NATIONAL NUTRITIONAL WEEK
In last 25 yrs,
According to the National Family Health Survey, the proportion of underweight children remains virtual unchanged specially in the age group of 0-3 yrs. The children upto the age of 5 yrs are vulnerable at nutritional stand point of view. This further adds to the problem by making the child susceptible or prone to the infection and malnutrition. Malnourish children are higher in India than the Sub-Saharan countries, which have more number of poor in population. One in every 3, malnourished children in the world lives in
As per survey one third of adult women in 
A big percentage of children die before their 5th birthday and the culprit of ½ of the total percentage are malnutrition and common infection. According to various data it has been found that almost 50% of the total deaths are preventable.
During the survey conducted by National Family Health Survey it was found that 30% of young children had fever, 20% had diarrhoea, and 20% had an infectious cough. All the states were bad but the status was worst in poorer states like
Ø Many health related and common conditions can be improved by taking proper diet or balanced diet. However, the need of the nutrients vary from age, sex and race also. For example, growing children (0-6 yrs) and (12-16 years), old age, pregnancy and lactation period for women increase the calories consumption and require extra supplements along with the balanced diet.
Ø Medical conditions like cataract and night blindness can be prevented and improved by taking diet rich in Vitamin A (leafy vegetables) and joint pains and other bone related problems can be improved with sunlight exposure and calcium containing diet like egg, milk and milk products
Ø To avoid neural tube defects the pregnant women should take Vitamin B 12 and Iron supplements
Ø Special attention needs to be paid to cooking fats and oils. Ghee, Butter and coconut milk/oil are high in saturated fats. These items need to be avoided. Un-refined plant oils such as Mustard oil, corn oil, soy oil, olive oil, and canola oil should be used for cooking. The introduction of Vanaspati or Dalda does not solve this. The Vanaspati and Dalda are both high in trans fats, and worse than saturated fats.
Ø Dahi (Yogurt) and Buttermilk are cultured milk. Culture pre-digests the lactose making them easier to digest. In lacto vegetarian diet, Milk products are a primary source of essential amino acids, Calcium and Vitamin B-12.
Ø Healthy practice of cooking is must. Ill cooking, cooking with open lid of utensil and over-cooking result in loss of most of water soluble nutrients. Vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly before eating than peeling.
Ø Poor hygienic practice like unwashed hands and vegetables and fruits may result in infection.
Ø To avoid neural tube defects, women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and those in the first trimester of pregnancy, need 600 µg/day of Folic acid (Vitamin B9).
Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant may also be iron deficient. Good source of iron are meats. Even for vegetarians, there are plenty of dietary sources for example Spinach. The problem is educating people about bio-availability of iron, for example avoid combination foods with dairy products (For example Paalak Paneer), prepare combination food with vitamin C rich products (For example Paalak and Tomatoes or Red bell peppers).
Ø Educating the pregnant women about the healthy eating practice as infant body would be directly proportional to their weight. Teaching the mothers about the breast feeding practice and its importance for the children
Ø Majority of
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods including Milk and eggs. Also, after the age of 50, there is increased need for Vitamin B12. The Nutritional Yeast, fortified foods, or food supplements may be helpful
Ø The trend has been seen that the educated or qualified mothers can help to solve some part of the problem. So to improve the nutritional status it is important to teach or educated the mother about the importance of the balance diet.
Fall in love with food. Relax, prepare and enjoy healthy meals -
It is time to value yourself and your health and start falling in love with food.
- Discover the pleasures of sharing a meal
Enjoy fresh foods, cooked from scratch- Explore new tastes - savour the flavours
- a balance of foods that enhance wellbeing
Nutrition week, every year is being celebrated to improve intake of nutritional food, awareness and information about the healthy eating habits and balanced diet. This year the focus is child Nutrition'. In other words, to correct kids eating habits during growing phase. Various activities were being conducted during this period from various hospitals to create awareness about the proper diet and hygiene. The Ministry of Women and Child Development organised an exhibition on nutrition in
The department of dietetics, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), has organised “Healthy Lifestyle Event 2008” as part of the national nutrition week celebrations. The event targeted about 1,000 young adolescent public schoolchildren of
Such kind of event are necessary to create awareness among population as it helps in improving health status and cut the cost of treatment during illness. The simple and healthy food practice helps in boosting immune system and prevent from infections and chronic conditions.
Posted byNeeti at 8:33 PM
Labels: nutrition