Transcript Comenius

Health, Alcohol
and Drug Habits
The Portuguese diet is
typically Mediterranean,
based on foods rich in
carbon hydrates and
fibres and poor in
polyunsaturated fats.
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Cozido à portuguesa (boiled vegetables cooked together
with various types of meat and sausages, served with
white rice and beans);
Feijoada (bean stew served with meat and rice);
Grilled sardines;
Pastéis de nata (small custard tarts with cream);
Dry codfish ( there are a thousand different ways of
cooking codfish, a national treasure);
Octopus (either in a potato salad or in a rice stew dish);
Ovos moles;
Wine.
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Studies show there is lower occurrence of
cardiovascular diseases and cancers in Portugal
than in other parts of the world. Exclusive use of
olive oil instead of other kinds of fat has proved to
be a key factor.
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Nourishment is vital to
the normal
development of the
foetus; therefore the
pregnant woman must
feed herself wisely,
making sure she
ingests all the
necessary nutrients.
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A balanced diet rich in nutrients is vital so as to generate
the energy supportive of the pregnant woman's
metabolic needs and the development of the foetus.
Malnourishment is therefore matter of great
concern:
 this applies not only to areas where the population
lacks nutritional diets but also to those pregnant
women who go on diets for slimming or preventing
putting on more weight.
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Examples of foods that must be avoided
during pregnancy:
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Roughly cooked meats and raw eggs – these may
transport salmonella (parasites) harmful to the
foetus development, or even causers of abortion or
premature birth.
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Fish contaminated with mercury – these can cause
severe neurological damage and development
problems to the foetus
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During pregnancy food additives should be
avoided, as they may either hinder or harm
foetus development.
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An example:
› Aspartame – a sweetener that replaces
common sugar, 200 times sweeter than
sucrose, has been associated with
cancer and immune-toxicity, along with
foetus malformation. It can be found in
sweets, some soda drinks, chewing
gums, etc.
The government delivers on doctors the responsibility to
inform pregnant women about the diet they should follow
during gestation, as well as its effects on the foetus
development.
Information is passed on in :
 Leaflets;
 prenatal visits.
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In 2005, a survey carried out concluded that
around 14,4% of the Portuguese population is
obese and 35% (aged 18 to 65) is overweight.
OMS, 2005
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Adolescence is the age stage most affected
by obesity.
Rates of adolescent obesity are on the rise,
and are related to current lifestyles:
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The consumption of junk food, quite popular
among youngsters, has greatly increased;
Life is becoming more and more passive,as
teens' free time often means long hours in
front of the computer screen, playing games
or chatting or TV watching, all physical
activity doomed to neglect.
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The first contact with these substances usually happens
in adolescence ( between 12 and 17 years old) though it
is happening earlier and earlier, around 7/8 years old.
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Reasons:
The need to be accepted by their peers;
Curiosity
Disruptive familiar environments
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badly-off children tend to start consuming drugs
and alcohol around the age of 12/16, whilst
well-off children try them at 17 and on, often in
an attempt to call their parents' attention.
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In order to prevent adolescent drug consumption
there are regular search operations performed by
the authorities. These searches consist of
searching students suspected of consuming and
selling drugs, as well as their lockers. If drug is
found, these students are arrested. This has
happened in our school in the presence of all
other students, which hopefully will make them
think twice before taking drugs.
Aiming at substantially reducing the figures of
tobacco-related diseases and improving smokers
and non-smokers' life quality, our government has
set a law that greatly limits the public areas where
smoking is allowed. This has significantly reduced
tobacco consumption in our country.
Tobacco brand advertising
is also forbidden by law
since August 2005.
Students from 11ºA:
 Carolina Santos
 Inês Roça
 Rita Martins
 João Martinho