Importance of Adequate and Balanced Nutrition Dr. Biplab K. Nandi Former Senior Food and Nutrition Officer Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; President, Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Advancement, Kolkata (SNEHA), India ILSI-India Conference on Managing Sweetness, Delhi 17 September 2009

Overview Food and Nutrition Security Food and Nutrition Security WFS and MDGs WFS and MDGs Key to Balanced Nutrition Key to Balanced Nutrition Nutritional Situation—Asia and World Nutritional Situation—Asia and World Double Burden of Malnutrition Double Burden of Malnutrition Food Based Strategies—Diversified Food Basket Food Based Strategies—Diversified Food Basket FAO Projects in support of Balanced Nutrition FAO Projects in support of Balanced Nutrition Concluding Remarks Concluding Remarks

Food and Nutrition Security Four Dimensions of Food Security Four Dimensions of Food Security Nutritional Security Nutritional Security Household Food Security Household Food Security

WFS and MDGs WFS WFS MDG 1 and other 7 MDGs MDG 1 and other 7 MDGs

Millennium Development Goals 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Development a global partnership for development

Four Key to Balanced Nutrition Food Based Dietary Guidelines Food Based Dietary Guidelines Macronutrients Macronutrients Micronutrients Micronutrients Hydration—Safe drinking water Hydration—Safe drinking water Plate Method—For portioning daily diet Plate Method—For portioning daily diet

Suggested Portioning of Diet 50% of total calories from CHO 50% of total calories from CHO 20% of total calories from fats 20% of total calories from fats Emphasis on Monounsaturated fats: olive, saffola etc. Emphasis on Monounsaturated fats: olive, saffola etc. Green Leafy Vegetables Green Leafy Vegetables Assorted Vegetables Assorted Vegetables Fruits Fruits 6-8 glasses of water 6-8 glasses of water Protein (more of milk and milk products and pulses) Protein (more of milk and milk products and pulses) Fish—Highly Recommended Fish—Highly Recommended Whole grains (Brown rice) Whole grains (Brown rice)

Important Considerations Access to safe and adequate nutritious Foods Access to safe and adequate nutritious Foods Four dimensions of Food and Nutrition Security Four dimensions of Food and Nutrition Security Dietary Diversification and Food based approach Dietary Diversification and Food based approach Balancing Calories and Consuming Wide Variety of Foods Balancing Calories and Consuming Wide Variety of Foods Food for Balanced Nutrition and Health Food for Balanced Nutrition and Health Promoting Nutrition, right from the childhood Promoting Nutrition, right from the childhood Life Cycle Approach Life Cycle Approach

FAO’s Mandate (founded in 1945) Raise levels of nutrition and standards of living Improve agricultural productivity Better the conditions of rural populations Contribute to the expansion of the world’s economy

Prevalence of undernourishment Region No. (millions) undernourished % undernourished World84813 Developing countries Asia South Asia Source : FAO, SOFI, 2008

Prevalence of undernourishment, South Asia Country No.(millions) undernourished % population undernourished Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka South Asia (Total) Source: FAO, SOFI,2008 (Data NA for Bhutan, Maldives )

World Nutrition Situation IDA: affects more than 3.5 billion people IDA: affects more than 3.5 billion people VAD: 3.3 million U5s with clinical VAD and million U5s with sub- clinical VAD VAD: 3.3 million U5s with clinical VAD and million U5s with sub- clinical VAD IDD: 740 million people affected by goitre IDD: 740 million people affected by goitre

Global Malnutrition Situation—A Paradox FAO: 848 million undernourished FAO: 848 million undernourished WHO: 300 million obese adults WHO: 300 million obese adults and and 115 million people in developing countries suffering from obesity-related conditions 115 million people in developing countries suffering from obesity-related conditions

Double Burden of Malnutrition A real Paradox A real Paradox Undernutrition Undernutrition Diet related chronic diseases due to over nutrition—Diabetes, CHD, Some forms of Cancer Diet related chronic diseases due to over nutrition—Diabetes, CHD, Some forms of Cancer Managing both through diet Managing both through diet Adequate and Balanced Nutrition—the key Adequate and Balanced Nutrition—the key Physical Activity Physical Activity Healthy Lifestyle Healthy Lifestyle

ICN, WFS and Millennium Summit ICN & World Declaration of the Plan of Action for Nutrition including combating Hidden Hunger led to developing National Plans of Action for Nutrition (NPANs) ICN & World Declaration of the Plan of Action for Nutrition including combating Hidden Hunger led to developing National Plans of Action for Nutrition (NPANs) International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) MDGs included nutrition and health as one of the cornerstones of development. MDGs included nutrition and health as one of the cornerstones of development. Greater investment in nutrition linked agriculture and development strategies leads to improved health, in particular, has beneficial effects on next generation. Greater investment in nutrition linked agriculture and development strategies leads to improved health, in particular, has beneficial effects on next generation.

FAO projects and Lessons Learnt in Asia Bangladesh Bangladesh Bhutan Bhutan Cambodia Cambodia China China India India Indonesia Indonesia Lao PDR Lao PDR Nepal Nepal Philippines Philippines Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Thailand Thailand Viet Nam Viet Nam

Role of FAO in support of food based strategies Facilitates process for promoting supply, access and consumption of adequate quantity and quality of safe foods Facilitates process for promoting supply, access and consumption of adequate quantity and quality of safe foods Primarily advocates dietary diversification and fortification Primarily advocates dietary diversification and fortification Recognizes need for broad based supplementation (high risk areas) and public health measures Recognizes need for broad based supplementation (high risk areas) and public health measures Improve both micronutrient and overall nutritional status Improve both micronutrient and overall nutritional status

Share of food groups as percentage of DES(kcal/caput/day) Adapted from FBS, 2001

Recommendations and Conclusions Promote Nutrition Orientation to Food Production by incorporating nutrition considerations into development policies and programmes and agriculture in particular, including poverty reduction strategies Promote Nutrition Orientation to Food Production by incorporating nutrition considerations into development policies and programmes and agriculture in particular, including poverty reduction strategies National Food and Agriculture Policy to aim/strengthen achievement of balanced production and availability of a range of diverse foods National Food and Agriculture Policy to aim/strengthen achievement of balanced production and availability of a range of diverse foods

Adequate and Balanced Nutrition Farm and not Pharmacy, approach Farm and not Pharmacy, approach Diversified Food Basket for Balancing Calorie Intake and Dietary Diversification Diversified Food Basket for Balancing Calorie Intake and Dietary Diversification

Concluding Remarks Reference to National RDA and Food Pyramid Reference to National RDA and Food Pyramid Limiting Sugar Intake Limiting Sugar Intake Eating more Whole Grains Eating more Whole Grains Avoiding Trans fats Avoiding Trans fats Limiting Saturated Fat Intake Limiting Saturated Fat Intake Eating 20% to 35% of daily calories from Fats Eating 20% to 35% of daily calories from Fats Consuming monounsaturated and poly unsaturated Fats Consuming monounsaturated and poly unsaturated Fats Ensuring Safety of Foods Ensuring Safety of Foods

An Old Chinese Proverb REGARDLESS OF WHO THE FATHER OF A DISEASE IS SURELY ITS MOTHER IS IMPROPER DIET

Another Saying Let Food be Our Medicine Let Food be Our Medicine

Contact Contact President President Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Advancement (SNEHA) Kolkata, India

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