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South Africa: Nutrition Week to Flag the Right to Food
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
2 October 2007
Posted to the web 2 October 2007
Pretoria
The Department of Health will kick off National Nutrition Week, under the theme "The Right to Food."
The aim of the week is to highlight the importance of eating healthy meals, especially with fruits and vegetables. National Nutrition Week takes place from 9 to 13 October.
The Department of Health aims to educate South Africans of the benefits of eating healthily, from birth to old age, specifically the positive spin-offs of eating more vegetable and fruits, in partnership with the 5-a-Day for Better Health Trust.
"As a developing country, South Africa faces challenges of both under-nutrition and over-nutrition, both of which play a role in the development of chronic diseases," the department said.
"Risks associated with chronic diseases begin even before the baby is born and continues into old age."
The Right to Food, explained the department, should not lead to childhood obesity and chronic diseases later in life.
Eating three balanced meals a day was recommended.
According to the World Health Organisation, growth retardation in the womb is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Short height, which is an indication of chronic under-nutrition in childhood, is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and to some extent, diabetes.
Furthermore, more than 60 percent of overweight children have a risk for developing heart disease.
Therefore, says the department, the right to food starts during pregnancy.
Expectant mothers are encouraged to eat a variety of food; take iron supplements through the duration of pregnancy; take folic acid tablets before falling pregnant and for the first four months of pregnancy to avoid neural tube birth defects.
Mothers to be were also urged to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy as it is harmful to the unborn baby.
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The department said the Right to Food should give a child the best start in life.
It was recommended that children be fed breast milk only and no other food, water or formula for the first six months of life.
Families can also get a Vitamin A capsule at government clinics for growing children, every six months from the age of six months until five years of age.
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