Introduction
Poor nutrition leads to obesity which in turn causes illness or even death. According to American Medical Association (AMA), the increase in health related diseases and illnesses have been caused by the increase in obesity and overweight rates. Some of these diseases include: diabetes, cancer, insomnia, heart diseases, and cardicascular disease. An individual’s body weight can be measured using body mass index (BMI). Research has found that, about 20% of adults suffer from obesity having a BMI of 30 or more. More than 30% are overweight with a BMI of 25 to 29.9. There is therefore a strong call for involvement to perk up diet and health in order to curb the illnesses associated with poor nutrition. Nutritionists have argued that, water, fruits, and vegetables can be used to counteract this problem (Sturm, 2005). This paper will look at a behavior modification project using fruits and vegetables. It will also explain how nutrition can be used as a preventative approach in reducing illness as well as increasing wellness.
Importance of Fruits and Vegetables
Most of the government health agencies and departments such as World Health Organization (WHO) have been fighting with the growing problem of obesity and unhealthy eating. They have been advocating for a modification in the health program to include more fruits and vegetable. Research has proved that, diets with a bigger portion of fruits and vegetables can lower or even prevent some illnesses such as cancer and heart diseases. Diets rich in vegetables and fruits contain less cholesterol as compared to those rich in carbohydrates or proteins. Obese and overweight people are advised to increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables as this will help them to maintain an incredible figure. Fruits and vegetables contain an implausible number of minerals and vitamins that are essential for our bodies (Johnson, et al 2003). Most of them contain a large portion of water essential for the skin for example watermelons which contains approximately 94 percent water. Seeds contain fiber which assists the body in getting rid of waste substances and bowel movements. Fruits and vegetables come in different colors and contain different nutrients. It is advisable to take different varieties in order to obtain a wide range of benefits. Dark green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage are rich in carotenoids, vitamin E, and C that help in preventing heart diseases and cancer.
How Intake of Fruits and Vegetable Affects Our Body
According to WHO, low intake of fruits and vegetables is likely to cause more heart diseases and stroke problems. A recent research done by WHO in collaboration with FAO, found out that, if the consumption of fruits and vegetables was increased to 400g, most of the chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease as well as obesity would be prevented. The two organizations held their first workshop in Japan at WHO offices to discuss the importance of fruits and vegetables in health. The principal aim of the workshop was to develop a framework that would be used in the development of cost-effective and effective ways of promoting production and consumption of fruits and vegetables among member states (WHO, 2004).
During the workshop, several points were raised that would help to promote health in the member states. It was found that there was need for policy implementation that would support consumption of fruits and vegetables. It was argued that, the increase in fruits and vegetables in ones diet does not mean decreasing the diet’s energy density. On the contrary, fruits and vegetables increase the energy density by replacing other food sources. They should be consumed in wide varieties for maximum benefits. People should understand the definition of fruits and vegetables because not all of the things that are taken to be fruits or vegetable are actually healthy.
Promotion of Fruits and Vegetable Consumption
Cultural and socioeconomic differences between countries affect the promotion and intake of fruits and vegetables; nutritionists are advised to take this into account while promoting their intakes. The promotion of fruits and vegetables has been an on going initiative in most of the developed nations such as United States, Australia, Britain and others although not much have been done in the developing nations. A wide range of programs and interventions that promotes the intake of fruits and vegetables in adults and children has been introduced by WHO (Johnson, et al 2003).
Out of all the studies that have been done, none has demonstrated a disadvantageous effect of the intrusions on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. However, the projects to promote fruit and vegetable intake should be based on scientific evidence for them to be successful. They should be evaluated to ascertain what works best and what does not work. This helps in reducing the amount of money used that would other wise be wasted in doing things that do not work. Messages that are specific of country and culture have to be integrated into guidelines together with other diet messages.
Promoting the consumption of fruit and vegetables for health reasons implies a need to improve fruit and vegetable supply and distribution systems and, above all, to ensure their safety and quality. Increasing supplies of fruits and vegetables to enable all people, everywhere in the world, to have access to them is a major challenge (WHO, 2004 p 11).
This challenge can be addressed by taking the following into consideration:
- Production and intake of fruits and vegetables
- Roles of fruits and vegetables production in income generation and creation of employment opportunities
- Focus on the undeveloped sectors such as the rural areas and assisting them to identify an action plan
- Provision of production inputs and incentives, trade and infrastructure for marketing that would help to boast the production and consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- Involving many stake holders in the production, quality control, processing and marketing of fruits and vegetables
- consumer awareness of the positive effects of increasing their daily intake of fruits and vegetable
- enhancing fruit and vegetable production through diversification
- understanding of consumers’ tastes and expectations
Channels for Marketing of Fruits and Vegetables
For along time, supermarkets have been used as the main channels for marketing fruits and vegetables. This has excluded small growers who find it hard to market their products through the supermarkets. To help such farmers, the government and health organizations is working to establish other marketing opportunity that will favor the small scale growers such as niche markets for specified products (Hosler, 2008). Another way would be to improve the capacity of the small scale growers in terms of their ability to meet the quality and standards of supply required by the supermarkets. In most of the less-developed countries, there is lack of infrastructure that hinders the small farmers from marketing their products and also consumers from accessing a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Dimensions Of Wellness
Wellness is achieved from healthy eating and through taking physical exercises. Wellness occurs in seven dimensions. Healthy eating is a preventative approach which, if adopted, can help in reducing illnesses and increasing wellness. Through taking fruits and vegetables, the skin becomes lighter which in turn improves the general appearance of an individual. They give one a healthy skin that is free from pimples or lashes. Scientific research has found that, increased intake of fruits and vegetables can help in reducing stress and boasting self-esteem. This ensures an improvement in the emotional aspects of an individual’s wellness. Healthy eating helps one to participate more in social interaction and relationships because of the reduced rate of illness. The benefits achieved from healthy eating enable one to spread awareness to other members of the community thus encouraging socialization (HP, 2010).
Through increased production and consumption of fruits and vegetables, the earth and its resources are protected which ensures a healthy leaving. Global warming is reduced because people tend to concentrate more on the naturally growing food other than the processed ones. Intellectual awareness is the ability to improve ones intellectual capacity and creativity. This can be through; taking workshops, reading inspirational materials, or taking up a hobby. With the increase in nutrition awareness, many people have found it interesting to read materials that contain details of healthy eating thus increasing their intellectual awareness. Others involve themselves in nutrition workshops where there get ideas from other people as well as insights on how to improve their health.
Occupational wellness involves making use of skills and talents in a career that is not only enjoyable but also rewarding. Healthy eating as a preventive approach has come along with exciting careers that are yet to be exploited. Individuals now have a wide variety of careers to choose from. Spiritual wellness is increased by being curious and inquisitive, listening to the heart and following ones principles and allowing oneself the freedom of being unique (HP, 2010). It is a personal decision to chose what to do in case one falls ill; some people may chose to take medicine, go to the hospital while others may chose to use the preventative approach of healthy eating.
Conclusion
Daily intake of fruits and vegetables does not only give us a perfect skin but also helps in fighting illnesses. Research has shown that, fruit and vegetable intake can help to cure obesity, heart disease and other chronic diseases. The recommended minimum daily intake of fruits and vegetables is 400g. Fruits and vegetables contain an implausible number of minerals and vitamins that are essential for our bodies. Most of them contain a large portion of water essential for the skin for example watermelons. Intake of fruits and vegetables also helps to fulfil the seven dimensions of wellness Physical, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and intellectual.
Reference List
Health Promotion (2010). Definition of wellness. Web.
Hosler, A. S. (2008). Assessing retail fruit and vegetables availability in urban and rural underserved communities, Public health research, practice and policy, 5(4): A123. Web.
Johnson D.B, et al (2003). Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Homebound Elders: The Seattle Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Pilot Program. Public Health Research, practice, and policy. Web.
Sturm, R. (2005). Childhood obesity- what we can learn from existing data on societal trends, part 1. Public health research, practice, and policy. Web.
World Health Organization (2004).Fruit and vegetable for health, Report of a joint FAO/WHO workshop, Kobe, Japan. Web.