Asians, Diet of Health Article

South Asia

India's influence can be seen in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and even Bali (Indonesia). Sri Lankan cuisine is a snapshot of Indian food. Its fiery curry dishes with rice, and hoppers (fried pancake) served with yogurt and honey, are reminiscent of India. Meat and seafood are popular staples, as is tea.

India is the only country in this region that uses milk and dairy products in its diet, mostly in the form of yogurt and cheese. Indian seasonings include turmeric, tamarind, saffron, cumin, coriander, cardamom, mustard, ginger, celery seed, aniseed, fenugreek, curry leaf, and coconut milk. Cashews, pistachios, and almonds are also often found in meat dishes, as well as in the variety of breads that are baked, fried, or roasted to accompany the meals. Indian meals are served with chutney, a spicy relish, or raita, a chilled yogurt to soothe the spiciness of the dish.

In the north of India, meat dishes are more common and are usually made with goat, sheep, or chicken. The meals emphasize breads, grain, and spices. Southern meals focus on rice, vegetables, and chilies. Vegetables include onions, yams, potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkin, banana flowers, cucumbers, radishes, and lotus roots. The sacred status of the cow in the agrarian society has disallowed beef to be eaten by those who practice Hinduism. The protein in these diets comes primarily from legumes or dairy products.

Food Security in Asia

Food is not always readily available across Asia because of a complex web of social and political factors. Weather also plays a heavy role in food security, which is the idea that everyone has access to food at a reasonable cost. If a typhoon causes devastating flooding or severe droughts destroy crops, people suffer because there will be no food to harvest. Droughts can also destroy food supplies and deplete drinking water supplies.

Micronutrient Deficiency

Micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals that the body does not naturally produce. A certain amount of these vitamins and minerals are required for human development, but in areas of famine or insufficient food, populations are at high risk of micronutrient deficiencies. In areas of famine, or where insufficient varieties of foods are available, certain populations (such as pregnant women, infants, and growing children) are often at high risk for nutritional deficiencies.

Vitamin A.

Vitamin A is necessary to develop a strong immune system and proper eyesight. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) not only causes blindness and visual impairment (e.g., cataract), but also growth retardation and susceptibility to infections. When VAD is not detected early, it may make a child more prone to illness and even death. In Asia alone, it is estimated that 125 million children under five years of age are currently at risk, and 1.3 million are reported to be vitamin A deficient.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD).

Iodine is essential for pregnant women, infants, and young children because it regulates the production of hormones necessary for children's development. Providing the recommended daily amount of iodine to mothers and children helps prevent brain damage, stunted growth, and goiters (ball-shaped tumors on the neck) in children. Some children with IDD are unable to move normally, speak, or hear. Asia has an estimated 200 million people at risk of IDDs.

Iron Deficiency and Anemia.

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. The consequences of iron deficiency include impaired cognitive development. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia (low levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin) in Asia, with over 600 million people affected. Young children, adolescent girls, and women are the most severely affected. Southeast Asia has the largest proportion of anemia—about 600 million are at risk for iron deficiency in this region.

Lactose Intolerance.

Historically, milk and dairy products have not been used in East and Southeast Asia. As a result, the hereditary ability to digest lactose is most common in Asia and parts of Africa. Milk and dairy products are a major source of calcium, and people who avoid them because of lactose intolerance may compromise their nutritional status and bone strength. Low-lactose milk products have been developed to reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance (diarrhea, abdominal bloating and gas, and stomach cramps).