Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Watching what we eat boosts health and the environment
Ro Collingborn unearths some worrying statistics about women and their dietary health, and tells how they can change their food intake for the better
WHEN I was 11, I went to boarding school, and the meals varied from barely edible to disgusting. In spite of this we had to finish every scrap of food on our plates or remain until we had done so.
This was particularly difficult every Thursday which was always rubbery liver which had been cooked for several hours. Fridays were almost as bad – cold fish and mushy peas followed by bread and “butter” pudding cooked for a longtime using margarine instead of butter.
Weekends were OK until we got to the date and margarine sandwiches which were always served for supper. These went into our pockets when matron wasn’t looking, and then into the rabbit holes conveniently outside the dining room. Ever since those days, I have always finished every meal with a clean plate.
Many farmers’ wives are well used to cooking a big meal and distributing it round the family according to age and demand. Once the children have left home, it’s not so easy to adjust and I often find I have cooked a meal for the two of us that would easily feed four or five. Another problem following on from this is that my boarding school experiences have made me a very good hoover and I absolutely hate to waste any leftovers. I shouldn’t ever be left to wash up by myself, as this means noone notices me when I polish them all off. It’s noteworthy that all this excess food can affect one’s weight, particularly as one gets older and the pounds pile on but don’t pile off.
In a survey of 107 menopausal women, 52% didn’t eat the recommended five-a-day fruit and veg, 81% ate inappropriate portion sizes, 52% didn’t walk daily and, interestingly, 92% ate more quickly than the rest of the family.
Some 92% of these women wanted to lose weight (a figure that probably applies to most of us, male and female), 63% wanted to improve the quality of their food, 75% to improve their fitness, 46% to improve their relationship with food and 57% to find more time to spend on themselves.
Dairy UK recently hosted a conference – Nourishing Girls and Women for a Healthy Future – which considered recent research. In a survey of the current state of the UK diet, 19.5% of women aged 45-64 exceeded alcohol guidelines, 25% had low iron intakes, 9% low calcium intakes, 48% of women were interested in plant-based dairy alternatives and 16% of adults had low vitamin D status.
Some countries are adding Vitamin D to milk which seems a good idea to protect the population, but 48% interested in plant-based alternatives for milk is alarming, when many are already short of micronutrients, to be eschewing one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world.
Free sugar intake was almost double the recommended guidelines in UK adults aged 19-64. We no longer have fridges for coke and sugary drinks in schools, but this was the case for many years.
I learnt from the conference that 80% of women never asked their GP about nutrition advice but tended to search unsubstantiated social media instead.
The Government’s food-based dietary guidelines are represented in the UK Eatwell Guide, which should have benefits both for the health and environment. The guide recommends a plant-rich diet including fruit and vegetables, beans, pulses, wholegrain foods, nuts, seeds and also a moderate amount of meat, dairy, fish and eggs.
It’s been estimated that if everyone in the UK followed this diet, the health of the nation would significantly improve and the environmental impact of our diets reduce by around a third.
It’s important also that the diet must be sufficient in micronutrients, like zinc, iron, calcium, and Vitamin
B12, all found in dairy produce. Health professionals suggest that we follow a meal-time structure with three meals plus snacks, with balanced food groups, monitored portion sizes and know when we are full. Diets can lead to weight gain in the medium to long term. It’s also said that it’s just as dangerous to be too thin as too fat.
It also appears that most of us are not following these guidelines – only 1% of the population managing to follow them all, and only about 30% are meeting five or more of the nine specific recommendations.
This is bound to have consequences for our health. The NHS estimates than one in four adults and one in five children aged 10-11 are obese. Obesity generally occurs when extra calories, particularly those in fat and sugar, are stored in the body as fat. This can cause serious health problems, like type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, breast and bowel cancer and stroke.
It’s a very good reason to watch what we eat, and consider eating smaller portion sizes and food of good nutritional quality. Missing out those empty calories in junk food, together with a bit more exercise, is a good way to start.
Back on the farm we’re noticing that midges are present in large numbers and inflicting some nasty bites. Both Bluetongue disease and Smallenburg are caused by bites from infected midges and both diseases are currently circulating in the UK, affecting cattle and sheep. My husband, Joe, is badly affected with swollen wrists from midge bites, so we hope there’s no crossing of the species barrier!
Ro Collingborn is a Wiltshire dairy farmer and has been dairy chairman of the Women’s Food and Farming Union, on the Milk Development Council, the Veterinary Products Committee, the RSPCA Council and a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust director.