This is the best time to discuss nutrition and health when the world is in the middle of a pandemic. But in reality, health must always be our priority. To remind us of the value of the right nutrition, every year the first week of September is celebrated as the National Nutrition Week of India. From 1st to 7th September numerous campaigns and social events are held to spread awareness. The main significance of this national event lies in the making of a healthier and happier India.
National Nutrition Day Theme
What goes inside is reflected outside, our energy levels, health, capacity to work, and ultimately our lifestyle depends on the food we consume. The theme for National Nutrition Day 2021 is ‘Eat right, Bite by Bite’, so let’s start eating the right food and getting nutrition through every bite we take.
Some nutrition tips women must follow to meet their health goals
First of all, let us not count calories and talk about what you ‘need’ to include in your regular meals. Every ‘body’ is different and so are its requirements. So, the below is general advice to get into the habit of nutritious eating.
Don’t miss out on essential nutrients
We all are familiar with this list of nutrients that we know our body needs at all times in considerable amounts. Proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and water are the most important elements that directly help us to function in various ways. We assume that our daily food intake contains all of these, but that is not the case. So, you must be intentional about what you eat on a regular basis and ensure that you consume at least the minimum required amount of each essential nutrient.
To make it easier for you here is a list of common foods that are rich in particular nutrients:
- Carbohydrates: rice, oats, banana, and beetroot
- Proteins: eggs, pulses, nuts, and dairy products
- Vitamins: fruits and vegetables
- Minerals: whole grains, legumes, fruits, and leafy vegetables
- Fats: fish, nuts, and vegetable oils (healthy fats)
Other Important Nutrients
Iron
It is one of the major components that affect the production of red blood cells in our body. It is the most common nutrient that you might be consuming in a lesser amount than required. Some iron-rich foods are spinach, beans, chicken, tuna fish, lentils, etc.
Calcium
We hear of bone problems and the first thing we say is ‘calcium deficiency’, well that’s mostly true. But other than that calcium is a very crucial nutrient that our body needs for so many internal processes. So it is advised to keep your calcium guard high with calcium-rich foods like- milk, cereals, bone fishes, yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, etc.
Folic acid
Another popular name in the world of women nutrition is folate or folic acid which is more likely to be deficient in your body. It helps in blood production, cell division, and cell growth. Well, that’s a lot of good work so don’t forget to include citrus fruits, legumes, avocados, and leafy vegetables in your food.
These nutrients are literally life savers. Most of the physical issues that women face are due to the deficiency of one of these which is very common in adult women and keeps getting worse with age. Celebrate the National Nutrition Week 2021 by creating a habit of ‘eating right’ and encourage others as well to commit to a better diet.