New nutrition recommendations call for more exercise
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New nutritional recommendations urge Finns to exercise more. According to the recommendations, which were made public on Wednesday by a state consultative committee on nutrition, each Finn should engage in daily exercise equivalent to a half hour of brisk walking.
Although the average daily intake of calories has not increased in Finland in recent years, a lack of exercise is leading to more obesity, and to an increase in disease.
Higher average weight also raises people's blood pressure, and increases the risk of various metabolic disturbances, coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes, gout, sleep apnea, gallstones, joint problems, and cancer.
Obesity is seen as the most important cause of type-2 diabetes. If the whole population were of normal weight, an estimated 60-80% of the present cases of the disease would never have emerged.
More exercise is seen as the best way to restore the balance between intake and use of energy.
The group does not recommend great changes in intake of high-energy nutrients. According to the recommendation, 50-60% of energy should come from carbohydrates, 25-35% should come from fat, and 10-20% from protein.
The upper limit for protein has been raised. In fats, the key factor is the type of fat involved; saturated fat should account for no more than 10% of energy intake.
Finns also need more vitamin D than before; the new recommendation for adults is 7.5 microgrammes a day. Finns often get too little vitamin D, especially in the winter months.
The familiar recommendations of limiting intake of salt and sugar are also included in the new guidelines.
In addition to poor nutrition and insufficient exercise, consumption of alcohol and tobacco also remain major health problems in Finland. The committee recommends a daily limit of one serving (10 grammes) of alcohol for women, and twice as much for men. In addition to causing diseases, alcohol contains large amounts of energy.
Alcohol consumption has been growing steadily since the 1960s. In 2004 Finns would consume an average 21.4 grammes of alcohol a day. A study shows that in 2002 the amount of energy from alcohol consumption was nearly twice the recommended maximum limit.
Helsingin Sanomat
