The nutritionist analyzes that, as household buyers, adults provide meals with little nutrients
More than a quarter of Brazilian children and adolescents, or 27.4% of them, have high cholesterol, while 19.2% have variations in LDL, better known as “bad cholesterol”.
The data comes from a study by the School of Nursing of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), which analyzed 47 articles made with 62,530 volunteers from all over Brazil aged between 2 and 19 years. The conclusion was made known by the newspaper O Globo.
For nutritionist Cristina Menezes, this result confirms other studies, such as a work published by The Lancet magazine in 2019. The publication pointed out that about 11 million people die every year from poor diet.
“This event was what increased the rate of obesity, diabetes, heart problems and also caused nutritional deficiencies,” says the specialist in Clinical and Sports Nutrition and Bowel Modulation, in an interview with Earth.
“Well, here in Brazil we are about 41 million obese [dados do IBGE, de 2020] and if adults are responsible for food purchases, our children are at risk [de comer mal]”, he reports.
For example, Cristina mentions a classic dish in the homes of Brazilian families: beans and rice. The problem, according to the nutritionist, is that beans often have saturated fat like peppers. This is what harms health.
Another factor, which mainly affects children, is the replacement of nutritious foods with snacks, sandwiches, chips and other snacks. “This really raised the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in most of these children,” points out the professional, who recalls having previously seen patients in this group with fatty liver disease, the name given to excess fat in the liver.
How to balance children’s meals
Faced with this scenario, the nutritionist believes that the challenge lies in teaching children to eat well, which means giving priority to fruit and vegetables in their diet and leaving aside ultra-processed foods.
“People need to warn [os pais] in this sense that the choices are not always expensive. These difficulties sometimes arise due to a lack of knowledge and a desire to please the child, ”she reflects.
Other tips for a more balanced diet are:
- Do not offer sugar and hydrogenated fats to children under 2 years of age;
- Introduce fruit, vegetables, chicken and meat from six months of age;
- Stimulate the practice of physical activities;
- Swap the juice, especially if it’s canned, for the fruit itself;
- Reduce the consumption of fried foods.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
