Welcome
to the December edition of AFICNews.
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DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
|
Dates |
Events |
|
December
16-17, 2004 |
International Society of Sports Nutrition and Athletes'
Performance Conference
http://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org,
Email: ISSN@sportsnutritionsociety.org; |
|
February
11-13, 2005 |
4th World
Congress on Prevention of Diabetes and its Complications Chennai,
India http://www.mvdiabetes.com/wcpd.htm
|
|
February
25-28, 2005 |
3rd
Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.aoaso2005.org.tw/p1.htm |
NEW
FROM AFIC
National dietary
guidelines for Korea PDR and China can now be found on the AFIC website,
in the
Dietary Guidelines
index file.
For more
information or journalist enquiries, email
info@afic.org.
Most
Frequently Reported Food Safety and Nutrition Topics in Korean 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 (28%)
A number of features on functional
foods referred to seasonal influences and emphasised plentiful supply
and optimum quality. Foods highlighted include quince, oysters, and
pomegranate. The most common focus of articles was on fresh fruit and
vegetables (selection, general health benefits, specific nutrient
benefits) and soy products (nutritional and other health benefits,
versatility and recipe/serving suggestions). Traditional Korean food
items such as pickles, fish paste, green tea and beancurd were used as
the basis of some articles and the benefits of high fibre foods, such a
brown rice and vegetables were also featured in a number of articles.
For more information from AFIC on the
health benefits of dietary fibre, click on ‘Reduced
Disease Risk with Dietary Fibre’
Healthy
Lifestyle (20%)
The concept of ‘well-being’ is both
well developed and widely recognized by Korean consumers. Articles
tracked tended to emphasise the role of healthy lifestyles to boost
immunity; to slow the external signs of ageing such as hair loss and
skin changes; to maintain visual acuity, and to improve mental health,
and gave less emphasis to diet and lifestyle in the prevention of
physical degenerative disease such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
Most common advice included in tracked feature articles were to eat
breakfast regularly, to eat fresh fruit and vegetables and to drink
plenty of fluids/water.
For more information on the health
benefits of breakfast, click on AFIC’s
‘Kick Start Your day with Breakfast’
Infant
Feeding & Breastfeeding (10%)
Most articles tracked under this
heading addressed weaning and diets for toddlers. Common themes were
nutrient-dense foods and preparation ideas; tips to stimulate appetite;
appropriate dietary response to illness, including dehydration; and
preventing iron-deficiency anaemia.
For more information on iron-deficiency
anemia in children and how to prevent it click on AFIC’s
‘Lacking concentration? Maybe It’s Lack of Iron’
Children’s
Diet and Health (10%)
The most popular theme for articles on
children’s health were on educating and encouraging children to develop
lifelong health eating and lifestyle habits for well-being both now and
in future adulthood.
Feature articles which emphasized the
importance of weight management in childhood; the benefits of breakfast;
diets to maximize stature; to avoid skin problems; and feeding tips
during illness were also tracked. For more information on promoting
healthy lifestyles for children, click on AFIC’s ‘Healthy Lifestyles for
Children,
FAQ’s for Parents and
FAQ’s for Children’
Cancer
& Diet (5%)
Feature articles on cancer and diet
highlighted both foods which offered potential protective benefits (e.g.
soy, fruit and vegetables) and foods which may increase risk (e.g.
salted/cured foods and burnt/over-cooked foods). The benefits of
maintaining healthy body weight and physical activity also received some
attention.
For more information on diet and
cancer, click on AFIC’s News Release ‘Steps
to Beat Cancer Naturally’
Overweight/Obesity
(5%)
Strong emphasis in the articles tracked
on the importance of long-term weight management and the role of
exercise/physical activity in successful weight loss and weight
management. Other story angles, included weight gain during pregnancy
and how to reverse this after the birth, the role of dietary fibre ; and
tips for managing appetitive. For more information on the crucial role
of physical activity in weight management,, click on AFIC’s ‘Overweight?
The Exercise Prescription’
Supplements
(5%)
Almost all the articles tracked focused
on vitamin supplements – which ones, how much, why people do or should
consume them (time press sure was the most common reason given).
The
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