Welcome to the April edition
of AFICNews.
AFICNews is a free monthly e-bulletin, providing
updates on current food safety, health and nutrition trends news around the Asia
Pacific region. If you are not already subscribed, but would like your own
monthly copy, please send a blank email to
aficnews-subscribe@afic.org . If you do not
wish to receive AFICNews, simply send a blank email to
aficnews-unsubscribe@afic.org, and your name and address will be
automatically removed from the list. In case of difficulties email
info@afic.org with your request to subscribe or unsubscribe, and we can do
the rest
DATES FOR YOUR
DIARY
|
Date |
Events
|
|
April 7th |
World
Health Day ‘ Move for Health’ |
|
May 4-7 |
5th
International Diabetes Federation, (W Pacific Region) Congress |
|
May 10-14 |
10th
World Congress on Osteoporosis |
In response to WHO’s Move for Health Day AFIC has
prepared information resources on the health benefits of physical activity. For
more information,
click
here
or journalists with individual inquiries,
should contact AFIC by emailing
info@afic.org.
WEBSITE
AFIC’s website contains over 250 documents on a
host of food-related health and safety topics. To view, click
www.afic.org. Individual journalist inquiries should be directed to
info@afic.org.
FOOD
FACTS ASIA
Issue 14 of AFIC’s popular newsletter is now out.
The latest issue features articles on
-
Essential Fats of Life
-
Overweight? The Exercise Prescription
-
Biotechnology Food and Safety Assessment – the
how why and what
-
A calendar of upcoming conferences in
Asia
-
Plus newsbites on the identification of the
lactose intolerance gene, health benefits of polyphenols in wine, tea and
chocolate, and release of the latest UNDP report on biotechnology.
Food Facts Asia is mailed free to media and
public sector subscribers. Complete copies and individual articles are available
for download at
www.afic.org .
Note on copyright for Food Facts Asia – Permission
is granted to reprint any of the content, providing credit is given to its
source and you inform us of its use by emailing
info@afic.org
CONTACT AFIC
Email
info@afic.org or write to PO Box 140, Phra Kanong Post Office, Bangkok
10110, Thailand.
HOT
TOPICS IN FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION NEWS IN
THAILAND
AFIC looked at the February editions of twenty
consumer magazines, which focus on the themes of health, parenting or women’s
interests and affairs.
Note – these figures are based on simple counting
method of topic headings, and does not allow for differences in length or depth
of feature articles.
Healthy eating and lifestyles
is a broad based term used to describe information
and advice on personal behaviour choices which can reduce the risk of developing
chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood
pressure. This was the single most popular topic area in Thai lifestyle
coverage of food-related health and safety. Personal behaviour and lifestyle
factors covered often include diet, stress management, physical activity levels,
smoking and alcohol use , medical screening and treatment. Possible benefits of
supplements and ‘functional foods’ (food stuffs containing non-essential,
bioactive, compounds) also appear to be of great interest to the Thai magazine
sector and its readers.
Want to know more on this
topic? Click here
Scientifically approved health claims
Physical
activity and exercise is a topic of
rapidly increasing interest, in Thailand and elsewhere. In the past, media
features on exercise tended to focus mainly on achieving maximum fitness levels.
More recently, however, research has begun to demonstrate that there are very
significant health benefits to be gained from more moderate regular physical
activity level, attainable by the vast majority of the population. Thus public
interest is now turning to just how much physical activity is required to gain
protective health benefits, and how this can be fitted into a busy lifestyle.
Want to know more? Click here
Overweight ? The Exercise Prescription
Children in Taiwan watch TV but not their weight
Caffeine
is a topic of much public interest and debate and
attracted 6% Thai lifestyle media interest during February. Caffeine containing
drinks are highly popular, not least because of the boost to concentration and
energy levels they can provide. There are concerns about the effect of caffeine
on health, however, research evidence to date suggests consumption of moderate
levels of caffeine is safe.
Want to know more? Click
here
Caffeine -
What you should know about caffeine
Caffeine and Health -Clarifying the controversies
Dental health and Calcium
Advice and information on what and when to
eat, for good oral and bone health collectively gained 12 % of coverage for the
period surveyed. Oral hygiene and the role of dental screening and treatment
were also covered, but the importance of weight-bearing exercise in the
prevention of osteoporosis received limited coverage. The importance of
adequate calcium consumption for good bone and dental health; are well
recognised. Research has also consistently found that dietary calcium intake
of many Asian populations is substantially lower than western populations
because of limited consumption of dairy produce. Not surprisingly therefore, a
number of the ‘calcium’ stories tracked during this period focused on good
non-dairy sources of calcium.
Want to know more? Click
here
Dental – new focus in oral health
Nutrition and oral health – making the connection
Heart
disease and cholesterol
The
role of diet in the development or prevention of atherosclerosis and related
cardiovascular diseases has been a topic of medical research for many years.
Medical and public understanding of this complex topic is still not complete.
Current dietary recommendations are largely based on the role of nutrition in
modifying the known major diet-related risk factors for CVD, namely sub-optimal
blood lipid levels, raised blood pressure, diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance
and overweight/obesity. In addition there is growing interest in the role of
diet in modifying blood clotting factors, blood homocysteine levels and
oxidative stress.
Want to know more ?
Click here
Reduced
disease risk with dietary fiber
Essential Fats of Life
Asian Food information Centre is a
not-for profit Singapore-registered organization.
Its mission is to effectively
communicate sound science based information on food safety, health and nutrition
to the media and other key audiences in Asia
