Nutrition
Staying constipation-free through diet
Eat healthy to avoid constipation
Everyone has a bout of constipation now and then. Infrequent bowel movements, fewer than three a week – and difficulty passing stool are tell-tale signs of constipation. Constipation may be a side effect, dietary habits, or a symptom of a more serious condition.
Constipation may lead to other problems. Straining during bowel movements can cause haemorrhoids, hernias, anal fissures or tears in the skin near the anus.
With just a simple dietary and lifestyle modification, this problem can be alleviated.
Foods to avoid
Low fibre highly processed foods like white breads and pastries, pizza and burgers should be reduced to a minimum in our diet.
Foods to consume
It will benefit us greatly to include high fibre foods like;
• Whole grains such as brown rice, wheat, oats and barley
• Nuts and seeds
• Beans and lentils
• Fruits and vegetables
• Adequate drinking water, at least eight glasses or six sachets of water a day
These increase the bulk of our stool and facilitate adequate bowel movement.
Lifestyle modification
Modifying our lifestyle from a predominantly sedentary lifestyle to incorporating exercises like going for walks, jogging, and riding bicycles, as well as taking alcohol in moderation will serve to prolong our healthy life and prevent constipation from being a burden.
In conclusion, maintaining a balanced diet rich in fibre and fluidsis crucial for preventing constipation. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, and whole grainsinto our daily meals can promote regular bowel movements.
Additionally, limiting the intake of processed foods and high-fat items can further support digestive health.
By making these dietary adjustments, we can reduce the risk of constipation and enjoy improved overall well-being. Remember, a healthy gut starts with mindful food choices.
The writer is a Nutritionist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Holistic Health Consult.
“Your diet, your health, your health your wealth.”
e-mail:info@holistichealthconsult. org
Kind courtesy of:
Holistic Health Consult
“Your diet your health, your health your wealth”
Contact: 0205143324
WhatsApp: 0248963474
e-mail: info@holistichealthconsult.org
Nutrition
Nourishing Ghana Starts with Us: The role of citizens
The success of Ghana’s fight against malnutrition does not rest solely in the hands of the government or donors. It depends on us, the citizens. Nutrition is not just a technical issue. It is a societal one, and every Ghanaian has a role to play in ensuring that no child goes hungry, no mother is left unsupported, and no community is forgotten.
As citizens, we must shift how we see nutrition: not as a private family concern, but as a collective national responsibility. Here’s how we can act:
1. Demand accountability
Every citizen has the right and responsibility to ask how public funds are being used to support nutrition. Are local clinics stocked with supplements? Are school feeding programmes working in your district? Are maternal health services adequately funded? Ask questions. Engage assembly members. Attend town hall meetings. Make your voice count.
2. Speak up, Speak out
Silence has a cost. When we fail to speak out against malnutrition, we normalise it. Use your platform, whether it is WhatsApp group, a radio show, a church gathering, or social media, to raise awareness. Normalise conversations about child feeding, food quality, and maternal health. Silence keeps systems broken. Voices drive change.
3. Support local solutions
Support or join community nutrition initiatives. Volunteer. Share what you know. Help spread accurate information about breastfeeding, healthy diets, and hygiene. If you are a farmer, teacher, trader, or youth leader, your knowledge and effort can make a difference. Change starts in our homes and neighbourhoods.
4. Protect the first 1,000 days
Whether you are a father, grandmother, neighbor, or employer, support pregnant women and caregivers during this crucial period. Encourage antenatal care. Help with child care. Prioritise nutritious foods. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life lay the foundation for everything that follows.
When citizens care, ask questions, take action, and show solidarity, we create the conditions for lasting change. Malnutrition is not inevitable. It is a symptom of neglect, and neglect ends when citizens choose to act.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project
Nutrition
Ga Kenkey
Ga kenkey, a staple in Ghanaian cuisine, is prepared with fermenting corn dough, then cooking a portion of it to create ‘aflata’ or ‘banku’. It is a popular food in the southern part of Ghana.
Ingredients:
-8 cups of dried corn
-Dried corn leaves (for wrapping)
-2 tablespoonful of stew
Preparation
-Soak corn in water overnight
-Grind corn into a powder form
-Mix the ground corn with water (dough)
-Mix part of the dough with water and put it on fire to cook
-Take the pot off the fire and mix in the remaining dough .
– When ready shape mixture into balls and set every prepared ball on a corn leaf.
– Cover each ball by wrapping the corn leaf around it
– Put water on fire. Add wrapped kenkey to boil for 45 minutes.
– When ready take them out carefully and serve them along with shito, ground pepper and fish.
