Health, Alcohol and Drug Habits

The Portuguese diet is typically Mediterranean, based on foods rich in carbon hydrates and fibres and poor in polyunsaturated fats.

 Cozido à portuguesa (boiled vegetables cooked together with various types of meat and sausages, served with white rice and beans);  Feijoada (bean stew served with meat and rice);  Grilled sardines;  Pastéis de nata (small custard tarts with cream);  Dry codfish ( there are a thousand different ways of cooking codfish, a national treasure);  Octopus (either in a potato salad or in a rice stew dish);  Ovos moles;  Wine.

 Studies show there is lower occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and cancers in Portugal than in other parts of the world. Exclusive use of olive oil instead of other kinds of fat has proved to be a key factor.

 Nourishment is vital to the normal development of the foetus; therefore the pregnant woman must feed herself wisely, making sure she ingests all the necessary nutrients.

 A balanced diet rich in nutrients is vital so as to generate the energy supportive of the pregnant woman's metabolic needs and the development of the foetus.  Malnourishment is therefore matter of great concern:  this applies not only to areas where the population lacks nutritional diets but also to those pregnant women who go on diets for slimming or preventing putting on more weight.

 Examples of foods that must be avoided during pregnancy:  Roughly cooked meats and raw eggs – these may transport salmonella (parasites) harmful to the foetus development, or even causers of abortion or premature birth.  Fish contaminated with mercury – these can cause severe neurological damage and development problems to the foetus

 During pregnancy food additives should be avoided, as they may either hinder or harm foetus development.  An example: › Aspartame – a sweetener that replaces common sugar, 200 times sweeter than sucrose, has been associated with cancer and immune-toxicity, along with foetus malformation. It can be found in sweets, some soda drinks, chewing gums, etc.

The government delivers on doctors the responsibility to inform pregnant women about the diet they should follow during gestation, as well as its effects on the foetus development. Information is passed on in :  Leaflets;  prenatal visits.

 In 2005, a survey carried out concluded that around 14,4% of the Portuguese population is obese and 35% (aged 18 to 65) is overweight. OMS, 2005

 Adolescence is the age stage most affected by obesity.

Rates of adolescent obesity are on the rise, and are related to current lifestyles:  The consumption of junk food, quite popular among youngsters, has greatly increased;  Life is becoming more and more passive,as teens' free time often means long hours in front of the computer screen, playing games or chatting or TV watching, all physical activity doomed to neglect.

 The first contact with these substances usually happens in adolescence ( between 12 and 17 years old) though it is happening earlier and earlier, around 7/8 years old.  Reasons:  The need to be accepted by their peers;  Curiosity  Disruptive familiar environments ...

 badly-off children tend to start consuming drugs and alcohol around the age of 12/16, whilst well-off children try them at 17 and on, often in an attempt to call their parents' attention.

 In order to prevent adolescent drug consumption there are regular search operations performed by the authorities. These searches consist of searching students suspected of consuming and selling drugs, as well as their lockers. If drug is found, these students are arrested. This has happened in our school in the presence of all other students, which hopefully will make them think twice before taking drugs.

Aiming at substantially reducing the figures of tobacco-related diseases and improving smokers and non-smokers' life quality, our government has set a law that greatly limits the public areas where smoking is allowed. This has significantly reduced tobacco consumption in our country. Tobacco brand advertising is also forbidden by law since August 2005.

Students from 11ºA:  Carolina Santos  Inês Roça  Rita Martins  João Martinho