Rosalee Brown - DIETITIAN'S DESK
The World Health Organisation marks it birth each year by focusing on global health on April 7. This year, the focus is 'Protecting health from climate change'.
It is agreed that changes are taking place in the global climate which are directly attributable to human actions. According to information from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) 'climate change can have negative impact such as disease outbreaks, the occurrence of extreme events and changes in our marine and terrestrial ecosystem'.
Populations which are poor and lack the means to protect themselves will experience even greater effects. We see changes in the Caribbean in our weather patterns resulting in flooding and droughts which impact on farming and our food security. According to PAHO, societies can actively respond to climate change through mitigation, which aims to reduce or delay the impact, through intervention.
Compost organic waste
One way to make something productive from our kitchen waste is to make compost which can be used to provide nutrients for our soil. The Internet is filled with ideas on how to make your own compost unit; they even now have commercial bins available to do this quickly instead of waiting the traditional six months or more for the creation in your back yard. I am sure Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the local agricultural agency, would be able to provide technical advice on making compost heaps as well.
My non-technical advice from making a heap (and this is if you have a little yard space) is to dig a hole; its width would depend on how much material you plan to put in it and it should be three feet or more deep.
Add shrubs, cut in manageable pieces to the bottom; sprinkle with a thin layer of soil and then with leaves and other cuttings.
Organic matter such as skins of fruits and other 'peeling skin' from ground provisions can be added to this. Keep layering with organic material and thin layers of soil until the hole is full.
Other methods include digging a trench so that when one area is filled, you could move to another part of the trench and add new material. Newer methods also include turning the material to aerate it and to speed decomposition.
Collect all your peelings in a separate container from your main garbage receptacle and start a compost heap in your garden. If you do not have a garden, contact RADA about setting up a compost using a plastic bin or a wooded or wire box in your yard. The advantages include cheaper and safer nutrition for your plants, physical activity and a life lesson for your children. You can also encourage your neighbour to do the same.
Why not start today by doing more to make our planet healthy. Reducing animal products will reduce our total fat and cholesterol consumption, eating locally produced foods will save our industries and reduce our intake of highly processed foods - just some of the contributions you can make right there in your kitchen.
Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
