Blog Organic National Nutrition Week 2024: Eating for a Healthier Tomorrow

National Nutrition Week 2024: Eating for a Healthier Tomorrow

Posted on: September 4th, 2024 12:35 PM

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to overlook the nutrition count in our diets.

As a developing country, India deals with a multitude of challenges, affecting individuals across various social groups. National Nutrition Week serves as a timely reminder of the significance of proper nutrition in our meals.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), malnutrition is a major part of the disease burden on the Indian government, especially children under 5 years of age.

By understanding nutrition principles and making informed choices, we can pave the way for a healthier future for ourselves and generations to come.

This blog aims to shed light on the key aspects of healthy eating and explore how adopting a nutritious diet can positively impact your physical and mental health.
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India’s Battle with Malnutrition:

India has the second most land under agriculture and is one of the largest producers of food crops, cereals, spices, and millet in the world. This complex problem affects millions of people countrywide, particularly children and women.

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report highlighted that India is home to 194.6 million (19.5 crore) undernourished people – the highest in any country in the world. This complex problem affects 13.7% of the total population.

Food and Agriculture Organization defines ‘Undernourishment’ means that a person who is not able to acquire enough food to meet the daily minimum dietary energy requirements over one year. The FAO describes wasting as ‘low weight-for-height’, a lethal form of malnutrition, whereas stunting is described as ‘low height-for-age’ and is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition.

India’s number of children (under five years) ‘wasting’ was 21.9 million (18.7 percent), and 36.1 million (31.7 percent) children were stunted in 2022.

Public Spending on Health:

While we discuss food security and nutrition in India, it is important to correlate the numbers with government spending in this field.

83% of the total spending on food is directed towards food consumption (which includes food availability and access) and just 15 percent on major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition.

The Global Food Policy Report 2024: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition found that at least 38 percent of the Indian population ate unhealthy foods, while only 28 percent consumed all five recommended food groups, which include one vegetable, one pulse, one fruit, nut or seed, one starchy staple food, and one animal-source food.

The NITI Aayog report on ‘Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2023-24’, which was released earlier this month, claimed that 99% of eligible beneficiaries were covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 in 2023–2024.

As India nears its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for eliminating chronic hunger by 2030, the country has witnessed remarkable progress of almost 3 percent of children below 5 years of age who are stunted or chronically malnourished.

Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development as it forms the base of any country’s population.

Nutrition has direct and long-lasting impacts on a child's entire lifetime, a healthy diet bridges the gulf between merely surviving and truly thriving.

Malnutrition poses a great threat to the economic burden, by successfully tackling wasting,India can recover US$48 billion in lifetime lost productivity.

The Impact of Nutrition on Health:

In nation-building or at home, the most important and often overlooked topic is a healthy meal. Everything, right from sleep, digestion, stress, and environmental issues affects nutrition.

Before understanding the situation of nutrition in India, it is imperative to get hold of the impact of nutrition on health. For the well-being of the body, a balanced diet, with all the essential nutrients of the body, should be taken.

Generally, a healthy diet consists of many fresh fruits and vegetables, with limited processed foods.

Physical Health:

A balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of obesity and related conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Energy levels: Nutrient-rich foods provide the fuel your body needs to perform at its best. A well-balanced diet can help prevent fatigue and improve energy levels.
Disease prevention: Consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Strong bones and muscles: Adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, and protein is essential for building and maintaining strong bones and muscles.
Mental Health: Certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins, are important for brain health and can positively impact mood and cognitive function. A balanced diet can help regulate stress hormones and improve overall mood.

What is a balanced meal?

A balanced meal contains a variety of foods from all major food groups in appropriate proportions. This ensures that your body receives a wide range of essential nutrients.

United Nations described a ‘healthy diet’ as comprising four key aspects: diversity (within and across food groups), adequacy (sufficiency of all essential nutrients compared to requirements), moderation (foods and nutrients that are related to poor health outcomes), and balance (energy and macronutrient intake).

Harvard School of Public Health explains the amount of essential nutrients we ought to add to our daily meals, without missing out on taste.

Fresh Vegetables and Fruits - ½ of your plate.

The number of calories in a food refers to the amount of energy stored in that food. Your body uses calories from food for walking, thinking, breathing, and other important functions.

The average person needs about 2,000 calories every day to maintain their weight, but the amount will depend on their age, sex, and physical activity level.

Males tend to need more calories than females, and people who exercise need more calories than people who don’t.

Whole Grains - ¼ of your plate.

Whole and intact grains—whole wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, and more.

Protein - ¼ of your plate

These are essential for building and repairing tissues. Examples include poultry, beans, lentils, and tofu.

Healthy Oils and Ghee

Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. Remember that low-fat does not mean “healthy.”

Does Organic hold the solution?

The organic food industry has grown significantly in the last decades. India has over 1 million organic food producers, standing at the top of production.

This system replenishes the soil to retain its core nutrients and nurtures the biodiversity of the land. Understanding the perils of artificial fertilizers that impact the quality of the produce, people are switching to an organic way of living.

According to Research, Organic food is potentially healthier than conventionally harvested food. Organic varieties of certain foods provide significantly greater levels of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus than non-organic varieties.

Prioritizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is essential for meeting your nutritional needs.