A Dietician at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), Ms. Ama Hienne Amoako, has promoted the consumption of nutrient-packed green leafy vegetables to support healthy growth and development.
Speaking to the media, she emphasized that green leafy vegetables, such as kontomire and dandelion, contain significant amounts of folic acid, particularly beneficial for pregnant women to enhance brain development.
Ms. Amoako shared her insights during the weekly “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!” event organized by the Ghana News Agency’s Tema Regional Office.
This initiative aims to foster health-related communication and offer a platform for disseminating health information, ultimately improving health literacy and personal health choices.
Discussing “Paediatric Nutrition,” Ms. Amoako recommended the consumption of fruits like oranges, pawpaws, sweet potatoes, and palm oil, all rich in vitamin A, to maintain clear eyesight for both the mother and child during pregnancy.
She also highlighted the importance of iron supplements in child development when taken during pregnancy.
“The four-star diet, when consumed, helps the body fight diseases and keeps the body fit.
“Parents with newly born babies should bring them out for the early morning sun, which provides vitamin D and also aids in the identification of the child’s eyes if any changes occur,” she advised.
Ms. Amoako advised that pregnant women follow a four-star diet, which includes staples, legumes and seed foods, fruits and vegetables, and animal sources.
This balanced diet is beneficial during pregnancy and after delivery, supporting disease resistance and overall fitness.
Folic acid supplements, along with iron supplements during the antenatal stage, are essential to prevent deficiencies in the developing baby.
She stressed that each nutritional component in our meals plays a vital role in the body’s immunization and development.
Additionally, Ms. Amoako recommended exposing newborns to early morning sunlight, as it provides vitamin D and aids in identifying any changes in the child’s eyes.