[LifeStyle] Importance of good nutrition for health

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According to the WHO, the concept of nutrition is "food intake in relation to the body's dietary needs", which vary depending on age, sex, physiological state and physical activity.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) indicates that healthy nutrition is "fundamental for the prevention of risk factors related to diet, such as overweight and obesity, and associated noncommunicable diseases."

In this sense, it stands out that the consumption of foods and beverages with a high content of critical nutrients, among which are salt, trans fats, saturated fats and sugar, is linked to a greater risk of growth retardation and deficiency diseases.

Similarly, the entity highlights the importance of the proper practice of breastfeeding, complementary feeding and sustainable healthy food systems.

Based on this, the WHO recommends to have good nutrition to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily; maintain a varied diet; achieve a balance between the calories ingested and physical activity; avoid the consumption of saturated fats, sugar and salt, as well as not consume alcohol, tobacco and canned goods.

However, the United Nations announced earlier this year in its report "Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security 2022" that 22.5 percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean do not have sufficient means to access a healthy diet.

The study, which indicates that this indicator is more alarming in the Caribbean where 52 percent cannot access a balanced diet, points out that the level of income, poverty and inequality in the country affect this.

“No single policy can provide the solution to this problem. It is necessary to strengthen the national and regional coordination mechanisms to respond to hunger and malnutrition”, said the deputy director and regional representative of FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin.

Likewise, the UN highlights that among the international factors that affect this situation, the increase in international food prices since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic stands out, as well as the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

 

https://www.telesurtv.net/news/oms-dia-mundial-nutricion-ops-dieta-salud-inseguridad-alimentaria-20230527-0012.html