3 fives for healthy life

[LahoreEstate]

3 fives for healthy life



Saturday, February 07, 2009
by Muhammad Qasim

Islamabad

The number of deaths due to diseases caused by consumption of food in an unsafe manner is on the rise, especially in children under five years of age.

Every day people die from preventable food borne diseases despite the fact that most of them know that prevention is better than cure but what they do not know is that how to prevent water and food borne diseases exactly. Health experts believe that a huge budget being spent in health sector could be saved only by making public aware about how to prevent food borne diseases.

“By choosing safer food, healthier diets and regular physical activity, everyone can enjoy a healthier life regardless of age,” said Head of Community Medicine at Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, Professor Dr Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry while talking to ‘The News.’ He added that this is also a new health promotion campaign of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

‘The 3 Fives’; Five Keys to Safer Food, Five Keys to a Healthier Diet and Five Keys to Appropriate Physical Activity, primarily provide simple messages on what to consume to stay healthy, how to prepare food safely, and how to keep moving to stay in good shape, said Dr Ashraf.

He added that five keys to safer food are: keep clean (wash your hands often and always before handling and consuming food), separate raw and cooked food (raw food can contain dangerous micro organisms), cook thoroughly (steaming hot, all parts of food should be thoroughly cooked), keep food at safe temperatures (below 5 degree centigrade or above 60 degree centigrade) and use safe water (bottled water is the safer choice for drinking) and raw materials.

“Five keys to a healthier diet are: give your baby only breast milk for the first six months of life, eat a variety of foods, eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, eat moderate amounts of fats and oils and eat less salt and sugars,” said Dr Ashraf.

Talking of importance of physical activity in keeping oneself healthy, he said it is never too late to start regular physical activity; “Be physically active every day in as many ways as you can; do 30 minutes of moderate — intense physical activity five days a week and if you can, add vigorous-intensity physical activity and encourage young people to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily,” he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=161198