‘Eat foods rich in protein, vegetables and carbohydrate’
The Resident Medical Officer of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Dr Jaqui Barnes, has underscored the need for every individual to eat foods which are rich in protein, vegetables and carbohydrate.
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In an interview on healthy cooking methods and healthy eating patterns, she advised individuals not to skip breakfast, lunch and supper, stressing that meals taken in a day must be healthy with less cholesterol, less salt, sugar and preservatives.
“One must take in less fried foods because they contain calories which will later affect you,” she said.
She explained that since a number of people engaged in a lot of activities in the morning, they must eat a lot in the morning, moderately in the afternoon and small in the evening, preferably something light, adding, “You do not have to skip meals, they are very important, as well as the time you eat.”
She noted that it was not advisable to eat late in the night because it later affected individuals by causing waist and cholesterol problems, blood pressure, stomach irritation, high blood sugar among other ailments.
“Eating at night is not the problem but what you eat at that time is the problem,” Dr Barnes said, adding that one must not eat heavy food such as fufu, banku in the night but rather take light foods.
“You can take in vegetables or light soup in the evening but it is not advisable to sleep right after eating,” she said, pointing out that developing the habit of exercising at least three times a week, drinking more water - at least eight glasses a day and also eating more fruits were necessary to stay healthy always.
Opinions
Sharing his opinion on his eating pattern with the Daily Graphic, a banker, Mr Anthony Amewoye, said he normally takes tea as breakfast, but does not take anything for lunch and takes rice with chicken for dinner around 7 p.m.
A student, Miss Mary Osei Tiwaah said she takes porridge or tea with bread for breakfast, rice or yam with stew for lunch, and fufu or rice balls around 6 p.m. in the evening.
The lack of proper eating habits, coupled with inadequate exercise, as well as irregular medical check-ups has been identified as prime factors contributing to the radical decline in the life expectancy rate of Africans and Ghanaians in particular.
According to the World Health Organisation life expectancy rate in Ghana dropped from 68 to 63 years in men in 2016, while that of women dropped from 62 to 54 years.