RESUMEN
Dietary diversification through crop diversification in a farming community is a useful low-cost strategy for combating micronutrient (Mn) deficiencies (hidden hunger) in Indian diets. With advocacy and awareness, even farmers with small and marginal land holdings can be persuaded to divert small pieces of land from traditional crops, to MN-dense crops like vegetables, fruits, pulses, and millets. Backyard poultry with high egg-yielding birds is a good option to promote, since eggs are highly nutritious. To ensure that this farm produce is primarily consumed at home and only excess sold, there has to be a robust strategy of behavioural change communication. Educational intervention/technology transfer can be through a combination of centralised training programmes, hands-on training in farms, as well as through distribution of simple educational pamphlets. Since nutrition security goes beyond food security and includes safe environment, drinking water, and health care, the educational package should be a holistic one. Pregnant women and mothers with under 24-month-old children (the first 1000 days after conception) are the most effective group to target. Recent studies including the one reported here in a tribal community show that such a strategy can help crop diversification, as well as marked improvement in the mothers' understanding of health, food, and nutrition. Significant improvement in household vegetable consumption can also be achieved.
RESUMEN
Cereal-based diets of the people in developing countries are qualitatively deficient in micronutrients-vitamins and minerals-due to low intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes and foods of animal origin. Consumption of nutritious millets has also come down in India. Calorie sufficiency may ensure protein sufficiency (though not protein quality), but it does not ensure adequacy of micronutrients. Studies in several countries in Asia, and India show that with education and advocacy even farmers with small and marginal land holdings can be persuaded to raise homestead vegetables and fruits gardens and increase household vegetables consumption. Backyard poultry also has good acceptance and impact on household egg consumption. For best results, the community, especially the mothers have to be educated about the importance of nutrition for health and wellbeing. Studies done by the authors in the villages of Medak district, of the South Indian state of Telangana, show remarkable improvement in the knowledge of food, nutrition, hygiene and health of mothers with children under 3 years of age, with education-behavioural change communication. Impact of nutrition gardens and backyard poultry with high egg-yielding breeds had positive impact on the household consumption of vegetables and eggs.
Asunto(s)
Abastecimiento de Alimentos , Hambre , Agricultura , Niño , Preescolar , Dieta , Femenino , Humanos , VerdurasRESUMEN
Chronic renal failure, characterised by two factors acting in opposite directions with respect to the serum thyroid homone levels was chosen for the study. Healthy controls, donors undergoing nephrectomy and renal transplant recipients were studied. In transplant recipients, presurgical levels of total thyroxine(TT4), free triiodothyronine(FT3) and free thyroxine(FT4) were lower than controls, and immediately after the release of arterial clamps, there was an upsurge of total triiodothyronine (TT3), TT4, FT3 and FT4 due to administered and/or endogeneously secreted catecholamines. The levels of the 7th day were comparable to the presurgical levels. The changes observed in donors and recipients were similar indicating that the hormonal changes observed are mostly due to surgical stress. Recovery in the hormonal status did not start in the first week of posttransplant period.