The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Eat right and stay healthy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 02, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Eat right and stay healthy

Special Correspondent

National Nutrition Week is being observed from Thursday

BANGALORE: National Nutrition Week observed from Thursday will focus on the need for focus on good nutrition.

According to Archana Dutta, Additional Principal Information Officer, Press Information Bureau, Bangalore, who has researched the subject, poverty, hunger and malnutrition go together. "We are just getting out of the mindset of associating obesity with good health and prosperity," she said.

Ms. Dutta refered to the history of nutritional studies and how the concept has changed over the past two centuries.

Since the mid-18th century, when science believed there was only one kind of nutritional value in all food, studies have become more broad-based. Scientists first discovered carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Then came a smaller classification of nutrition called amino acids. Scientists also found that proteins were made of more than 24 amino acids that are essential for the human body. Vitamins as essential micronutrients were the next big discovery. From this, evolved the knowledge to combat deficiency diseases, which helped save many lives.

The changing ecological status of humans has brought changes in epidemiology resulting in a host of non-communicable and lifestyle-related ailments. But, this is confined to more affluent section in the cities, Ms. Dutta said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka