The Mauritian Plate: Full but Hollow
Nisha Chureetur, a nutritionist at the Ministry of Health, sheds light on the key trends from the Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2022 and provides a blunt assessment: Mauritian diets, dominated by refined carbohydrates and processed foods, are poorly nourishing despite full plates.
On average, a Mauritian consumes 3000 kilocalories daily, according to the Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2022 report published in April 2023. At first glance, this figure might seem reassuring, but it is misleading.
"A high caloric intake is not a sign of good nutrition," states Nisha Chureetur. "With low consumption of fruits and vegetables and a high intake of carbohydrates, micronutrient deficiencies are inevitable." The verdict is clear: today's Mauritian eats a lot, but poorly.
At the core of the problem are two foods that every Mauritian knows well: white rice and bread. Consumed daily in large quantities, they dominate the Mauritian plate at the expense of everything else. Their nutritional impact is far from neutral. "A diet dominated by white rice and bread creates a nutritional imbalance that pushes the body away from health and towards chronic diseases."
These two foods are highly refined, having had their fiber, germ, and bran removed during processing. As a result, they are digested very quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar, a surge of insulin, and then another feeling of hunger. This cycle leads to overeating and poor eating habits.
In the long run, this pattern leads to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. And because these foods are low in vitamins and minerals, they leave the body in a state referred to by specialists as "hidden hunger": one eats, feels full, but is still deficient.
Fruits and Vegetables: The Great Absentees
If rice and bread take up too much space, fruits and vegetables do not occupy enough, according to the nutritionist’s analysis of the report. In fact, the average daily intake of Mauritians is barely half of what the WHO recommends. This deficiency has multiple consequences.
"Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants," reminds Nisha Chureetur. Their deficit directly exposes individuals to deficiencies, poor digestive health, and an increased risk of chronic diseases.
Additionally, there is a concerning consumption of fried foods, salty snacks, and processed products. Saturated fats, sodium, added sugars, and additives: this combination directly contributes to the worsening of non-communicable diseases that already heavily burden the Mauritian health system.
Salt: An Excess with Silent Effects
Sodium deserves special attention. The average intake for Mauritians is around 3000 mg per day, well above the 2000 mg recommended by the WHO. "Excess sodium disrupts water balance and vascular function," she explains. "It increases water retention, elevates blood volume, and exerts constant pressure on the cardiovascular system." Long-term consequences can be severe, including heart failure, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.
Vitamin D: The Paradox of a Sunny Country
Among the revelations of the survey, one particularly stands out: 86.5% of Mauritians are deficient in vitamin D. In a tropical country bathed in sunlight year-round, this figure is astonishing. "This is a serious situation," acknowledges Nisha Chureetur.
The explanation largely lies in lifestyle changes. Long office hours, covered transport commutes, and the tendency to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. — precisely the hours when UVB rays allow for vitamin D synthesis — have profoundly altered Mauritians' sun exposure.
Furthermore, the diet is low in sources of this vitamin: fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and egg yolk. "And unlike many European or North American countries, Mauritius does not systematically fortify staple foods with vitamin D."
Mauritius: Overweight and Deficient at the Same Time
Perhaps the most striking conclusion of the report is that Mauritius faces a "double burden" of malnutrition. On one side, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity affecting all age groups, including children. On the other side, profound deficiencies in iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.
"Many Mauritians are overfed but undernourished," summarizes Nisha Chureetur. A clinically obese person can suffer from anemia or have fragile bones if their diet is high in empty calories from refined flour, white rice, and sugary drinks but low in essential nutrients.
"The high obesity rate among our children is a red alert for the future of Mauritius," warns the nutritionist. "Habits formed before the age of 10 are the hardest to change. An overweight child is not a well-nourished child; rather, it is a child whose metabolic future is at risk," she cautions.
To turn the situation around, she recommends prioritizing nutrient-dense foods, increasing physical activity, and getting a little more sun each day. Simple actions, but their effects, at the population level, can change the course of a silent epidemic.