Professor of IPB University, Food Nutrition for Overcoming Double Nutrition Problems
Indonesia is still experiencing multiple nutritional problems, namely lack of nutrition and over nutrition. This means there are still many toddlers who experience malnutrition, malnutrition, stunting and lack of micronutrients as well as pregnant women who experience less chronic energy. While on the other hand there are many children, adolescents and adults who are overweight. In addition, the prevalence trend of non-communicable diseases (PTM) such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension also increased.
In his presentation during the Open Session of Inaugural Scientific Oration of Professor of the Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA) of IPB University, Prof. Dr. Ir Sri Anna Marliyati said that the nutrition of food on a national scale is one of the efforts expected to help overcome nutritional problems in Indonesia. Research on the development of various nutritious food products and functional foods has been started by Prof. Anna since 1995. Various nutritious food products have been produced. Among them are spices fortified with iron, instant noodles containing natural carotene, high-protein biscuits, and cooking oil with higher carotene content.
“In addition, we have also developed functional foods such as margarine containing fitosterol, various food products based on red palm oil and food products containing takokak fruit extract and gotu kola leaves,” he said.
According to him, by consuming bagelen cakes containing 60 grams of red palm oil per day for eight weeks, it can reduce cholesterol levels in adult men. Functional food with takokak fruit extract is also able to ward off free radicals, prevent cancer and improve oxidative stress. Gotu kola leaves are useful in improving hematological profiles and improving cognitive function in experimental mice.
“The challenge ahead is how to make the food products produced by nutrification affordable by people’s purchasing power, available on the market and attracting the interest of the public as consumers to buy them,” he explained. (NR)
