A balanced diet is vital for the proper growth of your young ones. Most of the foods we consume, lack essential nutrients in correct proportions. Unilever East Africa, has unveiled the new Blue Band spread with Omega 3 and Omega 6 to improve nutrition in Kenya. According to the Ministry of Health, nutrition related illnesses affects more than 25 per cent of children below the age of five years in Kenya.
Even if you eat a healthy, predominantly plant-based diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, chances are good, the food comes from soils that have insufficient mineral content. When foods are grown over and over again in the same soils, the mineral content of that soil becomes depleted over time. Which is why having supplementary additives like the new Blue Band to diet is helpful.
On top of the seven Vitamins currently included in Blue Band, Unilever has increased the Goodness of Blue Band by including a healthier type of fat, extracted from Rape Seed. The healthy fat components sourced from Kenyan Rape seed includes Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. These are of particular benefit to children by contributing to healthy growth and development of the body.
Speaking during the launch, Unilever CEO for East Africa, Marc Engel highlighted the company’s commitment to boosting nutrition by helping more than 1 billion people worldwide take action to improve their health and well-being by the year 2020.
“Blue Band, which has been loved for its great taste since the 1950’s, is now the only spread in East Africa with Omega 3 and 6. These fats are important for the growth and development of children. With these essential nutrients, also known as good fats, Blue Band will now ensure a healthy, nutritious and tasty breakfast when used with bread or uji,” Added Engel. “We are keeping our commitment to the Kenyan people by continuing to deliver better products, for healthier diets and helping grow more great kids”, he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on dietary intake of fats, stipulate that children above 2 years should have a diet of 25-35% daily kilocalories from good fats.
Dorothy Murugu, Unilever Nutrition Manager for East Africa said, “In a balanced diet, a child should get up to 10% of daily energy from essential fats, these are Omega 3 & 6.” ” This is why Blue band has added the essential fats in its new innovation to ensure that children and families consistently enjoy nutrient rich meals”, she said.
“Food and health experts call Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids “essential fats”. The human body needs them for many functions, from building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve function”, Ms. Murugu remarked. Since the body cannot produce the essential fats, we must get them from foods we eat. “By adding Omega 3 and 6 to Blue Band we have ensured that everyone, especially children, are getting the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development” echoed Ms. Murugu.
Other common sources of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids include meats, fish, eggs, cheese and other milk products. It is a good thing that the New Blue band has joined the list.