Editorial
Eat more local foods to stay healthy
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
Warning: Trying to access array offset on false in /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
&description=Eat more local foods to stay healthy', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
Warning: Trying to access array offset on false in /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
&description=Eat more local foods to stay healthy', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Dietitians have stated that people should eat more locally grown foods in order to maintain their health as consuming processed meals frequently is linked to a host of diseases.
According to them, the population is becoming more likely to suffer from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity, as a result of the rise in the intake of junk food and highly processed foreign foods.
Food that is extremely low in nutrients is called junk food. They have a lot of additives, processed sugar, salt, and bad fat.
Additionally, junk food that is high in sugar, bad fats, and processed components can have a negative effect on skin health, leading to conditions like acne and inflammation. Regrettably, both urban and rural-urban regions now consume large amounts of these foods.
In Ghana, meals high in fibre that facilitate digestion, including yam, kenkey, and kontomire, should be preferred over processed foods, which have less fibre and do not allow individuals to reap the benefits mentioned above.
Additionally, whole foods like millet, sorghum, yam, cassava, green vegetables, beans, and an assortment of fresh fruits have long been staples of Ghanaian diets, particularly those in the north of the country.
Local food is fresher, tastes better, and is packed with a variety of vital elements that support optimal nutrition and health, like vitamins, minerals, fibre, and healthy fats.
Sadly, some people have developed the bad habit of continuously consuming highly processed meals at the expense of their health, which leads to them eventually becoming afflicted with a variety of ailments that they could have prevented.
This is in contrast to consuming local foods, which would help the agriculture industry.
It should be emphasised that while eating local foods is healthy, it is still important to prepare food in a hygienic manner to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses. If you do wish to eat junk food, do so in moderation as there are several short- and long-term health concerns associated with frequent junk food consumption.
In order to help prevent some chronic diseases and to support heart health, digestive wellness, and lifespan, The Spectator is advising Ghanaians to eat more locally grown foods that are high in fibre, vitamins, and protein.
By doing that, we can help families avoid illness and repeated hospital visits for bill payment, freeing up a large sum of money for purposes other than healthcare.
To be less stressful make sure you get adequate sleep and drink lots of water in order to help eliminate sugar sweetened beverages.
Parents need to be mindful of the snacks they pack for their children to school to keep their children from developing a junk food addiction. These snacks need to be nutritious.
A public education campaign about the advantages of eating more locally grown foods – such as Wasawasa, Tubaani, Zambarima Zugu, Kapala, Plantain, Cocoyam, Kontomire (Cocoyam leaves), and local spices like Prekese and Dawadawa – must be spearheaded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These foods have long been staples of the Ghanaian diet.
The push to promote native grains – like millet, fonio, and sorghum – which are more resilient to climate change and more nutrient-dense than imported wheat and rice – must also be spearheaded by stakeholders.
Dear Editor,
I am deeply concerned about the increasing reports of fathers sexually abusing their own daughters.
This disturbing trend is not only destroying families but also leaving victims with lifelong emotional, psychological and physical trauma.
Parents are expected to protect and nurture their children, not become a source of fear and abuse. Such acts are unacceptable and must be condemned by every section of society.
I urge law enforcement agencies to investigate these cases promptly and ensure perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
At the same time, government, religious bodies, schools and civil society organisations must intensify public education on child protection and encourage victims and witnesses to report abuse without fear.
Communities must also stop shielding offenders because of family ties or social status. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment.
I hope this issue receives the urgent national attention it deserves.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that drowning is still one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide for those between the ages of one and 24, with children under five being most at risk.
Drowning is defined as being underwater and not being able to breathe, which can result in death or injury.
Additionally, UNICEF has warned that children playing in or near water without adequate supervision and safety precautions can quickly transform a happy moment into a tragedy.
It is worrying that children and young adults make up the majority of the estimated 1,100 drowning deaths that occur in Ghana alone each year, or almost three deaths per day.
These were contained in a statement commemorating World Drowning Prevention Day, which is observed on July 25 every year to strengthen national and international efforts to prevent drowning.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), drowning is a preventable global public health emergency that kills around 300,000 people a year, or 30 people every hour on average.
In addition to the numbers, many more cases in isolated areas go unreported, underscoring the problem as a serious yet underappreciated threat to public health.
Drowning can result in death, long-term health problems, or disability, hence it is important to raise awareness of this issue by educating the public on how to save lives.
Although flooding is a common cause of drowning, swimming pools, natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers, and residential water storage facilities are the most common locations. As a result, preventing drowning necessitates ongoing supervision, physical barriers, and critical water safety education.
Additionally, training in basic water rescue techniques and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency lifesaving operation carried out when the heart stops beating, is crucial.
It is important for parents and community people to learn how to react to an emergency without endangering themselves.
There is the need to install a fence around any body of water near your house, such as a pond or pool, to keep children from walking in unattended. Keep an eye on your children and avoid becoming sidetracked by your phone or talking to someone else.
The Spectator agrees with the WHO’s recommendation to cover more water sources, including cisterns, wells, and water containers, in order to avoid an accidental fall. When not in use, keep bathroom and laundry room doors locked and empty buckets, containers, and portable pools.
Teaching school-age children over six years old the fundamentals of swimming and water safety is one of the best approaches to prevent drowning.
