Until recent times, many scientists are constantly studying on the role of diet that affects risks for certain cancer such as breast cancer and much more.[1] Research done by scientist show that intake of fruits and vegetables, and cereal grains can prevent the process of developing cancer of the stomach, prostate and etc. In addition, it can also reduce the risk of developing heart disease, obesity and other chronic diseases. These nutrition contain food components, including phytochemicals, antioxidants, and omega-3, that may play a role in decreasing the risk of developing cancer. Phytochemicals are chemicals found mostly in plants that protect them against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Brightly colored fruits contain phytochemicals. Antioxidants are substances that inhibit the oxidation process; they also act as protective agents. They protect the body from the free-radicals that have damaging effects. They attack healthy cells and change their DNA, allowing the formation of tumors. Furthermore, since our body cannot make omega-3, we must get them from food. In order to know what kind of nutrition we need to consume, it is important to be informed. My art project approaches this interesting topic.[2]
My artwork is a painting that shows which kind of fruits and vegetables that contain a specific component that can prevent cancer risks of a specific body part. For example, I represented the lutein molecule which is a phytochemical inside a piece of salad to show that lutein is found in leafy green vegetables, and relates it to the heart, meaning that eating green vegetables may reduce the risk of heart diseases. My artwork portrays the following big ideas of Atkins: matter is made of atom, elements displays periodicity, chemical bonds form when electrons pair, molecular shape is a crucial feature, there are residual forces between molecules and energy is conserved.
First, matter is made of atoms, this statement is represented everywhere on the artwork. Matter is made of molecules that are a composition of atoms. I represented each fruit with its specific component. Fruits, as an example, like orange contain sources such as vitamin C (C6H8O6). It is an antioxidant and it may protect against cancer of the stomach.[3] Stomach cancer occurs due to increases in gastric reflux, which is linked to obesity.[1] Then, elements displays periodicity is present, for example, it is obvious and noticeable that Vitamin C (C6H8O6), and beta carotene (C40H56) mostly contain C, H and O that are non-metals. Furthermore, chemical bonds form when electrons pair, since C, H and O are non-metals, they form covalent bonds and atoms share electrons to form electron pairs by reaching their stable structures.[4] This is showed in the artwork with the single and double bonds. Also, antioxidants give away their electrons to the free radical by terminating their chain reactions and inhibit other oxidation reactions.[5] It is represented by two cartoons, the free radical (in red) that steals an electron away from the antioxidant (in blue). Next, molecular shape is important in chemistry; their shape is dependent to the angle of covalent bonds when atoms have more than two bonding partners. The models are best viewed in a three dimensional configuration. Bond configurations are predicted by VSEPR. It is based the fact that electrons repel each other and it is reasonable that the bonds and the lone pairs associated with the atoms maximize their distance. It is necessary to draw their molecular shape and their structural formulas because in most cases, they don’t uniquely represent one single compound. These are all represented in the artwork; a simple line represents a normal bond, a thick line represents a wedge bond, and finally, a hatched bond is represented by lines drawn vertically. Also, there exists a residual force between molecules; for example, Vitamin C is polar and which is why it is soluble in water. Therefore, it can be said as hydrophilic.[3] Finally, energy is conserved because digestion of foods is a series of chemical reactions and is always conserved. The atoms are simply rearranged, not created, not destroyed. The rearrangement involves breaking and forming chemicals bonds of larger food molecules to smaller ones.[6] It is important to note that my artwork shows only some examples of this topic.
It is so surprising to know the fact that our natural life is related to chemistry and that an artwork can contain so much of Atkins’s big ideas.
[1]http://www.cancer.org/healthy/eathealthygetactive/acsguidelinesonnutritionphysicalactivityforcancerprevention/acs-guidelines-on-nutrition-and-physical-activity-for-cancer-prevention-dietand-activity
[2] http://cancer.stanford.edu/information/nutritionAndCancer/reduceRisk/
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_c
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covalent_bond
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidants
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestion