Introduction
Malnutrition can be and has been in the past a real menace to the well-being of women and children. In this article we look at how sound nutritional advice can help eradicate the health complications emanating from malnutrition.
Malnutrition is a health condition that can come about due to inadequate supply of nutrients, unpredictable food supply, improper balance of nutrients and inability of the body to absorb nutrients. It is most prevalent among children and pregnant women. According to the report by UNICEF Kenya, about 26% of the total population of children below the age of five do face the adverse repercussions of this health hazard.
One of these consequences is stunted growth in which despite a child growing older in terms of age, their body sizes do not show any changes. Simply put, they do not look their age. In other instances, malnutrition leads to obesity especially when there is more nutrients than the body needs.
Just like children, pregnant mothers are equally at stake of developing health complications due to this menace. A report published on 20th February this year, Kenya: IPC Acute Food Insecurity & Malnutrition Snapshot, shows that there is a likelihood of about 142 179 pregnant and lactating to get acutely malnourished. Statistics do not lie and figures provided herein clearly denote how serious this can be if not urgently attended to.
Escaping the Statistics
Up to this point, it is crystal clear that malnutrition is majorly a fruit of improper administration of nutrients although illnesses which impair one's digestive making it strenuous to absorb nutrients can also cause it. It then follows that the disease can be prevented by ensuring every meal taken contains all the required nutrients in the right proportions. Needless to say children especially those under five years lack knowledge about nutrition hence it is the parents' or caregivers' onus to see to it that they have a balanced diet.
A Balanced Diet for Malnourished Children
Generally speaking, a balanced diet should have at least all the classes of nutrients. However, for malnourished children with retarded growth, it is important to have in mind that their bodies require more than an ordinarily healthy child's body would demand. This justify the need to have their diet full of supplements.
The first type of nutrients they need are vitamins which must always be backed up by supplements depending on the type of vitamins. Vegetables and fruits are good powerhouse for vitamin C thus giving a lot of this to a malnourished child can be effective. Other vitamins needed in plenty are Vitamin E, Vitamin D and Vitamin B which can be generated from avocado, egg yolks and legumes respectively.
Secondly, they ought to be given food rich in protein but again in large quantities. Proteins help with repair of worn out body parts, a function that comes in handy to correct the defect of retarded growth. They do also trigger muscle building thereby causing growth in a child. Examples of high-protein food are chickens, beans, beef, eggs which are somewhat affordable, and milk. Thirdly, plenty of carbs should not be missed in their diet. This is to necessitate production of energy which their bodies need in order to function well.
NOTE : Children diagnosed with obesity due excess supply of nutrients should not be treated following this guideline. They should be in the care of a health practitioner who can monitor their condition well.
A good diet for malnourished pregnant women
Expectant women always have in their hands the lives of two people, the unborn baby and themselves. Malnutrition can really wreak havoc in their lives as it puts their lives in jeopardy. Based on a report by UNICEF on maternal nutrition, lack of nutrients such as iodine, iron , folate, calcium and zinc can result in them becoming anemic, suffering from hemorrhage, having stillbirth and sometimes giving birth to a child with a delayed development. A diet of pregnant women should therefore consist of meals having these nutrients to help sustain the pregnancy as well eliminate the risk the absence of those nutrients pose on the health of the unborn child.
Conclusion
In conclusion, malnutrition jeopardizes the lives of many children and pregnant women alike. However, the good news is that it is preventable through having a balanced diet as in the case of children. Expecting mothers on the other hand need to concentrate on meals that provide them with minerals such iron and many others that help maintain pregnancy.
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