Global Nutrition

The following was an assignment completed for my dietetic internship. I find global issues to be interesting. I never thought that I would enjoy International Studies but while in school during my undergraduate career, I took that course and I could not quit talking about things that was going on in the world. You may or may not find the following interesting, but I thought it was worth posting!

Enjoy!

Global Nutrition Assignment

1)      Of the numerous causes of hunger identified in this week’s readings, choose one that you believe would be particularly surprising to most people in the US. Describe to your reader’s how/why this issue impacts hunger.

As I was reading this week, I came across a statistic that reported that stated that greater than 35% of food emergencies across the world are due to human causes such as war, oppression, and displacement. I believe that this statistic would surprise most people in the U.S. because it even surprised me. According to Santa Clara University (2010), “little benefit is derived from aiding poor nations. Aid sent to developing countries rarely reaches the people it was intended to benefit. Instead, it is used by oppressive governments to subsidize their military or spent on projects that benefit local elites, or ends up on the black market.” To hear that help is offered to countries yet authority is keeping it from the people who needs it most is shocking. While in college I took an online course called International Studies in which I had to learn about a lot of different global issues. I remember watching scenes from the movie Black Hawk Down and reading about how the UN sent food to Somalia and sent soldiers there to help this country. However, a lot of food sent to this country and when it was directly delivered to the people, it was beneficial. However, when the UN relied on the authority in the country to distribute the food, it was withheld from the people who needed it most. It is hard for me to comprehend that people who are in charge of a country would want to harm others. Here in the United States, we have all sorts of programs that aide those in need and it is easy to forget that other places are not that fortunate. When food is withheld from those in need, the situation only gets worse which makes the global hunger issue worsen.

2)      Discuss the role of women in the issue of global hunger. Be sure to address both how women are particularly impacted by hunger as well as the potential role of women in combating hunger worldwide.

The World Food Programme (2012) states that pregnant women have special nutritional needs and if they can receive proper nutrition while pregnant and while breastfeeding, they can prevent a lot of issues that may arise and increase the number of children and women who are malnourished. The organization also mentions that it is extremely important for women to receive proper nutrition that were malnourished before pregnancy because the women are lacking essential vitamins and minerals. Feeding America (2012) makes a great point by stating that “the immature immune systems of young children, ages 0-5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections is adversely affected.” If a mother is properly nourished during pregnancy and after, she can exclusively breastfeed her child, especially mothers who do not have a safe water supply for formula mixing. If this would happen, women could help combat the global hunger issue. However, not only would nutrition during and after pregnancy have to be fixed, but breastfeeding education would be beneficial as well.

3)      Describe for your readers the potential impact they could make themselves on global hunger by personally practicing sustainability in their own lives. Be sure to make the connections between the two very clear.

If everyone practiced sustainability such as recycling, reducing food waste, donating unwanted food, cutting down on paper usage and waste, composting, and other small changes, this world would see huge changes. George Kent, writer for the Huffington Post (2010), states that the main issue of world hunger is “there is plenty of food. The problem is that more than a billion people are so poor that they cannot afford the food that is out there. The food is available, but not accessible to them.” Supporting agencies such as Samaritans Purse and Feeding America are great ways that we can use that extra change in our pockets of that money that we throw away on excess food to help those in need. Instead of running the water while you brush your teeth, cut the water off and save on your water bill. By during this you can take the money you save over time and put it towards an organization that helps those without a way to access safe water get water that is safe to drink. According to the World Food Programme (2012), the world has enough food to supply the entire population; however, it is not easy to get the food to people in need. Some countries try to control the population of their country, while the issue remains that poor countries have a large population with large problems such as disease and hunger. Without proper nutrition, one cannot fight off diseases and many are dying from malnutrition and diarrhea in third-world countries while wealthier countries are combating obesity and over population. Where do we draw the line? Where does government need to step in? Where does authority need to dictate who can have children and who gets to eat? These are all questions that need to be answered. Sustainability is something everyone can practice in their own lives. A sustainable practice may be something as small as not wasting food or not overeating, but if everyone would practice small changes, the world would see a large difference in issues such as global hunger.

References

Feeding America. (2012). Impact of hunger. Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger.aspx.

Kent, G. (2010). Huffington Post. Achieve sustainability or end hunger?. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-kent/achieve-sustainability-or_b_669304.html.

Santa Clara University. Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (2010). World hunger: A moral response. Retrieved from: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v5n1/hunger.html.

World Food Programme. (2012). Nutrition for mothers and young children. Retrieved from http://www.wfp.org/nutrition/mothers-children.

This blows my mind...

“Today, one in seven people do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life, making hunger and malnutrition the number one risk to health worldwide -- greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis  combined.”

-World Food Programme, 2011

Preparation

Preparing for what comes after graduation in May began the day that I chose my major in college but never has it felt so real as it does during my last Christmas break during my college career.


After taking the GRE I was so excited and I still am but stress is what I call trying to make the "right" decision.


I applied for a job with a health district and listed on my resume that my anticipated graduation date is May 2011. I also applied for a job with a school system in a town nearby with the same thing listed. High hopes is why I applied, how great would it be to know that I have a job right out of college.


Also, I am working on DICAS applications for two distance dietetic internships. I have been working on setting up rotations with potential preceptors and it is neat getting to interact with Registered Dietitians in all of the fields out there in my surrounding community. So the applications are due February 15th and I will find out if I was accepted the second week of April.


Also, I am still working on figuring out which Master's program I want to apply for.


Moreover, I am still planning my wedding. It is less than 160 days away now. I am registered for my casual china, small appliances, linens, and home decor. I am so excited that my first shower is in January! My bridesmaids are getting their dresses in, I have alterations scheduled for February, I have booked the florist, cake baker, photographer, and a lot more! The save the date's have been sent and now the tedious job of finding and booking a caterer!


My mama and I was talking today and she made the statement that my granny thinks that no one actually listens to nutritionists and dietitians in clinical settings. I hate that my granny feels this way, but to some extent it is true. Medical Nutrition Therapy is often practiced but changes are never made in any persons life until he or she is actually willing to change their ways or in this case eating patterns and diet. A diabetic could be a diabetic for years and the damage that occurs to his or her body over time may increase the persons willingness to change their ways and improve their lifestyle, but it may take years for the person to see it. Just like with heart patients, it may take someone having multiple heart attacks for him or her to realize that diet and exercise may really be beneficial. Sometimes a person giving one a diet "to try" is not enough. It takes a willing and motivated heart with a burning desire to change. The same goes with any profession, not just nutrition. Teachers in classrooms can teach a classroom until they are blue in the face but if a student is not willing to put effort into paying attention and studying and actually wanting to learn the material, then the lesson will not be remembered. I think that there are a lot of grateful people in the world that have benefited from a nutritionist or a dietitian out there.


I still get the question: What do you do with a degree in nutrition? There are endless opportunities. In my small town there are at least three registered dietitians that I can name. One is at the health department working with Women, Infants, and Children. One is the School Nutrition Director who is also over the Summer Feeding Program, and contracted out through the local hospital, and the other dietitian is a clinical dietitian at the Medical Center of Central Georgia working with both inpatient and outpatient settings. There is also a dietitian that is contracted through the local dialysis center and at the local long-term care facilities. That is not even near the only job options. Registered Dietitians are all over television now on talk shows, on the food network, and on other shows. Dietitians can work for corporations such as US Foods and Mars M&M. Some insurance agencies hire dietitians in order to reduce their costs. Dietitians can be employed with the military as a civilian on the bases or enlisted. Dietitians work selling products such as natural herbs and in organic stores as consultants. Some retailers hire dietitians to be "personal grocery shopping assistants," some dietitians are lactation consultants, some are private consultants or business owners, programs like weight watchers hires nutritionists and dietitians, some dietitians get paid to write for magazines such as Shape or Cosmopolitan, some dietitians get paid to blog, and there are endless opportunities in media and sales for dietitians. Dietitians also work with research since nutrition is a "new science" and products and supplements are constantly being developed research opportunities are endless. So is nutrition and dietetics a useless field? No! I think not!

Christmas is Saturday! Where has this year gone? It seems like I was just at Benton's (my fiance') friends house for New Years Eve playing catch phrase with friends waiting on 2010. I am so grateful for this time of year though where my Savior's birthday is celebrated because God sent his only son to save sinners like me and you. I am so grateful that I know that my father was born to save! My sins are forgiven and my life is in his hands. All of the preparation in the world could never prepare me for things that he has planned. I constantly try my best to plan every detail of my life, but God is in control and will provide and has every plan already laid out for me and my future. And sometimes, it takes a while for me to step back and remember this.