Nutrition and Hydration Week, 12th-18th March 2018
Nutrition and Hydration Week highlights the role of food and drink as an essential component to physical and mental well-being. Whilst the initial drive for this week focused on improvements in health and social care settings, it extends far beyond this into the wider community; involving anyone in a caring role (such as parents for their children, or families looking after elderly relatives) and everyone (highlighting the importance of self-care)!
One of the aims of Nutrition and Hydration Week is to emphasize that we as a community, can raise awareness of the importance of nutrition and its role as an essential element of care. Good nutrition and hydration ensures many vital functions including:
- Quicker recovery from illness and a healthy immune system,
- Reduced risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer,
- Improved memory and concentration,
- Temperature regulation,
- Maintained bone and joint health, and;
- The successful transfer of nutrients around the body, and removal of toxins and waste products.
Tips for improved nutritional health include:
- Protected mealtimes where everyone sits to eat together (at the same time and, where possible, interruption-free).
- Awareness of your own hydration and nutritional needs (for example, vegan diets may require vitamin B12 supplements).
- Ensuring around half your daily intake comprises of fruit and vegetables.
- Ensuring at least half the grains you eat are whole grains (such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal and quinoa).
- Switching to water instead of sugary drinks, and drinking 6 – 8 glasses a day.
The water content of an average person is more than 60% and the picture below indicates the water content of different body parts:
It is vitally important to remain well hydrated, click here to read more.
For more information on this campaign see: http://www.nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk/