The Sunday News
Innocent Mazarura
1. What are the dangers associated with the Zimbabwean diet of isitshwala/sadza, meat and vegetables?
There seems to be a tendency among families in eating a monotonous diet with the same foods every time and that is not recommended. The idea of only having isitshwala/sadza, meat and covo vegetables results in the body being deficient of certain nutrients mainly minerals such as calcium found from dairy products.
Generally an individual is encouraged to eat a wide variety of diet consisting of various food groups.
As shown in the picture (right) there are various food groups and an individual is supposed to eat foods from at least four food groups in a meal or a day.
The amount of food is also important to take note of so that an individual gets adequate food to avoid deficiency of any nutrient or excess of any nutrient. Let me clarify something, currently people are getting all sorts of advice regarding food of which some of the information is really misleading.
We have heard people discouraging people from eating meat at all saying it is bad for your body. This is not really true, meat is still an important part of the diet as it provides a good quality protein source and is utilised well in provision of minerals such as iron that is difficult to get from plant sources.
2. What are the effects of such a diet on people with chronic disease such as HIV, hypertension, cancer and diabetes to name a few?
People living with chronic diseases such as HIV, cancer or diabetes require good nutrition to ensure their bodies receive adequate nutrients to boost their immune system. In most circumstances they are taking medication and for that medication to work well they should continue receiving good nutrition.
There is a synergestic relation between infection and nutrition, where poor nutrition further weakens the immune system resulting in the body being prone to more infections and further weakening. As infection further weakens the body, the nutritional status diminishes as well. And for these chronic illnesses there are some dietary modifications that should be followed, for instance reduction in sugar, salt and fatty foods among diabetic patients.
It is encouraged to get advice from a nutritionist, dietician or health worker from your nearest health facility. People should avoid getting nutrition advice from the street as it is dangerous.
3. What constitutes an average or acceptable diet?
An acceptable diet is generally a diet that consist a wide variety of foods in their right proportions. The picture shows food groups where one should select their foods from and can guide people on quantities they should eat.
Your plate should consist of foods from at least four food groups as shown in the standard healthy plate and in a day an adult average person should eat at least three meals and two snacks.
4. WFP notes that only 11 percent of children between six and 23 months in Zimbabwe receive the minimum acceptable diet. What is your take on their findings?
Of course as a country we are not doing well on some of the infant feeding practices. For instance proportion of children receiving a minimum acceptable diet is low, according to the previous National MICS survey it was shown that only 17 percent of children are receiving a minimum acceptable diet, that relates to dietary diversity and meal frequency children are receiving.
It means caregivers of young children from six months where complementary foods should be introduced are not giving their children a diversified diet and the meal frequency is low.
So every mother or caregiver should be aware that a young child should receive a diet with foods from four or more groups as shown in the picture and depending on the age of the child adequate number of meals and snacks should be provided for the child.
- Mr Innocent Mazarura is the Provincial Nutritionist for Matabeleland South Province in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Information is from the National Nutrition Department in the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
