There is a mystical wind coming from the east to break down the barriers of darkness around this land. Our athletes have done it for Jamaica. Let us now spread the light.

The Olympics in Beijing was phenomenal for Jamaica as our hard working team earned several medals. I congratulate them and their parents, teachers, trainers and their communities. Community living is important for our young ones and government agencies should provide rural and urban communities with more public parks and playgrounds.

Traditional foods

Traditional foods are an important part of our diet and children should be taught not to eat junk.

Corn

This is the third most cultivated grain after wheat and rice. The major by-product of corn is cornmeal which is very nutritious. Cornmeal is high in magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and folate. Cornmeal porridge, duckoono, corn- bread, turn cornmeal, corn pone are popular traditional food. Corn is essential for energy and strength.

Yam

There are hundreds of yam species. Wild yam is known for its antispasmodic action and is a remedy for pre-menopausal symptoms, impotence and infertility in men.

Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) also has medicinal value. It was served to children at a mission boarding school in a village in Africa in various forms. It was noted after a period of 11 days that yam flour provided 48 to 50 per cent of dietary protein, about 53 per cent of energy and 99.6 per cent starch. It is also high in potassium.

Dioscorea cayenensis (yellow yam) is high in vitamin C, dietary fibre, vitamin B6, potassium, manganese. It is low in saturated fats and sodium. A food that is high in potassium and low in sodium produces good potassium/sodium balance that protects against osteoporosis and heart disease. Low fat is an excellent protector against heart disease. Yellow yam produces a lower glycaemic level than Irish potatoes and so provides more sustained energy, giving better protection against diabetes and obesity.

Sugar cane

Sugar cane provides strength and endurance. Our elders had broad dental arches which were perfectly aligned and rarely had tooth decay. Molasses and wet sugar are high, the B vitamins and excellent for the nerves. Sugar cane is used to cut high cholesterol through a natural by- product developed in Cuba.

Therefore, we must give 'nuff respect ,' to our traditional foods that provided so much energy to team Jamaica and, therefore, contributed to our national pride.

Dr Diane Robertson is a pharmacist and recipient of an honorary doctorate in complementary medicine for her work in herbs; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.

The Amerindians grew corn for their sustenance. - Rosemary Parkinson/Gleaner Writer