Features
The immense benefits of fruits and vegetables in our diets
Last weekend, I bought a quantity of cabbage and apples to the house. Unfortunately, all of the fruits and vegetables were eaten by my siblings without leaving some for me to eat.
The fact is that though I was not pleased with what they did, I had no choice but to buy another one because I love nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are widely recommended for their health-promoting properties and that’s why I cannot do without them. I think about them when planning my day. They’re part of my life. They’re a necessity.
Low intake of fruits and vegetables is among the top 10 factors for mortality in the world according to research. In sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where there’s nutrient insufficiency from animal and dairy sources, fruits and vegetables consumption is proposed as alternative source of micronutrients including essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B and C, key minerals like iron and fibre.
Low consumption of fruits and vegetables accounts for increased chronic diseases such as heart diseases and strokes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 2.6 million deaths could be averted by adequate fruits and vegetables consumption.
Fruits and vegetables have historically held a place in dietary guidance because of their concentration of vitamins, minerals and fibre. When you visit our hospitals and health centres, most of the diseases that are prevalent can be attributed to low intake of fruits and vegetables.
Many people are dying due to high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, cancer among others. This is said to be mainly due to the high intake of fatty and junk foods.
Fast food joints have become numerous in our communities, which have made many people lose interest in homemade nutritious foods. Of late, most people especially the youth prefer manufactured foods to homemade foods and this is the cause of the high rate of diseases. It is, therefore, imperative for us to include fruits and vegetables in our everyday diet.
Fruits such as apples, pears, citrus, bananas, mangoes, berries, melons and avocados should be part of our daily diet.
Vegetables also come in many forms and these include leafy green ones such as lettuce, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber and many others. Others are onions, shallot, pumpkin, potato, sweet potato and yam. Legumes such as beans, peas are also good examples of vegetables.
They are naturally good and contain vitamins and minerals that can help to keep us healthy. These include vitamin A, C and E, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous and folic acid. For example, folic acid reduces blood levels of homocysteine, a substance that may be a risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Their high mineral content reduces risk of hypertension, heart attack and stroke. Their high vitamin content protects several micronutrient deficiencies.
Fruits and vegetables are essential for our health because they are low in fat, salt and sugar. They are good sources of fibre that helps one reduce obesity and maintain a healthy weight. Their high fibre content lowers caloric intake and weight, manages and reduces risk of diabetes, constipation and colon cancer. They help to also normalise one’s cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Since vegetables and fruits contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals), they offer innumerable protective benefits to life. These biologically active substances can help to protect the body from some diseases such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart diseases, cancer and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Undoubtedly, different fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. The Australian dietary guidelines recommend that adults eat at least five kinds of vegetables and two kinds of fruits each day.
Children have a smaller stomach capacity and higher energy needs than adults. They cannot eat the same serving sizes as adults. However, we should encourage children to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. This will help them get the energy they need to play, concentrate better, learn, sleep better and build stronger teeth and bones.
The safety in the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables in Ghana also depends on how clean they are from farm to plate. As a result, I would like to encourage individuals to grow their own vegetables and fruits at home using container-gardens where land is not available.
In the same vein, fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consumption. The WHO recommended per capita intake of 400g per capita per day is equivalent to five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. For adequate intake, in any state of health, guidance must be sought from a registered dietician.
Continuous efforts to monitor, identify, encourage and promote the multiple importance linked to adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables will go a long way to address the numerous health problems and improve the health of the nation.
Let’s cultivate the habit of including fruits and vegetables in our diets and eschew the high intake of meat and fatty foods. This attitude will ensure that a healthy lifestyle is promoted so as to contribute our quota to the socio-economic development of the country.
By Doris Abaka Williams
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
