栄養と水分摂取週間

今週は「栄養と水分摂取の週間」です。この取組みは、地方や国、世界中で栄養と水分摂取の改善に注目し、促進することを目指しています。　健康的で多彩な食事を、適切な水分補給とともに摂ることは多くの人々にとって当たり前のように思われています。最近の「船員幸福度指数」の調査では、船員は船上の食事を10点中6.26と評価しており、船内で健全な状態を保つ能力を6.06としか評価しませんでした。

This week is Nutrition and Hydration Week.  Nutrition and Hydration week aims to highlight, promote and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration locally, nationally and globally.  

Having an interesting, healthy and varied diet coupled with adequate hydration is something many of us take for granted. Surprisingly, even in today's times there are some situations where a variety of diet and tasty, nutritional food may be considered a luxury and are not readily available.

For example on board ship there may be other obstacles to overcome in providing crew with a healthy, diverse and stimulating diet.  

In their recent "Seafarers' Happiness Index" * Mission to Seafarers found seafarers rated their food on board to be only 6.26 out of 10.  Even worse they only classified their ability to keep fit and healthy onboard as 6.06.  Both categories clearly leave room for improvement.

Main causes for concern appear to be poor hygiene, bad training, lack of skills and passion from cooks coupled with cost cutting and lack of ingredients.  

Food can be a great motivator and source of enjoyment.  It is also essential for maintaining morale onboard.  Crew, who are often working shifts and spending time away from home, can look forward to the physical and mental boost provided by a satisfying meal. A lack of balanced food in the diet can also lead to low blood sugar, particularly dangerous for crew working onboard, who may even experience signs of extreme hunger, nausea, headaches, blurred vision and shakiness. 

Inadequate hydration also causes problems and in cases of prolonged dehydration seafarers may be more prone to suffer fever, unhealthy weight loss, low blood pressure and even kidney stones.

There are a selection of excellent sources of information related to seafarer diet and nutrition online. In addition, the UK Club has also prepared bulletins on the topics of water consumption, diet and sun exposure:

More information on Nutrition and Hydration Week can be found here

*Seafarers' Happiness Index - courtesy of Mission to Seafarers.  Full survey available here