Page 40 - FoodFocusThailand No.200 November 2022

SPECIAL FOCUS

Guidelines to Promote Desirable
Dietary Behaviors
• Eating a wide variety of healthy foods
To meet their daily nutritional needs, people
of working age should eat a well-balanced diet
that includes foods from all five food groups.
This includes consuming a variety of vegetables
and fruits to ensure that the body receives all
the vitamins and minerals.
• Limiting high-sugar, high-salt, and
high-fat foods One of the primary causes of
obesity is an excess of sugar consumption.
Too much sugar in the bloodstream can
cause vascular wall cells to be damaged
more easily, as well as increase the risk of
diabetes. Salty food is also unhealthy and
However, when it comes to adding saltiness to food, the should be consumed in moderation. One easy way to
saltiness is typically derived from salt or sodium chloride. And eat less sodium is to simply skip adding the famous
our working-age populations are more likely to consume salty table condiment “prik nam pla” to your food. In addition
foods by seasoning their food liberally. The HBSS health to sweet and salty foods, deep-fried and stir-fried
behavior survey also revealed that most Thai people (91.8%) dishes that use a lot of oil, such as pad thai and crispy
prefer salty foods, with common seasonings being fish sauce, fried mussel pancakes, should also be limited to stay
soy sauce, seasoning sauces, etc. healthy, as reused cooking oil can raise cholesterol
Aside from poor food consumption habits, the following levels and is extremely bad for blood vessels and the
changes in dietary patterns and modern food consumption heart.
trends are also important. • Selecting hygienic and freshly cooked foods
Consumption of undercooked and unhygienic food Consumption of unclean and poorly cooked food is one
Unsanitary cooking practices and the use of low-quality food of the factors contributing to health problems in working
ingredients can result in food tainted with pathogens, people. As a result, maintaining food hygiene is critical
contaminants, and harmful chemicals. to avoiding illness caused by microorganisms and
Western fast food’s influences Because of their contaminants, which can have long-term health
hectic schedules, working people prefer convenience consequences.
foods that are easier to eat and do not require a lot of Finally, after we have learned that modern life may
utensils, such as sandwiches, hamburgers, pies, cakes, and increase the risk of chronic health issues like NCDs,
ice cream. But these foods are usually high in sugar, carbs, which are becoming more common now and no longer
and salt. constrained to the elderly, do you think this issue should
Dining out frequently Socioeconomic changes have an be raised at the top of the national agenda before it is
impact on people’s lifestyles. Many members of modern families too late?
are of working age. Working outside the home and long
commutes make it difficult for them to eat with their families,
let alone cook together. As a result, many choose to dine out
or rely heavily on food delivery apps, which is a simpler, more More Information Service Info C003
convenient, and faster way to eat.
Unfortunately, all of these behaviors are the causes
of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
pressure, heart disease, cancer, stroke, gastrointestinal www.thaidietetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/อาหาร.pdf
diseases, etc.

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