Health experts have cautioned Kirinyaga residents to reduce the intake of foods rich in starch to counter the surge in lifestyle diseases.
In addition, the experts have encouraged the residents to observe a strict dietary regimen as well as keep fit by regular exercise.
This is in the wake of worrying statistics that have recently ranked the county among those that have a high prevalence of high blood sugar, obesity, kidney ailments and high blood pressure.
In a recent survey released by the department of nutrition and dietetic under the Health ministry, Kirinyaga was put in the spotlight for registering a massive obesity burden particularly among women.
The 2020 report ranked the county to have registered the highest number of obese women which accounted for 54 per cent of the total number.
Besides, the county is the leading local rice producer in the country thus making the starch rich grain highly the dominant food in many homes across the county.
Residents who spoke to the Star said they eat rice at least thrice per week with many of them preferring the meal during lunch time.
In addition, other residents pointed out Ugali and Githeri as their preferred meal saying it is filling.
Dr Ken Kimotho a practicing clinician with one of the private medical facilities in the county, has taken up the responsibility of regularly sensitising the community on the importance of embracing a healthy nutritious diet.
Speaking to the Star on the sidelines of one of the forums held in Mwea on Friday, Dr Kimotho cited ignorance as a major contributor to the soaring diseases burden.
He decried that many people eat for the simple purpose of satiating hunger with less care of what is on their plates.
A good balanced diet he says, should contain limited starch equating to 25 per cent, accompanied by a large quantity of greens and veggies at 50 per cent and 25 per cent of proteins. In addition, he encourages residents to inculcate the habit of eating at least five different types of fruits as they are rich in vitamins and other supplements that enriches the body.
For example, in the case of rice, a starchy food, Kimotho advises an intake of a portion equivalent to content that can fill a fist, which should be consumed three times per week. Moreover, he recommends residents to eat three hours prior to sleeping to allow the ingested food sufficient time to be digested.
He also reiterates that fruits that add benefit to the body have to be naturally grown and have seeds.
“We should not just eat for the sake of filling our stomachs, instead we should purposely eat nutritious food that is adding value to our bodies. These kinds of foods fortify our bodies to develop mechanisms key in engulfing germs and keeping various diseases at bay,” he said.
Kimotho adds that excess consumption of starchy food results in build-up of more glucose in the blood which could subject the pancreases to malfunction and limit its ability to release insulin thus exposing one to the risk of contracting diabetes.
The medic says people who suffer from obesity in most cases possess excess weight that is disproportionate to their height. He advises them to keep off junk foods and exercise a lot as opposed to opting for surgeries.
“In bid to curb excess weight, we should religiously exercise every morning for a minimum of 20 minutes. Aerobic exercises such as running, brisk walking, cycling and so on are recommended so that we can burn fats and excessive cholesterol in our bodies. It’s worth noting that as you exercise, it is important that your body releases sweat,” he added.
The county government has also rolled out campaigns geared towards offering nutritious and supplementing the residents diet to reduce lifestyle disease.
An example is the aquaculture value chain under the Wezesha empowerment project that is currently being undertaken by 20 community groups and which is being funded by the county government.
Over the years, the county Governor Anne Waiguru has called upon the residents to embrace routine consumption of fish which is white meat to boost their health.
