THE Malnutrition is a serious public health problem worldwide., being considered the second cause of death in children under the age of five in developing countries. This dietary deficiency can be defined as an insufficiency in essential nutrients.
The occurrence of malnourished people is common in places where people live in extreme poverty and also in regions that suffer with wars and other types of conflict, since the population ends up isolated and has difficult access to food. Malnutrition, however, does not only occur in people who do not have access to healthy food. It is important to note that this problem also affects sick people who cannot absorb nutrients from food satisfactorily. This is common in patients with severe diarrhea, anorexia or with diseases like cancer and HIV.
A malnourished person suffers from several problems, especially with regard to their immune system, which is very fragile and, therefore, it cannot prevent the patient from acquiring diseases. In addition, malnutrition generates large
muscle and fat loss, growth retardation, psychological changes, hair color loss, skin wrinkling, anemia, bone changes, among other problems. In children, it is important to remember that the mental and physical development is seriously compromised..For the diagnosis of malnutrition, normally, the doctor or nutritionist evaluates the patient's clinical condition, analyzing each symptom in detail. Once the diagnosis is made, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible to avoid serious complications and even death. To treat a malnourished person, it is necessary to carry out dietary re-education and treat, when the cause is pathological, the problem that is leading to malnutrition.
According to the Ministry of Health, to have a healthy eating, is important:
- Eat at least three meals and two snacks a day;
- Eating cereals, tubers and roots;
- Eating vegetables, greens and fruits;
- Eat rice and beans at least five times a week;
- Consume milk and dairy products, meat, poultry, fish or eggs;
- Eat only a portion of oil, butter or margarine;
- Avoid soft drinks and industrialized juices, cakes, stuffed cookies and other sweets;
- Decrease the amount of salt in the diet;
- Drink at least two liters of water a day;
- Make life healthier, exercising and eliminating addictions such as smoking and alcohol.
Heads up:Extreme diets with the deprivation of some types of food can trigger malnutrition problems. Before starting a diet, see a nutritionist.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
