Dietary Practices of Irula Tribes and the Impact of Intervention Programmes among Target Groups

Abstract

A healthy diet is essential for growth development and improvement of quality and length of life Optimum health can be obtained with optimum nutrition Balanced diet containing calories and essential nutrients both macro and micro can prevent nutritional deficiencies excesses and future illnesses Hemalatha and Prakash 2002 Healthy diet provide the right balance of carbohydrate fat and protein to reduce risks for chronic diseases and are a part of a productive life style Such diets are obtained from a variety of foods that are available affordable and enjoyable Nourishment is also a prime requirement to maintain health and to keep away from illness newlineNutritional and health status are determined by assessing the consumption pattern Thus it is well established that nutritional status is a major determinant of the health and wellbeing of the population In India people living in the backward and drought prone rural areas urban areas and those belonging to the socially background groups like schedule castes and tribal communities are highly susceptible to undernutrition and it is and it is a pressing issue putting the health of these population in a state of emergency