Lead article in AFIC’s March
issue of Food Facts Asia is on “A Varied Diet for Better Health”:
Nutrition science has identified almost 50 essential nutrients. Nutrients are
chemical substances such as vitamins, amino acids, minerals and essential fatty
acids, that the human body needs but cannot synthesise itself and so must be
included in the diet. Scientists have also discovered more than 1200
phytochemicals, present in fruits, vegetables, beans & grains and animal
products.
Of course, all these healthful
nutrients and phytochemicals cannot be found together in one food or even one
group of foods, and relying on a restricted range of foods carries its own risk,
as some nutrients and phytochemcials can be harmful if consumed too excessively.
That’s why most dietary guidelines include advice ‘to eat a varied diet’ and why
there is increasing interest amongst researchers and health professionals in the
concept of ‘dietary diversity’. Click
here to find out more about ensure diet is sufficiently varied for maximum
health and wellness…
The March issue of the AFIC’s
newsletter, Food Facts Asia also includes an article on choosing and using
botanical supplements wisely and safely, “Botanical Supplements – Are They
Safe? Do They Work?”.: Despite the many centuries tradition of botanical
supplements use in Asia and evidence that usage is increasing globally,
scientific evaluation of the impact of dietary supplements on human health is
still in the early stages. Self-directed use is the norm, but, many consumers
have difficulty accessing reliable and unbiased information on their potential
benefits, risks and appropriate use. Multiple sources of information on
efficacy; anecdotal and scientific evidence of health effects; and mix of
traditional and modern advice can make it difficult for consumers to know which
way to turn. Clearly, there is still a great deal to learn and understand about
the use of botanical dietary supplements, but click
here for safety tips and hints from AFIC for all those using or considering
using these products…
The March issue also includes
an article on the fast growing recognition amongst health experts on the
benefits of using marketing techniques to promote health. Conventional wisdom
in health communications has been to provide accurate information and messages
focused on disease prevention, rather like post dropped in the mail box. With
this approach, messages were delivered to the intended receiver, and little was
known about, how the message was interpreted. More recently, however
communications research has begun to shed new light on how presentation and
attractiveness of messages can’t be taken for granted, and that new approaches
to old challenges deserve consideration. Click
here for more information from AFIC on “Social Marketing of Nutrition”.
