India observes National Nutrition Week every year, commencing on 1st September till 7th September to raise awareness on Nutritional and Healthy eating habits.
The week is scrutinized to understand the need to adopt healthy and palatable eating habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
This week holds even more importance in the wake of the ongoing pandemic and the wreaked havoc. If you need an active life and growth and development, then a balanced diet is a must.
NNW History:
The National Nutrition Week was initially initiated by the American Dietetic Association, now called the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, in 1975.
Still, in India, the history of NNW dates back to 1982, when the government launched a campaign to educate people about nutritional importance and urge them to maintain their lifestyle healthily and sustainably.
Theme of the Week 2021:
The theme of National Nutrition week 2021 is “FEEDING SMART RIGHT FROM START”.
The government has launched a program to provide correct information and spread awareness through seminars and workshops.
People from different aspects of life will join the walk-through of various sub-programs like Bharat Poshan Premier Quiz, Good Food Talk Show, Healthy Khayega India and the week-long campaign.
Tips to Improve your Diet and Boost Immunity:
A simple and good diet can help boost your immunity, stay active, and prevent the risk of heart, obesity, malnutrition, diabetes, cancer, and other ailments.
To remain safer, one must include foods of five groups – cereals, pulses and legumes, milk and milk products, fruits and veggies, and fats and oils.
Below are some suggestions to boost your immunity and live a happy, healthy life:
- Indians often suffer from protein deficiency. Consuming protein-rich items like skim milk and its products, cow milk, legumes and pulses, whole grains, egg whites, poultry, and fish can reduce the risk of protein deficiency.
- Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like fish which help in lowering body cholesterol.
- Too much intake of saturated fats and trans-fat food might be a bad idea. Limit bakery products like cakes, pastries, packed food, ghee, butter, shellfish, egg yolk and fried items.
- Restrict the use of oil to half kg per month per person.
- Check the intake of salts in your food as it may increase blood pressure which might cause heart diseases. Curtail the intake of pickles, papad, canned and preserved vegetables and fruits, dry fish, readymade chutney, tomato ketchup, namkeen, ready to eat/cook products.
- Say NO to carbonated beverages and foods that have added sugars like sucrose and maltose.
- Get into a habit of exercising every day for 30-40 minutes, at least five times a week. Adopt yoga, brisk walking, cycling or aerobics or swimming.
- Drink water, stay hydrated. It is a key to healthy living as hydration helps regulate body functions which leads to good metabolism and detoxification.
- Cut down on ‘chai’ and coffee if you consume more than 3 cups a day, especially after 4 PM.
Rainbow Diet:
Another secret to a healthy life is a RAINBOW DIET.
Adding a dash of colour to your diet this nutrition week, discover how it is one of the best things one can do.
Red:
This week ensure you stock up red colour foods, which is also good for your heart. Red hues in fruits and vegetables come from antioxidants that safeguard the health of your heart by protecting it from various ailments like high cholesterol.
It can also boost your brain function and delay diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Examples: Red Apples, Red Grapes, Watermelon, Pomegranates, Cherries, radishes, etc.
Orange and Yellow:
Oranges and Yellows promote the health of your eyes and prevent the degeneration of optic cells, the need of the hour in the epoch of work from home and the digital world.
Yellow Foods will look after the health of your nervous system and strengthen your bones and make your hair and skin glow.
Examples: Pumpkin, Carrots, Apricots, Sweet Corn, Pineapple, etc.
White:
The chief reason behind eating white is heart health. They lower your blood pressure and stabilize it. They also decrease the risk of Breast, Prostate or colon cancers.
Examples: Cauliflower, Turnips, Bananas, White peaches, etc.
Purple/Blue:
This colour prevents you from heart ailments, cancer and strokes. Not only that, but they also slow down the ageing process, boost your memory and speed up the digestion process.
It also saves you from infections of the urinary tract.
Examples: Blueberries, Blackberries, plums, raisins, eggplant, etc.
Green:
Greens are a carrier of every type of nutrient and mineral. Besides the usual benefits of all-ground good health, it also prevents blood-clotting and makes one less prone to liver cancers.
They are more beneficial for pregnant women as they reduce newborns’ chance of any defects or physical disabilities.
Examples: Spinach, Coriander, Pears, Cabbage, Lettuce, etc.
Therefore, opt for a rainbow diet from this nutritional week.
But in case of any medical treatment, do not consider them a substitute and consult the concerned doctor—this week, pledge to live a healthy life with a balanced diet every day.
