Iranian Food Pyramid Published

TEHRAN 25, IRNA - The Health Ministry has published the Iranian Food Pyramid to promote healthy eating, said Dr. Zahra Abdollahian, the head of the ministry's Department for Diet Improvement.

Date: 25 April 2015 - 21:09

News ID: ۱۳۱۶۳

Abdollahian said the food pyramid sets guidelines to reduce salt, sugar and oil consumption, Iran Daily reported.
"The Iranian Food Pyramid has been devised based on World Health Organization's recommendations issued on World Health Day themed ‘Food Safety: From Farm to Plate’ this year,” she said.
'According to WHO, every individual must have a daily balanced diet and dietary diversity to have a healthy body and mind.'
Abdollahian noted that the Iranian Food Pyramid not only includes the five basic food groups, but also foods with the same nutritional values that could replace the basic foods.
She said the five main foods are bread and whole grains, milk and dairy products, vegetables, fruits and meat.
'Iranians are using too much oil, sugar and salt, and less milk and dairy products,' she said, stressing that unhealthy eating is behind the surge in the number of people suffering from chronic diseases.
Abdollahian warned about the growing prevalence of obesity due to high consumption of fast foods.
'Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers and high blood cholesterol levels are blamed on obesity,' she said.
The official said the Health Ministry will oversee food production in the current Iranian year (ending March 20, 2016) to ensure they are healthy and observe the guidelines of food pyramid with regard to the permissible amount of salt, sugar and fat.
'Bakeries have been ordered to reduce salt since last year (ended March 20, 2015) and are obliged to continue to observe the policy this year,' she said.
Abdollahian said every individual must consume at least 400 grams of fruits a day, as they contain high amounts of fiber and antioxidants essential to stay healthy and away from diseases.
10m have high blood pressure
Deputy Health Minister Dr. Ali Sayyari said 10 million Iranians have high blood pressure and seven million are diabetic.
The official warned that 50 percent of individuals are not aware they have high blood pressure or diabetes.
'Every year, 83,000 die as a result of high blood pressure, which could be prevented by eating right, pursuing a healthy lifestyle and undergoing regular and low-cost examinations,' he said.
Sayyari said 25 million are either obese or overweight.
'Obesity is the main reason for premature deaths,' he said.
The deputy minister noted that smoking is another main cause of death among Iranians.
'More than five million spend $3 billion every year on smoking, who are at grave risk of cancers,' he said.
Sayyari said between 3,000 and 4,000 slum dwellers will be covered by health insurance this year to receive free health services.