Flexitarian Diet Could Decrease Chance of Obesity by 50%

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Obesity is one of the most pressing health problems affecting many countries. With the wrong food choices and lack of activity, it has become a worldwide epidemic that is associated with different diseases like strokes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. While many types of diets claim to be useful in letting people shed off their unwanted pounds, none are as efficient as a pro-vegetarian diet.

A study conducted in Spain noted that a flexitarian diet could help reduce the risk of obesity by as much as 50%. A flexitarian diet is pro-vegetarian, but it encourages people to consume fish and meat occasionally and favors the consumption of more fruits, vegetables, and grains. The flexitarian diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet that encourages dieters to consume more grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables instead of red meat.

The Flexitarian Study

The study involves 16,000 individuals who were tracked for ten years on their diet preferences. The survey asked the participants to complete food questionnaires where they were scored on how flexitarian their diets were. Based on the studies, participants get more points for eating plant-based foods than meats. The points were deducted for the animal products consumed.

Based on the study, 20% of the respondents consumed more animal products while the others are leaning towards the vegetarian diet. Researchers found that those who consume mostly plant-based foods were 43% less likely to develop obesity.

How Much Is Too Much?

While consuming a few animal products is good for maintaining a healthy weight, the question is how much meat is too much? The study revealed that those who consumed 200 grams of red meat a day have higher chances of becoming obese. Consumption of fish was also noted, but it had little impact on the obesity rates.

 

According to one of the authors of the study, Professor Maira Bes-Rastrollo, the study recommended people to consume less red meat and opt for increasing the consumption of plant-based foods. The dangers of too much meat consumption are that it has been associated with higher intake of fat, calories, and less consumption of fiber from vegetables. This increases the risk of developing chronic lifestyle diseases.

Limitations of The Study

The study may encourage people to switch to a more pro-vegetarian diet, but the study has its weaknesses and limitations as it is conducted as an observational study. Researchers could have recruited people to eat a vegetarian diet to compare it with the other group – the one who ate mostly meat. To get the most benefits out of the flexitarian diets, nutritionists and health experts recommend cooking your own food instead of eating out to keep track of the ingredients used.

Although this may be the case, choosing to follow the flexitarian diet can bring a lot of benefits to the body. In fact, it is considered by many health experts as one of the most balanced diets anyone who wishes to stay healthy should follow.

Inspired by www.theguardian.com

DanoneWave Quietly Reduces Fat and Sugar

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The French multinational food manufacturing giant, DanonWave, is famous for making nutrient-dense foods with less fat and sugar. The company is known for its brands such as Danimals, Dannon, Activia yogurt, and newly acquired plant-based brands like Vega and Silk. While it is one of the main players in the health food industry, the company has recently announced that it will embark on improving its products by boosting their fiber, protein, Vitamin D, and decreasing the fat & sugar. This announcement was part of the company’s recent commitment to address childhood obesity.

According to Philippe Caradec, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, the company values its mission to bring healthy food to as many people as they can reach all over the world.

Why Are Companies Like DanoneWave Redeveloping Their Portfolio?

Most of the giant food and beverage manufacturers have been redeveloping their portfolio by creating new product formulations or acquiring healthy startups. But, what is the reason behind this? It is imperative for big food companies to meet the changing demands of their consumers.

It is important to take note that more consumers are opting for healthier foods, so changing the brand portfolio is a good strategy to draw in more future customers. Examples of food companies that have revamped their portfolio by releasing a healthy line of products include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Campbell Soup.

But what about DanoneWave? The company embarked on its robust portfolio when it acquired the great beverage-maker WhiteWave in a $10.4 billion deal. The company has been making snack bars, cookies, and more over the past few decades. While it has been treading on the health food path longer than other companies, DanoneWave lacks variety, so the company is betting on products like bottled waters, baby foods, and yogurts.

Millennials: The New Market

 

While some companies embark on revamping their portfolio as part of a bandwagon or fad, DanoneWave sees another potential. In fact, they are revamping their product line because they see the Millennials as the most promising of all target markets.

The biggest driver of the health food niche are millennials who are now becoming more aware of lifestyle diseases and healthy options. But while marketing to the millennials is needed by most health food companies, it is quite challenging to convince millennials to buy products by just claiming that they are sugar-free or fat-free. Marketing products as such can also lead to consumers to think that they are consuming products that are less appealing. Millennial consumers are becoming wiser every day, so companies like DanoneWave have to include clean labeling and transparency in their products by including honest nutritional labels on each of their products.

The future of health food companies like DanoneWave lies in the hands of meticulous consumers. This is the reason why it is so important to use different strategies such as reformulating their products, revamping their brand, acquiring healthy food start-ups, and also using transparent clean labels.

Inspired by fortune.com

America: Make Breakfast Great Again

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A standard American breakfast includes sugary cereals, fruit juices, and toast. In fact, the first cereal plants started commercial manufacturing during the 1950s. Cereals were made from equal parts of sugar and corn flour. The sweet taste of cereals and the positive marketing of these sugary foods made them one of the most famous breakfast staples on any American table. In fact, 90% of Americans have cereals in their cupboard.

The thing is that Americans have enjoyed eating cereals for many decades, and it is only recently that this industry has been placed under the spotlight as America wants to figure out why there is an increasing rate of obesity in the country. Can it be attributed to cereals? Probably so…

Sugary Cereal is Killing Breakfast in America

Cereals may be marketed as whole grains, but they are far from that. A single cereal contains modified food starch, similar to corn syrup. When you say whole grain, it is defined as natural food and not something that is processed to give it a long or indefinite shelf life. It also contains sugar, salt, and additives like tripotassium phosphate–a type of preservative. Marketing it as whole grain is a form of corporate dishonesty. Having said this, cereals are lacking many forms of nutritional value.

Cereals are devoid of any fiber and contain simple sugar. The sugar enters immediately into the bloodstream once you eat cereal. This promotes the body to release a hormone called insulin that delivers the pure sugar to the cells. However, the sugar is then stored as fat and, but at some point, too much sugar will strain the entire system. This results in metabolic diseases like diabetes.

But even if cereals do not have a lot of free sugar in them, they can still wreak havoc on the entire body as they are made from refined grains, which are converted into simple sugar. This requires the same insulin response that overburdens the endocrine system through time.

 

We Have Been Eating Cereals for A Long Time, Why Are We Now Concerned?

Sugar and refined carbohydrates are now dubbed as toxic the same way as cigarettes were categorized. According to journalists, Michael Moss and Gary Taubes, there has been mounting evidence that shows that sugar and carbohydrates are the biggest culprits in the ballooning waistline of many Americans.

But if cereals have been around for more than a few decades, then why is America experiencing rapid obesity only now? According to Harry Balzer, a market analyst at NPD Group, cereals were not an everyday affair. A few decades back, it was eaten only on Sundays when women went to church early and did not have time to make breakfast. Today, it seems that people don’t have enough time to prepare their meals, so they rely heavily on cereals and other processed junk labeled as breakfast foods.

Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day, but America needs to start looking for ways to create more convenient and healthy options. Without this push from consumers and brands, the obesity problem in America will continue to rise.

Inspired by www.washingtonpost.com

Artificially Sweetened Soda Can Increase Risk Of Stroke And Dementia

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Drinking artificially sweetened soda and drinks have many health risks including stroke and dementia. In a study published in the journal Stroke and Alzheimer’s & Dementia, researchers linked the consumption of sodas to the increased risk of dementia and stroke.

The Validity Of The Study On Artificially Sweetened Soda

The long-term observation study involved 2,888 people who provided data since the survey started in 1971.  The researchers found out that those who drank at least one can of diet soda daily are three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or suffer from an ischemic stroke.

Although the statistics suggest the possible link, many experts still caution people who interpret the results of the study. They noted that while there is an association between soda drinking and such diseases, it does not mean that drinking can cause these conditions to develop.

Other Factors That Can Increase The Risk For Stroke And Alzheimer’s

Some critics have highlighted several flaws in the study citing that if factors such as weight, genes, and diabetes were taken into account, the association with stroke and dementia would disappear. The thing is that defects in the genes, obesity, and diabetes are more likely causes of stroke and dementia than drinking a can of diet soda.  So why arrive at such a correlation? Critics point out that it is probable that the people involved in the study are already suffering from ill health such as diabetes. These patients are more likely to opt for zero-calorie drinks thus influencing the result of the survey.

Experts still suggest that drinking fizzy drinks should be in moderation as drinking too much is attributed to weight gain–a more plausible cause for stroke and Alzheimer’s.

Is It Safe?

Studies involving the harmful effects of soda on health hurt the beverage industry all over the world. In response to the bad publicity, the American Beverage Association issued a statement regarding the safety status of artificial sweeteners as highlighted by international organizations like the World Health Organization, US Food and Drug Administration, and the European Food Safety Authority. Beverage companies claim that the amount of artificial sweetener or any sweeteners for that matter that they use on their products do not go beyond the established limit set by these agencies.

But whether artificially sweetened drinks has some health risks or not, the sales have still declined as consumers are looking for healthier alternatives such as low-calorie and naturally sweetened drinks as well as bottled water.  Surprisingly, the sales of bottled water overtook the sales of fizzy drinks in the United States last year making bottled water the largest beverage category regarding volume consumed per capita.

Another reason why the sales of the sugary drinks industry have declined is the taxes imposed on them discouraged people from buying them. Last year, sales decreased by 21% due to higher tax rates. So regardless of the result of the study linking soda with stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, the industry is struggling with selling a product does have some adverse effects on your health.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com

Over 50% Of Canadians Believe Healthy Eating Improves Well Being

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Most consumers all over the world are becoming more conscious about their health and overall well-being. In a market study conducted by research company Mintel, 63% of Canadian consumers believe that what they eat has significant influence over their emotional and physical health. As a result, 45% of consumers are interested in trying out different foods that are marketed for their health benefits. The sales of superfood items like quinoa, spirulina, kale and chia seeds have grown by 35% since last year.

According to Mintel’s Senior Lifestyles and Leisure Analyst, Carol Wong-Li, many Canadians are becoming proactive in looking for ways to maintain good physical and mental well-being. This also gives opportunities to marketers who develop products that convey wellness and overall well-being.

The Statistics Of Healthy Eating

The eating habits of Canadians have changed over the years. In today’s food culture, 49% of Canadian consumers feel guilty after eating unhealthy foods. The Mintel research also noted that the motivation of Canadians to eat healthy stems from guilt especially among women under the age of 55 and mothers, which account for 59% and 60%, respectively.

The research revealed that many Canadian consumers are more mindful of their eating habits and that 76% of the respondents claim to follow healthy eating strictly or most of the time. However, some of the respondents believe that they should also indulge once in a while such that 41% believe that allowing a cheat day once in a blue moon is a good way to motivate healthy eating habits.

Obstacles To Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits

Although there is an increasing trend of healthy eating among Canadians, most of the respondents claim that it’s hard to maintain healthy eating habits because of their busy lifestyles. Some of the interviewees are misinformed when it comes to making healthy choices as such 40% find it difficult to discern which foods are healthy and which ones to avoid.

These are the reasons why health claims on the packages are paramount as 27% of the respondents look at the label and are likely to buy a particular product if it comes with health claims. This has pushed many food manufacturers to include health claims on their packages as well as use all-natural ingredients in making their products.

Possible Solution

While eating healthy is a popular trend among Canadian consumers, there are still obstacles and challenges that prevent them from eating healthy.  Carol Wong-Li added that as much as the respondents would like to eat healthily, they fall back to their old eating habits because it takes too much to time to prepare healthy foods. This problem is now being addressed by many food manufacturers in Canada as they think of ways to create processed foods that are healthy to meet the demands and needs of busy and health-conscious Canadian consumers.

Inspired by www.mintel.com

100% Fruit Juices May Cause Weight Gain in Kids

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Juvenile obesity is a significant concern in the United States.  There are many reasons why American kids are likely to suffer from obesity, and one of the biggest reasons lies in their diet. It turns out that sugar can sneak up into the food that your children eat.

But while many people blame greasy fast-food meals as the cause of obesity, many health advocates have expressed their concerns about the sugar from fruit juices. Yes, even 100% fruit juices are linked to childhood obesity according to the study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Research Results on 100% Fruit Juices

The study noted that consumption of 100% fruit juice is linked to weight gain among children from the age 6 and below. However, no association has been found for children older than seven years.  According to Dr. Brandon Auerbach from the University of Washington, parents should be cautious when it comes to giving fruit juices to children. Instead of giving them 100% fruit juices, they should give them whole fruit, water, or low-fat unsweetened milk.

So, what makes drinking fruit juices unhealthy? Although they may be derived from organic fruits, 100% fruit juices contain high amounts of natural sugar. Fruits contain fructose, which is a naturally-occurring sugar that can also be stored as fat in the liver. Fruit juice is devoid of fiber that slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Aside from weight gain, consumption of fruit juices can also lead to other diseases like cavities and metabolic disease like diabetes.

How Much is Too Much?

How much fruit juice, is too much? Researchers found out that consumption of even one daily serving of fruit can cause weight gain of up to 0.3 pounds. So, if a 5-year old girl consumes 4 ounces of 100% fruit juice for a year, this will translate to a weight gain of ½ of a pound. The research also noted that the effects are also amplified the longer children drank fruit juice, the more weight they gain through time. Overall, the study indicated that serving 8 ounces of 100% fruit juice is associated with an increased body mass index within a year among young children.

But if you must give fruit juice to your kids, make sure that you don’t give more than 6 ounces of juice every day. Try to avoid giving fruit juices to infants. It is a better option to give whole unadulterated fruits to children so that they can maximize their health benefits as they contain more fiber than juice.

The study indicates that children should not be drinking fruit juice particularly in the first six years of their lives. With the result of the survey, the US Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Food Care Program is working to eliminate fruit juices in the diet of younger children to avoid the risk of obesity.

Inspired by www.cnn.com

Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate vs. USDA’s MyPlate

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A few years after the USDA created the new MyPlate, Harvard nutrition experts decided to set up their own Healthy Eating Plate. The changes were made to address the deficiencies in the USDA’s MyPlate, most likely caused by intensive food industry lobbying. The central message of the Healthy Eating Plate is to focus on diet quality vs. broad guidelines like the MyPlate.

For example:

  • The different types of carbohydrates in your diet are more important than a number of carbohydrates. Sources of carbs like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans are healthier than others.
  • Harvard’s plate advises people to avoid all sugary beverages which is one of the leading causes of lifestyle diseases like diabetes.
  • The Healthy Eating Plate promotes healthy oils and does not place a limit of calories from fat. Harvard is promoting the consumption of healthy fats which goes against the low-fat message advocated by the USDA for decades.

 

Inspired by hsph.harvard.edu

Eat 10 Portions Of Fruits And Veggies To Protect Your Health

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If you consume a lot of fruits and vegetables every day, then you are on the right track. Researchers from the Imperial College of London conducted a meta-analysis on 95 studies on the benefits of fruit and vegetable intake. Proponents of the study found that consumption of at least five portions of fruits and vegetables daily can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer.

The greatest benefit of eating vegetables can be obtained by eating at least 800 grams a day that is equivalent to 10 portions of fruits and vegetables combined. The research was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. And the researchers have estimated that around 7.8 million of premature deaths recorded all over the world could have been potentially reduced if people ate more fruits and vegetables every day.

The Research

Part of the research also noted which types of produce can provide the best protection against different kinds of diseases. According to Dr. Dagfinn Aune, lead author of the study, the researchers wanted to quantify the amount of vegetables and fruits needed to reduce the risk of being sick. The study found that intake of more fruits and vegetables is associated with 33% reduction of stroke, 24% reduction of heart diseases, 28% reduction of cardiovascular diseases, and 13% reduction of cancer. The study also compared those who ate more vegetables to those who don’t.

Currently, the guideline in the UK is to eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, only one in three adults can ever meet this target. This study aims to encourage people to increase their consumption.

portions of fruits and veggies at grocery

How Many Portions Should You Eat?

So how much is enough? One portion of fruits and vegetables is equivalent to 80 grams of produce.  But how do you know if you are eating one portion? In a practical sense, 80 grams of produce is equal to either of the following: a small banana, pear, apple, or orange. It can also be equivalent to three heaping tablespoons of peas, spinach, cauliflower or broccoli.

What is interesting about the research was that the proponents also examined which fruits and vegetables can reduce specific types of diseases. For instance, produce like pears, apples, salad greens, chicory, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbages can mitigate the risk of early death while leafy green vegetables, carrots, and yellow vegetables can reduce the risk of developing cancer. While eating these certain fruits and vegetables look very promising in improving longevity, additional research should be conducted.

The Mechanism To Good Health

But why is eating fruits and vegetables very beneficial to the body? Dr. Aune noted that fresh fruit and vegetables have a complex network of nutrients like antioxidants and vitamins necessary for fighting against DNA damage and improving physiological functions. For instance, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbages contain glucosinolates that prevent cancer. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables can also improve the quality of the gut bacteria thereby improving your health.

There are so many reasons why you need to eat fruits and vegetables and having good health is a great way to encourage you to eat more.

Inspired by www.thegrocer.co.uk