Thai health authority promotes proper vegetarian consumption

BANGKOK, October 7 (TNA) - The Ministry of Public Health promotes and advises proper consumption for people during Thailand's Vegetarian Festival 2015, set from October 13-21. Speaking at a press conference, themed "Vegetarian Consumption, Good Deeds, Good Heart and Good Health", held in Bangkok on October 7, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sophon Mekthon said the upcoming Vegetarian Festival would be a period when people opt to do good deeds by eating more vegetarian food. Dr. Sophon noted although the nine-day festival provides a good opportunity for people to build up their good health, through non-meat consumption, to avoid such non-chronic diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes, they must choose to consume vegetarian food in a balanced diet, particularly those with non-communicable chronic diseases, as statistics have shown that one out of four people with diabetes have higher bloody pressure from eating vegetarian food over the past year because most vegetarian dishes are made from flour and are usually fried, causing them to be high in fats and salty. The senior health official said people should, thus, follow his ministry four-step guidance for proper consumption of vegetatian food with sufficient nutrients, including avoiding flour, mock-meat dishes, choosing healthy food, washing vegetables and fruits properly and reducing the consumption of sweet, oily, salty and fried food. (TNA)