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Welcome to the August edition of AFICNews.

AFICNews is a free monthly e-bulletin, providing updates on current food safety, health and nutrition news trends 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

NEW FROM AFIC

AFIC has launched a series of information resource which is a collection of the most frequently asked questions (FAO’s) parents and their kids have on healthy eating and lifestyle. AFIC “Healthy Lifestyle for Kids: Parents and Children FAQ’s” hand out can be download by clicking Parents and Children FAQ’s.

For more information or journalist enquiries, email info@afic.org.

Most Frequently Reported Food Safety and Nutrition News in India Magazines

Note: These figures are based on simple counting method of topic headings and do not allow for differences in length or depth of feature articles.

COMMENTS ON MOST POPULAR TOPICS

Functional foods (16%)

An ever popular topic, with stories emphasizing the possible benefits of consuming a variety of fruits (watermelon, cranberry juice, mango, papaya, pineapple) and vegetables (asparagus, cucumber, sweet potato, tomatoes), soy foods, nuts, wine, green tea, black tea, sesame seeds, onions, turmeric, flaxseeds, mussels and chocolates.  

For more information, click on AFIC resources – Food for Thought and Tea linked to reduced risk of disease

Overweight / Obesity / Weight control (12%)

Many of the magazines surveyed discussed increasing obesity trends. Sedentary lifestyle, overeating, sugar cravings and heredity were cited as some of the likely causes. Tips offered for weight loss included eat a low calorie nutritious diet, small frequent meals and plenty of fibre; don’t skip breakfast; avoid high fat foods and high calorie drinks; walk for 30 minutes daily, stay active after the last meal, and include strength-training exercises.

For more information click on AFIC’s newly release FAQ’s for Parents and Children

Heart disease / Cholesterol / Fat (10%)

Many of the magazines surveyed discussed the increasing incidence of heart disease and the heart-healthy benefits that can be achieved with consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables, green tea, nuts, more fibre, oily fish, unsaturated fats, a plant-based diet, ginger, garlic; eating less red meat, salt, fat, cakes and biscuits; avoiding margarine; varying type of cooking oils used; maintaining normal weight; taking a folic acid supplement and exercising daily.

For more information on metabolic syndrome, a pre-cursor condition to heart disease, click on AFIC article ‘Metabolic Syndrome – A Lifestyle Issue’ article

Healthy Lifestyle (10%)

Many articles highlighted the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise. Dietary tips included: eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole-grains, and enough protein; consume less salt and use iodized salt; eat less packaged, frozen, fried or fast foods; eat in moderation; eat a good breakfast; drink water instead of soft drinks; avoid sugar and refined starch; and eat less or no red meat, eat more fish.

For more information, try AFIC article, ‘Eating out the Healthier Way’

Exercise & Chronic Diet-Related Disease (9%)

Exercise received considerable attention, with most articles recommending at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity daily, along with some strength training. As well as brisk walking - dancing, pilates and aerobics were other forms of exercises that were encouraged.

For more information on the value of exercise in weight loss, click on ‘Overweight? The Exercise Prescription’

Fluids / Hydration (7%)

Importance of 8 to 10 glasses of fluids to beat hydration and heat stroke in the summer months; drinking mainly water, sherbets or coconut water and not soft drinks or cold drinks (article suggests this lowers metabolic rate) were the main topics discussed in most magazines. One article specifically emphasized that thirst should not be mistaken for hunger, and water should be consumed to satisfy thirst.

For more information, click on AFIC’s Fluid Fact Sheet

Food Safety – Microbial (5%)

As summer months and the monsoons bring with it many food-borne illnesses, a few articles discussed prevention tips which ranged from personal hygiene (especially washing hands), drinking clean and filtered water, proper care of cooked food, and washing fruits and vegetables to tips on eating foods sold by street vendors.

For more information, click on the recently released Chinese and Thai language versions of AFIC’s ever-popular, 10 Tips for Food Safety