10 WHO Nutrition Facts
Since we are in our mother’s womb, where they say it is the happiest and most pleasant place in our lives, we feed ourselves. The nutrients come from our mother and from there we begin to grow, to develop. The World Health Organization, WHO, through its articles highlights the importance of nutrition. Here are 10 facts.
First of all, the WHO highlights that good nutrition during pregnancy is a guarantee of a healthier baby. It also recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. After six months of breastfeeding, it is vital to introduce age-appropriate and safe complementary foods without abandoning breastfeeding for up to two years or more.
According to the WHO, around 20% of the deaths of children under 5 years of age worldwide could be avoided if these indications related to eating habits were respected. There are more benefits, thanks to an adequate diet, the rates of stunting and obesity decrease and intellectual development is stimulated in young children.
The World Health Organization explains the term hidden hunger. This concept, so to speak, refers to the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet. It does not refer exactly to malnourished children, but to infants or people, in general, malnourished, since their diet lacks components that are essential for enhancing immunity and healthy development.
The important thing is nutrition
Vitamin A, zinc, iron and iodine deficiencies are of great public health concern. Around 2 billion people are deficient in iodine worldwide, and vitamin A deficiency is associated with more than half a million deaths of children under 5 years of age worldwide each year.
A key indicator of chronic malnutrition is stunting, that is, when children are too short for their age group compared to the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Around the world there are some 165 million children who are stunted due to food shortages, a diet poor in vitamin A and minerals and disease, according to 2011 figures. When growth slows, the growth rate decreases. brain development, which has serious repercussions on learning ability.
The other side of the coin, although it is not a problem diametrically opposed to malnutrition, is obesity. The increase in overweight and obesity around the world is one of the main challenges for public health, says the WHO.
People of all ages and conditions face this type of malnutrition, as a result of which rates of diabetes and other diet-related diseases are skyrocketing, even in developing countries. In developing countries up to 20% of children under the age of 5 are overweight.
Healthy nutrition
To avoid this sad scenario, then, we must eat healthily. The WHO recommends eating at least five pieces or servings (or 400 g) of fruits and vegetables a day.
Eating fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of developing non-communicable diseases and helps ensure a sufficient daily intake of dietary fiber.
In order to improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables you can:
- Include vegetables in all meals
- Eat fresh fruits and raw vegetables as snacks
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables in season
- Eat a varied selection of fruits and vegetables.
Low fat
Another tip is to reduce your total fat intake to less than 30% of your daily caloric intake, which helps prevent weight gain in the adult population.
Fat intake can be reduced as follows:
- Modifying the way of cooking: separating the fatty part of the meat; using vegetable oils (of non-animal origin); by steaming or baking food, rather than frying it.
- Avoiding the consumption of processed foods that contain trans fats.
- Reducing the consumption of foods high in saturated fat (for example, cheese, ice cream, fatty meats).
Don’t forget to include fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish in your children’s diet, and reduce sugar consumption.
