Mussels, canned tuna and pumpkin seeds are among foods that normally have a relatively high level of fiber, however the high level does not translate to how much the human body can absorb from these foods. Locally, red meat is a popular choice and a natural source of protein, zinc and iron that are well absorbed by the body. However, Indonesia is still falling behind.

According to research published by the National Library of Medicine (NIH), data from a national health survey conducted in Indonesia in 2013 and 2018 showed an increasing prevalence of anemia from 37.1 percent to 48.9 percent among pregnant women and from 28 percent to 38.5 percent in under-five-year-old children.

In conjunction with welcoming World Iron Week that falls on Oct. 14 to 20, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Indonesia recently held a small workshop for mothers, communities and media in Menteng in the hopes of raising awareness about the vitality of having the right amount of iron in everyone’s daily diet.

It noted that by sparking the conversation, attendees would also learn that the essential nutritional aspects of Australian red meat are accessible to them through MLA Indonesia.

Held at Silk Bistro, the small get-together was opened by Christian Haryanto, chief representative of MLA Indonesia, who revealed that the brand wished to support the fight against stunting in Indonesia indirectly with programs like these.

“Actually, this is still our homework, for a long time, to educate especially consumers about the importance of iron consumed every day. We do some activities in retail, which are directly related to mothers, because in full-service restaurants, and all sorts of things, it's not direct. So, we educate more mothers in retail or in the community so that they are aware that iron is important for growth, especially children, for their growth and development,” Christian said.

Inviting Emilia Achmadi, clinical dietitian and nutritionist expert, who has collaborated with the government, she spoke to the small group about the importance of combating iron deficiency. She also revealed that behind her will to collaborate with MLA Indonesia was its strong conviction to educate the public over the years.

She  added that she is always looking for more collaboration to ensure that people know that healthy living is not difficult, as long as people pay attention to moderation and balance, debunking the myth that red meat is bad for health reasons.

In reality, iron is vital for energy production, oxygen absorption, strengthening the immune system and to increase cognitive thinking. Emilia told the guests about the symptoms of iron deficiency, such as lethargic behavior, tantrums caused by emotional imbalance and an inability to concentrate, especially for young children who are enrolled in school.

Emilia also taught attendees the difference between plant-based and animal-based iron, reassuring that the latter is better for human absorption. She warned the mothers to not be led astray by bodyweight, as one’s amount of nutrition does not directly correlate to a person’s weight.

Moreover, she revealed that the prevalence of stunting in Asia may be because of the culture’s fondness to have tea as a beverage. Emilia explained that caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea lead to lower absorption of iron, and she advised a span of four to five hours after ingesting food high in iron before drinking caffeine and swapping it with fruit high in vitamin C to increase iron absorption.

Teaching a trick she called “think red,” she said that the more red in color something is, the more fiber and iron it has. One of the main keys to a healthy diet is, first of all, moderation.

“People will ask me, well, ‘what is moderation for me?’ Because moderation for me will be different from moderation for my husband. So I always tell people to do what we call yearly assessments, medical check-ups.” Emilia said.

She added that she likes to keep her education simple, in order to be able to get through to most of the people she talks to. However, what she wished most of all is to create a community, further facilitated by events like this one, organized by MLA Indonesia. The platform allows her the ability to build relationships with communities, adding that some guests had known her for years before.

On the same occasion, Christian also disproved the myth that meat is relatively expensive for some. MLA Indonesia offers beef that is grass-fed, grain-fed, black angus and wagyu. Adding that while an increase in price is an increase in quality, there is an option for everyone.

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