Dec 2017 – HealthOpinia

Food Label !

Many factors affect what people eat.

Words: ~370 Read: ~ 2 min

US FDA (food and Drug Administration) is proposing a significant change to the nutrition fact label on food items. Highlights of the Final Nutrition Facts Label are as follows:

1. Features a Refreshed Design
The “iconic” look of the label remains, but we are making important updates.
These changes include increasing the type size for “Calories,” “servings per container,” and the “Serving size” declaration, and bolding the number of calories and the “Serving size” declaration to highlight this information.

The footnote is changing to better explain what percent Daily Value means. It will read: “*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”

2. Reflects Updated Information about Nutrition Science
“Added sugars,” in grams and as percent Daily Value, will be included on the label.

While continuing to require “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” on the label, “Calories from Fat” is being removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount.

3. Updates Serving Sizes and Labeling Requirements for Certain Package Sizes
By law, serving sizes must be based on amounts of foods and beverages that people are actually eating, not what they should be eating.

Package size affects what people eat. So for packages that are between one and two servings, the calories and other nutrients will be required to be labeled as one serving because people typically consume it in one sitting.

For certain products that are larger than a single serving but that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings, manufacturers will have to provide “dual column” labels to indicate the amount of calories and nutrients on both a “per serving” and “per package”/“per unit” basis.

Food Ads & Kids !

Misleading marketing intentionally targets children

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TV Ads Still Push Unhealthy Foods at Kids

The number of food ads targeting American children has declined, but most of the ads they do see are for unhealthy foods, a new study finds.

Under a voluntary initiative launched in 2007, major food and beverage companies agreed to reduce unhealthy product advertising to children younger than 12.

However the study found, though, that children still see 10 to 11 food-related TV ads a day, and most of them are for unhealthy items such as sugary drinks, fast food, sweet and salty snacks and candy.

Most of the companies that agreed to the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) have ignored public health experts’ suggestions to improve the initiative.

“Increased advertising by companies that do not participate in CFBAI has offset much of the reduction in advertising by CFBAI companies, and children continue to view thousands of TV ads per year for unhealthy food and drinks, including ads for candy, snacks, sugary drinks and fast food that target them directly,” the study said in a news release.

HO Commentary: Foods and beverages rich in salt, sugar, calories, and saturated fats, but deficient in nutrition & micro-nutrients, have over-flooded Indian food markets. Cunning advertising and misleading marketing intentionally targets children and adolescents, to promote unhealthy foods and beverages. While India has food advertising and promotion regulations, implementation is based on self-regulation.

Media and advertising certainly influence children’s preferences, choices and expectations of diet and distort their views, habits & behaviors, which impact their health and well being. Strict implementation of advertising guidelines, restraint at societal, familial and personal level coupled with food and nutrition education will definitely help address the problem. However the key change can happen if the parents and family members refrain from watching and getting influenced by the advertisers.

Original Web MD Article: Click here

KidsWatchingJunk — Kids and Junk Food Advt

Yoga for Lung Cancer

Higher scores on a six-minute walking test

Words: ~260 Read: ~ 1.5 min

Yoga May Boost Lung Cancer Patients, Caregivers

For advanced lung cancer patients, yoga appears to help improve their overall physical function, stamina and mental health. And it appears to give their caregivers a boost, as well.

Study participants, most of whom were in their 60s, took part in an average of 12 yoga sessions. The focus was on breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation.

It is never too late to engage in exercise, and we know from earlier studies that people can exercise while being treated with chemotherapy or radiation” said study lead.

Caregivers sometimes have more anxiety and sleeping problems than patients. Therefore, having the patient and caregiver go through yoga instruction together could be beneficial for both.

Yoga is a low-impact form of exercise that allows anyone to participate. It also can be easily modified to meet individual needs.

The participants reported higher scores on a six-minute walking test and more stamina. The caregivers also reported less fatigue and better stamina while working.

This is not to claim that yoga is better for advanced lung cancer patients than other exercise, including swimming or hiking. However it is certainly a way to boost patient and caregiver well-being, both physically and mentally.

Many participants opted to continue to practice yoga on their own.

HO Notes: Yoga incorporates breathing and stretching techniques, which in turn benefit respiratory and circulatory systems. In our opinion, for enhanced benefit, this shall be coupled with correction of food habits and certain nature cure modalities. Intermittent fasting can also help improve the response to medication. If interested, you may please Contact HO.

Original WebMD article