Unreasonable diet of Vietnamese people increases disease

'After 10 years, the amount of fish meat consumed in Vietnamese meals has increased by half but the vegetables have decreased. Fish meat increased, causing the death rate of non-communicable chronic diseases to increase, 'said Le Danh Tuyen, deputy director of the National Institute of Nutrition.

People 's daily meals are changing a lot in recent years. Previously, the daily ration was relatively monotonous, the meal was mainly rice and vegetables, and less fish meat. Such a monotonous meal model is still found in some poor rural areas, disadvantaged areas or in poor families in both rural and urban areas . But in a large part People in urban areas, well-off rural areas and in many classes with good incomes, the structure of energy bio-constituents in the diet is changing dramatically.

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Illustration.

The latest points about Vietnamese diets in this study, sir?

- People eat more meat, fish, eggs than before. While animal-based foods increase, the number of vegetables of all kinds is lower (see table).

What does this have to do with the situation of chronic diseases such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease or diabetes that are increasing very strongly in Vietnam?

Changes in food consumption - daily food have greatly influenced the current model of disease and death in our country. While the morbidity and mortality rates of infectious diseases are reduced thanks to the effectiveness of disease prevention, the incidence and mortality of chronic non-communicable diseases tend to increase. This is also a general rule for developed countries when entering into the economic transition period.

The current quality of life of a part of the population increases, nutritional quality of meals also increases. The excess of energy is closely related to the increase of overweight and obesity. Meat consumption and fat also increase the rate of people with blood lipid content, the rate of people with diabetes also increases.

So according to you, what should be adjusted?

Food ingredients in the current meal have unexpected changes. Meat consumption is much higher than the recommended level, while consumption of fish and other seafood, especially vegetables, is low.

We should keep meat and meat-based dishes around 50-60 grams / person / day, so increase fish and seafood / seafood to 100-150 grams / person / day, try to increase the amount of vegetables and ripe fruits . Vegetables should eat 200-300 grams per day. Limit grease at 20 grams / day / person. Thus, we still maintain the energy-generating structure at a reasonable level and avoid adverse health effects.

Meat is a food that contains animal protit, has a higher biological value than plant protit, has some essential micronutrients but eating a lot of meat and many times a week can cause many adverse health consequences.

Many scientific studies have shown a meat-eating association with cardiovascular disease, arthritis, allergies, cancer and the loss of calcium in the body. About salt, it is recommended that each person should use less than 10 grams / day.

In children, especially children under 6 months of age, exclusive breastfeeding is required . After a six-month period, breastfeeding should be extended to 2 years of age, next to meals. Children who eat too much protit including protit from cow's milk cause a burden for kidneys.

With the results of this study, what do you think are the recommendations for nutrition practice and policies related to nutrition and health?

Until now, we still have 29.3% of children under 5 years of age with stunting malnutrition, which is the main reason leading to low height in adults. The main cause is maternal multi-micronutrient deficiency right from the pre-pregnancy period, during pregnancy, lactation and in children under 2 years of age. This is also the result of the monotonous, unbalanced diet above.

Besides, unreasonable diet-related diseases, high energy consumption, fat and protit also increased. This is creating a 'double burden' of malnutrition in our country.

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Recommendations on nutrition practices and policies related to nutrition and health will be an important part of the National Strategy on Nutrition for the period of 2011-2020, which the Ministry of Health is working with other ministries. soon submit to the Government this year. Including nutrition labeling for food so that people have the right to choose, know what food they eat, how much.

We also need to have instructions on specific physical activity for each target group, based on energy consumption. Communication should be strengthened so that people have awareness and practice to maintain a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, keep food hygiene and safety, not smoke, enhance daily physical activity . aimed at protecting health, preventing diseases, raising adult height, and contributing to prolonging the life of Vietnamese people.

The National Nutrition Survey in 2010 was implemented from September 2009 to the end of 2010, implemented by the National Institute of Nutrition and the General Statistics Office, covering over 7,600 households, living in all regions. Ecology across the country.

The National Nutrition Survey conducted every 10 years, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the nutrition program implemented in the past 10 years and collecting information to develop a national nutrition strategy for the coming period.

In parallel with this survey, the National Institute of Nutrition is developing a national nutrition strategy 2011-2020, which is expected to be submitted to the Government for approval this year.