Welcome
to the October 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
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DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
NEW
FROM AFIC
AFIC is pleased to
announce that an electronic text-only version of Food Facts Asia,
starting from issue 18, and AFIC’s press releases from this month are
available in Chinese language. This Chinese translation service is
available, free of charge to journalists, health professional, and other
interested parties. If you would like to receive the Chinese text
version or would like further details, please contact
info@afic.org or visit AFIC’s website,
www.afic.org.
Hot
Topics in Food Safety and Nutrition News in Philippines
COMMENTS
ON MOST POPULAR TOPICS
Functional
Foods
The theme of
functional foods, the most common diet and health topic in the magazines
surveyed, always spans a wide range of content and ideas. This survey
found a wide range of articles on the benefits of various fruit and
vegetables (including seaweed, broccoli and cruciferous vegetables).
More than one feature reported on claims, linking nut consumption with
reduced risk of diabetes. Other stories advocated benefits of oolong
tea, chili and chicken soup.
For more
information on this topic click on
-
The Function of
Foods
http://www.afic.org/The%20Function%20of%20Foods.htm
Plant Power
http://www.afic.org/Plant%20Power.htm
Healthy
Lifestyles
Many of the surveyed
articles on this topic (the role of diet and lifestyle behaviors and
their role in the development and/or prevention of chronic degenerative
ill-health such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis,
some cancers, obesity) focused on a balanced diet, including tips on
shopping for a healthful diet, the utility of food pyramid guides,
recommendations for nutrient-dense foods, plus a number of articles
highlighted the importance of adequate hydration.
For more
information on some of these topics, click on -
Picture This! Diet
Guidelines
http://www.afic.org/Picture%20This!.htm
Fluids Fact Sheet
http://www.afic.org/AFIC%20FACT%20SHEET%20FLUIDS.htm
Physical
Activity/Exercise and Diet
Lots of interesting
features on the benefits of physical activity to improve health and
well-being and forestall the onset of diet-related chronic disease, with
two features reporting on possible links between regular physical
activity and prevention of cancer. Few articles made the link between
weight management and exercise. Most of the articles surveyed emphasized
the importance of building up physical activity levels gradually, and
the benefits gained from moderate exercise.
For more
information, click on - An AFIC Review of The Benefits of Physical
Activity
http://www.afic.org/Physical%20Activity%20A%20Review%20of%20some%20of%20the%20health%20benefits%20of%20regular%20physical%20activity.htm
Overweight/Obesity
Weight management is
always a popular topic in magazines covering health and diet. One report
covered the role of behavioral change, and one highlighted the
importance of diets that support long-term weight management, but in the
main, this month’s sample focused almost exclusively on weight loss
diets. Many of the diets advocated, promised quick results, were
unbalanced nutritionally and decidedly unsustainable long-term. Few
features encouraged readers to consider energy expenditure (i.e.
physical activity) levels, as well as energy intake (i.e. Calories in
food consumed).
For more
information, click on Time for the latest fad diet?
http://www.afic.org/Time%20for%20the%20latest%20Fad%20Diet.htm
Other
Topics
AFIC's magazine
surveys always find a large number of miscellaneous articles on an
eclectic range of health-related food topics. This months survey
included a number of features on the importance of adequate hydration;
advice on weaning; the benefits of breast feeding; the benefits of
calcium, good oral hygiene and tooth-friendly diets plus physical
activity for children, also one report suggesting overweight children
are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis in later life; how to
read nutrition labels; concerns over food additives and antibiotic
residues; good practice tips to avoid food-borne illness in the home and
teaching children effective personal food hygiene; advice on foods to
include and avoid in the prevention of strokes and cardiovascular
diseases, advice on diet for Type 1 diabetes.
Previous issues of
AFICNews have reported on many of these topics and provided links to
further information. To view, click on
http://www.afic.org/AFICNews.htm
