National Nutrition Week: How Health Insurance Can Support Your Nutritional Goals

What Does National Nutrition Week Signify?

National Nutrition Week is a global event that focuses on nutrition and adopting nutritious food for a healthy life. This event was first introduced in the year 1973 by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). In India, Nutrition Week has been celebrated every year since 1982 in the first week of September. The day was observed by various communities who came together to advocate the significance of this week by various means.

In many countries, a correlation has been observed between the country’s economic growth and the food produced there. Undernutrition is a problem in many developing and developed nations. Even in India, despite steps being taken to curb nutritional gaps, undernutrition and malnutrition persist among the poor and other classes of people.

National Nutrition Week reminds us that food is a critical component of life and not merely a means of sustenance.

Why Do We Need a Nutritious Diet?

Nutrients or nutrition support the human body to grow and have a strong immune system. A healthy diet gives individuals nutrients. So, we need to eat a balanced diet including all the crucial nutrients such as vitamins, protein, minerals, fiber, fats, carbohydrates, and water. All these nutrients play a specific role in maintaining the metabolic functions of our body.

Hence, a nutritious diet is the key to sustainable growth in life. Lack of nutrition can cause many diseases like mental imbalance, poor eyesight, stress, and lower lifespan. Hence, it is crucial to eat the right food in the right quantity.

Nutritional Challenges Experienced in India

India faces several significant nutritional challenges like malnutrition including undernutrition and obesity. Both these issues pose a threat to the public health system of the country.

Many factors contribute to the situation like poverty, lack of good healthcare infrastructure, lack of education, and climate change. National Nutrition Week aims to plan strategies to overcome these obstacles.

How to Observe National Nutrition Week?

To observe National Nutrition Week, try to incorporate a healthy way of life including a healthy diet. Here are some tips for healthy eating and making healthier choices: ·

• Include fruits and vegetables in your diet
• Avoid eating saturated fat and sugar to lower heart diseases
• Consume less salt to avoid hypertension
• Include healthy fish that provides vitamins and minerals
• Include high-fiber carbohydrates in the diet
• Avoid alcoholic drinks
• Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration
• Never skip breakfast

How Health Insurance Can Support Your Nutritional Goals?

Health insurance supports the nutritional goals of policyholders in different ways:

• Dietitian Consultations

Many private health insurance policies cover dietitian consultations to allow policyholders to make changes in their diet for better health. By consulting with your dietitian, you can ensure to make your diet nutritious and healthy. This will help you fight issues like malnutrition or obesity.

• Weight Management Programs

Weight management programs help individuals lose weight and maintain a balanced weight throughout their life. These programs help policyholders stay focussed on what they eat and be mindful of their diet to maintain a good weight. This way these programs focus on helping individuals build daily habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Chronic Disease Management

Many health policies offer chronic disease management programs which involve a holistic approach aiming to ensure the required care, attention, and monetary support to policyholders with chronic diseases. These policies ensure that patients with such diseases can get better coverage and do not have to spend a lot of money on their treatment and most of their expenses are covered under the health policy.

• Preventive Health Screenings

Preventive healthcare helps people live longer and healthier lives. These preventive screenings ensure that you stay healthy by screening for common and fatal diseases. These screenings detect health problems early on to determine the most effective treatments and prevent certain diseases.

All the above benefits of a health insurance policy make sure that you maintain your nutritional goal and achieve the greater goal of being fit and healthy, work hard, earn revenue, and be an asset to your country and its economic growth.