A study recently conducted in Europe has found a link
between babies’ low birth weight and their mothers who ate French fries and
potato chips while pregnant. Women
and their babies from five European countries were tested for a chemical called
Acrylamide. Mothers who had
increase intake of this chemical found that their babies were 4.6 ounces
lighter and their heads were .33 cm smaller then other babies. Researchers have
found that a smaller head size in a child can be associated with delayed
neurodevelopment. The effects of this chemical on infants
can be compared to the effects of smoking on infants according to Professor
John Wright. Results from the study show that the infants from England had
nearly twice the amount of the chemical in their systems than those from
Denmark.
Women’s
health and their rights associated with their health have been the topic of
debate in many countries around the world. Birth Control, Abortion and even prenatal care are just a
few issues that are being debated. Under article 25 of the Universal
Declaration of Human rights, mother hood and childhood are entitled to special
care and assistance. It also goes on to state that everyone has the right to a
standard of living adequate for the health and well being of their self and
their family. Education of prenatal nutrition and the effects it might have on
the child is a global issue that women around the world need to be aware of
. There have been reports in the
past that eating fried food is not healthy especially with cholesterol and now with
this study about a chemical found in fried potato products to be harmful to
babies in the womb, prenatal education to women around the world is becoming
more important. Prenatal nutrition education can be classified as being a part of
what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights considers special care and
assistance. Educating women around the world about harmful effects of chemicals
such as Acrylamide birth defects, cognitive delays, infant mortality and low
birth rates could start to decrease around the world.
Other Sources:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
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