Health Awards
SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Health has announced that
it will award HEALTH (or Helping Employees Achieve Life Time Health)
Awards to companies that take part in activities to promote healthier
lifestyles amongst their employees. The awards will be presented by
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in September when he launches the National
Healthy Lifestyle Campaign for 1999.
Good Teeth
SINGAPORE - An international survey of dental health
in 12 year-old children has found that Singapore children have better
teeth than children in most other countries. The average number of
decayed, missing or filled teeth in Singapore children is just one,
compared to three in children from Australia and Belgium. According to
Dr Myra Elliot of Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, although the diet of
Singaporeans has not changed much in the last ten years, the number of
dental problems has declined due to fluoridation of the water supply,
better dental care and the use of fluoride toothpaste.
Responsible reporting
SINGAPORE / MALAYSIA - Workshops on the responsible
reporting of science-related issues were held in Malaysia and Singapore
in May. The meetings were well attended by media and health
professionals alike. Organised by AFIC, the workshops aimed to assist
anyone involved in the communication of science-related information.
AFIC introduced the Harvard Guidelines, a set of guidelines that provide
a checklist for communicators. The guidelines can be accessed at the
AFIC website, vvww.afic.org.
Thai children suffering malnutrition
THAILAND - Seven to ten million Thai children are
suffering malnutrition as a result of the regional economic crisis. The
Public Health Ministry has announced that the economic crisis has
reversed years of improvement in the diets of school-aged children. The
incidence of underweight children is now 11.8 per cent (up from 7.9 per
cent in 1996).
Guidelines for "health products"
TAIWAN - The Department of Health has recently
announced a new law governing the labelling and advertising of foods
with health claims. The law, which comes into effect on August 3, will
require manufacturers or marketers to provide scientific evidence to
substantiate claims.
Diet affects homocysteine levels
UNITED STATES - Research presented at the
Experimental Biology Meeting in Washington DC in April showed that the
type of weight reduction diet followed affects a person's homocysteine
levels. Homocysteine is a by-product of the breakdown of protein and is
a known risk factor for coronary heart disease. Dieters who ate a diet
rich in wholegrain products, fruits and vegetables had more favourable
blood homocysteine levels than dieters who followed other weight
reduction diets. The reason may be the high folic acid content of
grains, fruits and vegetables. Folic acid has been shown to lower
homocysteine levels.
Peanuts are good for the heart
UNITED STATES - Researchers at Pennsylvannia State
University have reported that diets higher in monounsaturated fats
(found in peanuts, peanut oil, olive and canola oil) can reduce the risk
of heart disease by 25-50% and help people to lose weight. Diets
containing up to 35% total fat, of which most was monounsaturated fat,
lowered both cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
