Malnutrition in Today's Rapid Urbanization
Our lifestyle has improved dramatically in today's civilized world. During the 1940s, a lot of people suffered from malnutrition due to food shortage. Many of us were affected and suffered from tuberculosis, anemia, pneumonia, cerebral hemorrhage, and bone fractures, which usually occur because of malnutrition.
Today, we have enough foods and we enjoy eating more than three meals a day.
However, medical authorities are advising people that malnutrition cases are increasing especially among elderly people, although they eat more than three meals a day.
What is really happening?
Tuberculosis, anemia, pneumonia, cerebral hemorrhage, bone fractures, and cold or influenza, are probably caused by malnutrition of the 21st century.
Remember that your appetite and the appearance of your body are not the bases of whether you are malnourished or not. Many may say that they have good appetite and they eat a lot. They may look fat and healthy. But that is wrong!
Malnutrition in this case means "deficiency of protein". Clinically, if we examine the albumin level in the blood, and it is below 3.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter), then an individual is considered malnourished. Albumin is a type of protein that accounts for about 60% of blood serum proteins.
As you know, protein is essential for the growth and repair of various body tissues. Lack of protein materials means diseases such as tuberculosis, anemia, pneumonia, cerebral hemorrhage, and bone fractures, may appear easily. Also, protein is one of the major factors for you to have a long life.
Here are some important food items that you need in each and every week:
Meat; fish; egg; milk (including yogurt and cheese); kelp (seaweeds); soybeans; potato (including sweet potato); cassava and taro; fruits and vegetables.
If you are not eating enough of these in one to two weeks time, then, you might have possible nutritional deficiency.
Trivia for You: Healthy Foods
I receive hundreds of questions about foods I eat every day, because they say that I talk big as if I am the healthiest man. Of course, that is not true. Articles I write are just about the daily happenings in our surroundings, and around me and my men.
Foods we eat may differ depending on where we live. But anyway, to satisfy your curious mind, here is:
At least:
- 2 pcs. of tomato
- 2 pcs. of banana
- 2 tablespoons of vinegar
- 4 tablespoons of honey
- 2 cups of coffee (not instant coffee)
- 2 pcs. of chicken egg
- 200 grams of fish, especially tuna or sardine
- A slice of beef or lamb or chicken
- 1/2 cut of bean curd (tofu)
- 2 tablespoons of miso (fermented soybeans)
- 20 grams of kelp
- 1 pc. of potato or sweet potato or taro
- 2 tea bags of green tea
- 2 pcs. of hot pepper
- 50 grams of sprout
The above are what I practically consume every day.
My daily foods consist mainly of rice, noodles, bread, and seasonable fruits and vegetables. I enjoy cakes, ice cream, and chocolate, too. I seldom enjoy liquor and beer.
I hope that the above may guide you in keeping yourself healthy and fit, and have a long life.
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