Nutrition news
May 23rd 2010 00:25
Hey everyone, this week I have a look at recent nutrition news from a few of my favourite food and health websites.
First up, is the Healthy Food Guide (www.healthyfood.co.nz). I found a news snippet here about breakfast. Basically it says that studies have shown that simple changes to your breakfast can improve your health. It goes on to saying that eating a high fibre breakfast, such as porridge, All Bran, muesli with plenty of oats, will keep you fuller for longer and reduces energy intake at lunch and breakfast. The same study states that having a high fibre diet reduces blood glucose levels which helps prevent type 2 diabetes. Link: Really Long Link
Next is a little something about cholesterol. Now it’s not new news, but its something that I often tell people because there are misconceptions about cholesterol. It’s time get people learn the truth. There are foods (made from animal products) out there that contain cholesterol. It’s easy to assume that eating something that contains cholesterol that it will increase your cholesterol levels because it has cholesterol in it. This not true. Factors that do influence cholesterol levels are the fats in the foods. Saturated fat and trans fat (found in animal based food products, palm oil and coconut oil) increases LDL cholesterol levels, which clog up your blood vessels. Monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat (found in nuts, fish, and seeds) increase HDL cholesterol levels, which help prevent heart disease by removing LDL cholesterol from blood vessels. See Really Long Link
In other news, withdrawn European food colouring is not used in NZ. Well that’s good to know. The withdrawn substance in question is red 2G (otherwise known as E128) is now been banned from use in the UK and Europe. It has withdrawn because of possible safety concerns, such as the fact that red 2G converts into aniline in the body. It is suggested that aniline is carcinogenic. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority NZFSA states that red 2G has never been used in New Zealand. Source: Really Long Link
In addition, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has been considering approving two genetically modified foods for sale in NZ and Australia. The two foods are derived from insect-protected soybean and drought-tolerant corn, respectively. FSANZ have stated that the foods will not be approved if they do not pass a pre-market safety assessment. Usually you can make submissions on these sorts of things, but unfortunately the deadline has passed. See www.foodstandards.gov.au/.
Last but not least, the safety of energy drinks containing caffeine is under review. Food Standards Australia New Zealand's (FSANZ) is considering the scientific evidence on caffeine and its use in energy drinks. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is also updating its risk profile of caffeine, with results due this year. This is in response to concerns about the effects of excessive caffeine intake in young people. The manufacturer of caffeine shots are able to put high amounts into their products by getting around law loophole, by classing the shots as “dietary supplements”. Food and drinks in NZ must not contain more than 320 miligrams of caffeine per litre. Children who consume caffeinated energy drinks and energy shots on a regular basis are at risk of becoming overweight or obese, developing bone problems as well as insomnia, anxiety, irritability and increased heart rates, according to the NZ Nutrition Foundation, NZFSA and the Minisrty of Health. However, the clinical director of Canterbury District Health Board Dr David Jardine disagrees, stating that there is no scientific evidence that caffeine is harmful to children. Source: Really Long Link
If you have any questions, then please email me at nutrition.advice@gmail.com or leave your questions here.
Krissi
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