Diet & Nutrition

Fortified foods don’t make enough of a difference

e17a5434525c49489583ab219713b4c3Fortification of foods with additional nutrients does have an impact on kids’ intake of vitamins and minerals, but many children and teens are still not getting adequate nutrition, according to a new US study.
Based on a large national dietary survey, the researchers found that without fortification, the diets of a large number of children and teens would be nutritionally inadequate. With fortification the picture is better, but not perfect…

 

22 Apr 2015

Woolworths launches new low-carb food range

aaee5768d55342fdb35c344a4f29ec68If you are watching your carbohydrate intake but can’t always find the time to cook from scratch (or find anything to buy in the shops), help is at hand.

Woolworths has just launched a new CARBCLEVER range of meals that excludes pasta, potatoes and rice. The dishes also have no wheat, grains, legumes or pulses…

 

21 Apr 2015

Do you have caffeine use disorder?

fe59fc7acdcc4244b1dceb61006af02d“I’m a zombie without my morning coffee.” “My blood type is Diet Coke.” “Caffeine isn’t a drug, it’s a vitamin.”

Most people make jokes like these about needing a daily boost from their favourite caffeinated beverage – whether first thing in the morning or to prevent the after-lunch slump…

 

20 Apr 2015

Huge benefits of Mediterranean-style diet

11c0ca1687dd460aadad543df29c0db9Among a large group of Midwestern fire-fighters, greater adherence to Mediterranean-style diet was associated with lower risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA).
The study is the first to assess the effects of Mediterranean-style diet among a group of young, working US adults.

 

19 Apr 2015

Ethiopian grain a gluten-free alternative to wheat

a24dd07ec333425aa15cd4bc90f51a42Under a searing midday sun, a herd of cattle circles atop a pile of golden teff, thrashing the wheat-like grain, a method that has been practised by Ethiopian farmers for centuries.
The crop, mostly grown in the Horn of Africa, is a key part of the country’s heritage and a crucial food staple, but is also gaining increased interest abroad among health aficionados seeking a nutritious, gluten-free alternative to wheat.

 

18 Apr 2015

Multivitamins not a ‘magic pill’

8d483dbbd836481d99d3b57d3107b692Taking a multivitamin every day doesn’t seem to ward off thinking and memory problems. Nor will it prevent further heart disease or death among people who have already had a heart attack.
Those findings come from two reports published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The studies represent the latest in a growing body of evidence suggesting the popular…

 

17 Apr 2015

High-protein diet may up cancer and diabetes risk

65f28fa224ea4c4ba29c087bb1407a01High protein diets such as Atkins, Dukan, South Beach, Miracle Metabolism and The Zone Diet have, for many years, extolled the benefits of diets low in carbohydrates. Claiming that healthy meals should rather contain higher amounts of protein and,in some cases such as the Tim Noakes diet or the Paleo diet, fat.

However, a new study published in Cell Metabolism claims to show that high…

 

16 Apr 2015

Adults should eat less than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day

10cc5291755e4ec6b58881ad40f9d559Adults should eat less than the equivalent of 6 teaspoons of sugar a day if they are to avoid health risks such as weight gain and tooth decay linked to sugary diets, the World Health Organisation said.
Issuing draft guidelines calling for a new sugar limit of less than 5.0% of daily energy intake, the United Nations health agency said its recommendations were based on “the totality of evidence regarding the relationship between free sugars intake and body weight and dental caries”…

 

15 Apr 2015

Diet drinks cause concern in postmenopausal women

eaa5e9f37f7949afa1aadb4ccacfa848Diet drinks may be linked to a higher risk of heart attacks, stroke and other heart problems in postmenopausal women, according to an informal study that could take some fizz out of enjoyment of the popular beverages.

Compared to women who never or seldom consumed diet drinks, those who drank two or more a day were 30% more likely to suffer a cardiovascular event and 50%…

 

14 Apr 2015

Producers worldwide gearing up for Halal products

fb47ae71d69f4e109fb21f65750b3bb5The global industry for Halal food and lifestyle products – ones that meet Islamic law standards of manufacture – is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars and is multiplying as Muslim populations grow.

Producers outside the Muslim world, from Brazil to the US and Australia, are eager to tap into the market…

 

13 Apr 2015