When we talk about quality of life, food is a key pillar. Therefore, it is the theme of the second episode of the program CNN Vital Signs, in which Dr. Roberto Kalil will discuss what it means to eat well.
To talk about this, he receives Patrícia Jaime, Scientific coordinator of NUPENS (Nutrition and Health Epidemiological Research Center) at USP (University of São Paulo) and Renata Levy, researcher at the Department of Preventive Medicine, USP School of Medicine.
“The proper nutrition is the one that goes through our kitchens,” says Jaime. “According to the World Health Organization and FAO/UN, in a very technical way, healthy eating would have four attributes. It is suitable for all people at different stages of life – which is suitable for an elderly is different from what it is for a child. It has to be balanced in terms of the amount of nutrients the body needs. It also needs to be moderate and, finally, it has to be diversified, ”continues the expert. And to reach these four points, you need to eat “real food”, that is, to privilege minimally processed fresh foods, ie cooking and avoiding ultra -processed foods.
Experts say Brazil’s food culture tends to reduce the consumption of highly industrialized foods. “In Brazilian reality, for example, the average consumption today is around 20% of the total food of our population. When you take countries like United Kingdom or the United States, this percentage reaches 60%, ”says Renata. “It’s something we have to be alert because it has been rising. We had in 2003, a consumption of 10%. But Brazil is still in a situation that you can try to break the evolution. ”
Impacts of poor diet on health
Eating unrighteously can bring the Development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. “In the latest systematic review, 32 diseases associated with ultra -processed consumption was identified. There are some that is already given, which is already a classic situation, which is obesity. I think ultra -processed foods can even be considered cause of obesity and overweight, ”explains Renata. It reinforces how obesity is related to the diseases mentioned, so it should be avoided.
And the best way to have a healthy diet is to look at the most traditional in Brazilian cuisine, including “rice with beans”. “This healthy eating is a simple, everyday diet. The problem is when we start replacing our traditional dietary pattern with some food products that were presented as convenience, ”says Patricia.
She admits that having time to cook is a big hindrance, but planning can help. “No one will cook beans every day, but I can cook once a week, ”he exemplifies. And she makes an appeal: “Dedicate to food the time she deserves.”
Public policies should help
In addition to the individual effort to better feed, public policies need to support the search for healthy eating. Patricia gives recent examples: “Support these initiatives to define a basic food basket, with a reduction in the price of basic foods. Understand and support that it is necessary to tax the sugary drinks. And on the other hand, to give the tax exemption with zero tariff for basic foods of the Brazilian basic basket, ”he says, referring to the changes brought by the tax reform.
Renata sees advances from the country in this area, but considers that there are points of improvement. “People still have to advance, for example, in a regulation of advertisements, because children do not have to be exposed to advertising. Or a regulation of school canteens. It makes no sense to send your child to a school that should be a protected environment, and it is exposed to a huge sale of ultra -processed foods, ”he says.
The “CNN Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview” will air on Saturday, March 1, at 7:30 pm, at CNN Brazil.
This content was originally published in Dr. Kalil Ultra -processed debate, which make up 20% of the Brazilian diet on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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