Question

1. What is a carcinogen? Explain

2. What is the link between caloric effect and cancer?

3. What types of vegetables are considered anti-carcinogens? Why?

4. What are infectious diseases? Explain and give examples

5. What are chronic diseases? Explain and give examples

Answer 1

1) A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This is happened due to the ability to damage the genome or the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Example: gamma rays and alpha particles.

2) Diets high in fat and calories and weight gain can disturb metabolisms, and develop a much higher number of the precursors to cancer. Reducing caloric intake and relative body weight can lead to a considerable decrease in cancer risk in humans.

3) Cruciferous vegetables are considered as anti-carcinogens. They are rich in nutrients, including several carotenoids; vitamins C, E, and K; folate; minerals; and fiber. These vegetables also contain a group of substances known as glucosinolates. During food preparation, chewing, and digestion, the glucosinolates are broken down to form biologically active compounds such as indoles, nitriles, thiocyanates, and isothiocyanates. Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane have the anticancer effects.

4) Infectious diseases are the disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Many organisms live in and on our bodies, and under certain conditions, some organisms may cause disease. Some infectious diseases are able to be passed from person to person. Example: hepatitis-B, malaria, dengue.

5) Chronic disease is a disease that persists over a long period of time. This disease can hinder independence and the health of people with disabilities, and creates additional activity limitations. People with this disease often think that they are free from the disease but having no symptoms does not indicate the disease has disappeared. Example: Arthritis, cancer, stroke.