Eating for Good Health
165
A woman needs good food to do her daily work, to prevent
illness, and to have safe and healthy births. And yet, around the
world, more women suffer from poor nutrition than any other
health problem. This can cause exhaustion, weakness, disability,
and general poor health.
There are many reasons for hunger and not eating well.
One main reason is poverty. In many parts of the world, a few
people own most of the wealth and the land. They may grow
crops like coffee or tobacco instead of food, because they can
make more money that way. Or poor people may farm small
plots of borrowed land, while the owners take a big share of
the harvest.
This poverty is hardest on women. This is because in many
families women are fed less than men, no matter how little
there is to eat. So the problems of hunger and poor nutrition
will never be completely solved until land and other resources
are shared fairly, and women are treated equally with men.
Still, there are many things people can do now to eat
better at low cost. By eating as well as they can, they will
gain strength. And when people are not feeling hungry every
day, they are more able to think about their families’ and
communities’ needs and to work for change.
➤ Many illnesses
can be prevented if
people have enough
good food to eat.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012