Topic 3: Environment, Diet and Health
Objectives:
 To understand health problems that are caused by global warming
 To investigate the relationship between excessive intake of meat and health
Slide
3
You might have heard of the terms “global warming”, “more
vegetables and less meat” as well as “urban diseases” from your
general studies class and from the news. However, what is the
relationship between the environment, diet and health?
Slide
4
Global warming is a kind of climatic effect and it would lead to
extreme weather, such as rainstorm, flooding and drought. Climate
change may have a chance causing infectious diseases and other
related health risks to prevail.
Slide
5
Have you ever seen this kind of government promotion video?
Slide
6
The promotion video mentioned about Dengue Fever and Malaria,
diseases which are transmitted through mosquitoes. Under extreme
weather conditions, heavy rain and stagnant water provide breeding
sites for mosquitoes and warm temperatures caused by global
warming also facilitate the survival of mosquitoes and viruses.
Slide
7
If you have paid attention to the news, you might have heard of
cholera, a disease transmitted through contaminated water and food
with Vibrio cholerae. These viruses can be transmitted through water
under extreme weather conditions like flooding and rainstorm.
Slide
8
Global warming leads to rising temperatures. At the same time, it also
accelerates the risk of having heat stress. In order to prevent heat
stress, do remember to take plenty of water, avoid staying outdoors
under direct sunlight and rest in cool places during hot weather.
Slide
9
Global warming provides suitable environment with extreme weather
conditions which facilitate the survival and spread of virus and
bacteria .Currently, there is no massive outbreak in Hong Kong but it
does not imply that we are riskless. We cannot deny the fact that we
might travel to the infected regions. Both children and adults can be
infected and there is no age limit for diseases. It relates to everyone of
us.
Slide
10
What can affect our health other than the environment? Try to think
about when you are at school. What would you do besides attending
lessons? Try to think about the theme of today. Next, we are going to
talk about diet.
Slide
11
Which of the following meal sets will you choose?
Slide
12
What makes a healthy meal? We can make reference to the food
pyramid as well as the 321 meal - grains and cereals should take three
portions (such as noodles, rice); two portions should be vegetables
and one portion should be food that is rich in protein. Sources of
protein not only include meat, but also beans, egg and dairy products.
Slide
13
Meat provides nutrients such as fat, protein and minerals including
copper, chromium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium
and zinc. There are also fat-soluble vitamins A, B, D and K intake from
the fat. However, fat is not the only source of these nutrients. A
balanced vegetarian diet also contains these nutrients.
Slide
14
It is suggested that we limit the intake of red meat (such as meat and
pork) to less than 500 g (cooked weight) a week. It is about 5-6
servings, each equivalent to the size of 3 table tennis balls. Total fat
should not exceed 30% of total energy intake.
Slide
15
Slide
16
Over-consumption of meat may accumulate fat and energy, resulting
in obesity.
Overweight and appearance seems to have a small impact. What is
more is that overconsumption of meat would lead to high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and
early death.
Slide
17
Animal waste can pollute the waterways as well as destroy the aquatic
ecosystem. Growing grains for feeding animals consumes water
resources as well as land. The burping and flatulence of cattle would
generate a huge amount of greenhouse gases. Besides, meat
production, processing, packaging and shipping will all produce a large
amount of greenhouse gases.
Slide
18
Over-consumption of meat not only damages our physical health, but
also the environment. More greenhouse gas emission worsens the
global warming problem. Global warming and extreme weather
conditions would in turn affect our physical health.