1 Introduction
The changing climate activities have outlined several health risks generated by a
warming and a more variable climate. Traditional foods in India are receiving
greater attention in market and as a health food preventive for centuries,
anti-diabetic potential, hypocholesterolemic activity, control of cholesterol, gall
stones, anti-inflammatory, arthritic aspects and anticancer potency have been
brought out in recent studies. Further, tailor made foods are needed to meet the
various situations through optimization of dietary energy sources in low calorie
diets with reference to fat and proteins to prevent degradation of body proteins.
Further, Cognitive process as learning, memory development, problem-solving
abilities, creative thinking and psychological factors such as depression, anxiety,
aggression and behaviour aspects do play an important role in traditional health
food design. Further, problem of micronutrient deficiency (hidden hunger) is
gaining widespread attention through corporate social responsibility in community
development. Malnutrition is an ecological problem that does not occur alone. Its
consorts are poverty, disturbed family structure ignorance and despair. Although,
the need for dietary supplements is important the problem of malnutrition is larger
than diet alone. Malnutrition is so often found enmeshed in the circumstances of a
deprived environment that it is impossible to eradicate it completely without substantial social and economic reform. The term malnutrition is generally better
understood than intelligence, behaviour or mental development. It has been defined
in various ways. There is a severe malnutrition prevailing among the low income
groups of population comprising of adolescent girls, lactating and pregnant women.
Deficiencies of micronutrients lead to growth retardation morbidity, mortality, brain
damage, eye damage leading to blindness and affect the cognitive and working
capabilities. This drains on the country’s human resource due to the problem of
malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is unnecessary and is tragic. The government of India has drawn up many action plans to reduce the gravity and enormity of this chronic malnutrition. Malnutrition and micronutrient malnutrition are
matters of serious concern in our country as it affects more than 33 % of India’s
population. Women are more likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies than men
are, for reasons including women’s reproductive biology, low social status, poverty
and lack of education. Socio-cultural traditions and disparities in household work
patterns can also increase women’s chances of being malnourished. Globally 50 %
of all pregnant women are anaemic, and at least 120 million women in
less-developed countries are underweight which hinders women’s productivity and
can lead to increased rates of illness and mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies are a
matter of major public health concern. Recognizing the international, regional and
national resources coordination and support required, governments, in collaboration
with international agencies, NGOs, the private sector/industry, other expert groups
and the community, should adopt an appropriate combination of strategies under
changing climate. Climate change is a continuous process and health effects on
human beings due to climate change are inevitable. Although climate change is a
550
B.N. Lakshmi and T.S. Indumathi
The changing climate activities have outlined several health risks generated by a
warming and a more variable climate. Traditional foods in India are receiving
greater attention in market and as a health food preventive for centuries,
anti-diabetic potential, hypocholesterolemic activity, control of cholesterol, gall
stones, anti-inflammatory, arthritic aspects and anticancer potency have been
brought out in recent studies. Further, tailor made foods are needed to meet the
various situations through optimization of dietary energy sources in low calorie
diets with reference to fat and proteins to prevent degradation of body proteins.
Further, Cognitive process as learning, memory development, problem-solving
abilities, creative thinking and psychological factors such as depression, anxiety,
aggression and behaviour aspects do play an important role in traditional health
food design. Further, problem of micronutrient deficiency (hidden hunger) is
gaining widespread attention through corporate social responsibility in community
development. Malnutrition is an ecological problem that does not occur alone. Its
consorts are poverty, disturbed family structure ignorance and despair. Although,
the need for dietary supplements is important the problem of malnutrition is larger
than diet alone. Malnutrition is so often found enmeshed in the circumstances of a
deprived environment that it is impossible to eradicate it completely without substantial social and economic reform. The term malnutrition is generally better
understood than intelligence, behaviour or mental development. It has been defined
in various ways. There is a severe malnutrition prevailing among the low income
groups of population comprising of adolescent girls, lactating and pregnant women.
Deficiencies of micronutrients lead to growth retardation morbidity, mortality, brain
damage, eye damage leading to blindness and affect the cognitive and working
capabilities. This drains on the country’s human resource due to the problem of
malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is unnecessary and is tragic. The government of India has drawn up many action plans to reduce the gravity and enormity of this chronic malnutrition. Malnutrition and micronutrient malnutrition are
matters of serious concern in our country as it affects more than 33 % of India’s
population. Women are more likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies than men
are, for reasons including women’s reproductive biology, low social status, poverty
and lack of education. Socio-cultural traditions and disparities in household work
patterns can also increase women’s chances of being malnourished. Globally 50 %
of all pregnant women are anaemic, and at least 120 million women in
less-developed countries are underweight which hinders women’s productivity and
can lead to increased rates of illness and mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies are a
matter of major public health concern. Recognizing the international, regional and
national resources coordination and support required, governments, in collaboration
with international agencies, NGOs, the private sector/industry, other expert groups
and the community, should adopt an appropriate combination of strategies under
changing climate. Climate change is a continuous process and health effects on
human beings due to climate change are inevitable. Although climate change is a
550
B.N. Lakshmi and T.S. Indumathi