The nutrients that humans incorporate into their bodies are classified into two, the macro and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the nutrients which provide the human body with energy to perform essential functions. Such nutrients are usually needed in large quantities, and they comprise of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Moreover, macronutrients provide calories and also enable humans to carry out significant functions such as converting food into energy, walking, thinking, repairing and growing. On the other hand, micronutrients are the nutrients which the human body require in small amounts and are classified into vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, there are 28 micronutrients which the human body depends on for survival, and apart from those relevant there are other vitamins which are needed, but the human body can do without them.
Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when specific essential nutrients are deficient in the human diet. Also, it happens when the small amount of nutrients consumed by a person fails to meet the demands of the body which eventually results to effect on the physical health, mood, growth, behavior and other functions of the body. Malnutrition mostly affects children and the older adults, and occurs when the diet consumed does not contain the right balance of nutrition for instance when a diet consists of high content of carbohydrates and fewer vitamins. Individuals are also not only regarded as malnourished when they are underweight but even when they are obese. Malnutrition is unveiled when an individual is observed to have symptoms which include; breathing difficulties, higher susceptibility to feeling cold, depression, wounds taking long periods of time before healing, reduced tissue and muscle mass, tiredness, and fatigue. Furthermore; in advanced situations, the affected individuals may become thin, dry, inelastic, pale, and cold which eventually develops to their cheeks looking hollow and eyes sunken among other symptoms. Treatment of malnutrition relies primarily on its severity and the effects that the condition has caused to the affected individual. Along with the procedure, the affected individuals are introduced to a feeding programme which involves a precisely planned diet and probably some other additional supplementary nutrients. However severely malnourished patients receive artificial nutritional support. During the treatment process, the patients are carefully monitored for progress as their treatment is continuously reviewed to make sure that their dietary needs are met Walton et al., 2011).
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Doctors use peanut butter to treat and nourish starving children in the malnourished regions in the world. The reason for using peanut butter for treatment is because it contains all the nutrients which enhance balanced diet consumption in the human body. The nutrients present in peanut butter include; 50% fat, 25% protein, 20% carbohydrates and 2%water. Moreover, it is a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, pantothenic acid, niacin and vitamin B6. Therefore peanut butter is used to enhance the body diet as it supplement’s the required nutrients in the body (Walton and Allen, 2011).
Malawi experiences shortage of food supply to sustain her population as it is a landlocked country found in South-eastern Africa with a rapidly growing population. Additionally, Malawi experiences a hunger season in which most children become malnourished. The food deficiency occurs during the dry periods in which harvested food by the farmers is exhausted by the continually growing population. Research by the World Food Program indicates that 1.3million people in Malawi suffer from food shortages and also shows that an average of 20,000 children joins the Nutritional Rehabilitation Units every year. To reduce the levels of malnutrition in the country, the concerned doctors use peanut butter to nourish the affected children. The peanut product is used preferably because it has the combination of all the nutrients required by the patients and also it does not support the growth of bacteria thus can be stored for a long time. The Idea was brought to light by Mark Manry who initially tested the peanut butter product on starving children in Malawi, and the outcome was satisfactory since 95% of the affected children fully recovered from malnutrition (lineman et al., 2007).
The peanut butter project will play a significant role in the mission of solving the menace of hunger which has affected a large population of people in countries encountering food scarcity. Such is necessary due to the confirmation of the initial tests which conclusively indicated the benefits of consuming the product. More so, peanut butter products are easily portable and can stay for more extended periods of time.
To conclude, malnutrition is a problem which can be focused on and brought to zero cases on the global scale. It can be addressed by creating awareness to the people in the marginalized areas which are predominantly affected, and such knowledge would be promoted by educating the people by teaching them on the benefits of consuming and maintaining balanced diet meals. Also, malnutrition can be addressed by providing aid support to the affected countries which involve supplying food to areas with food scarcity and also providing doctors to assist the patients with malnutrition.
References
Linneman, Z., Matilsky, D., Ndekha, M., Manary, M. J., Maleta, K., & Manary, M. J. (2007). A large ‐ scale operational study of home ‐ based therapy with ready ‐ to ‐ use therapeutic food in childhood malnutrition in Malawi. Maternal & child nutrition , 3 (3), 206-215.
Pelletier, D. L., Frongillo Jr, E. A., Schroeder, D. G., & Habicht, J. P. (1995). The effects of malnutrition on child mortality in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization , 73 (4), 443.
Walton, E., and Allen, S. (2011). Malnutrition in developing countries. Paediatrics and Child health , 21 (9), 418-424.
