correspondingly, green tea, scientifically known as “Camelia sinensis”, also has certain considerable medicinal benefits. People who drink green tea regularly are deemed to be less vulnerable to cancer and other viral diseases, which further depicts the importance of dietary elements in preventing diseases (Zhang & et. al., 2013). Hence, it is quite apparent that proper intake of diet is indeed a potential measure to deal with various viral and bacterial diseases. Conclusion From the overall analysis of the discussion, it can be comprehended that diseases has become one of the integral parts of human lives that has become a severe threat to the health and safety of the people all over the world. These disease many include bacterial or viral infections, which are not easily detectable. Their treatment includes both medicinal and conventional approaches. However, it is widely believed that proper dietary habits and an appropriate lifestyle are also potential measures to prevent or manage such diseases. The discussion of the paper hereby evidently affirms this belief in an extensive manner with the help of various peer reviewed journals. References Beck, M. A. & Levander, O. A., 2014. Host Nutritional Status and Its Effect on a Viral Pathogen. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, pp. 93-96. Cuthbert, C., 2014. Bacteria, Viruses, Protists and Fungi. Dublin Unified School District, pp. 512-539. Capasso, A., 2012. Antioxidant Action and Therapeutic Efficacy of Allium Sativum L. Department of Pharmacy, pp. 690-700. George Mason University, 2014. Viruses. Home. [Online] Available at: http://mason.gmu.edu/~alaemmer/disease/viruses.pdf [Accessed February 11, 2014]. Giraldo, R., 2006. 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