Articles on this page
Nutrient Intakes

Empty Calories

Obesity

Genetically Engineered Food

Appetite Control

Omega 3 and ADHD


Nutrient Intakes

Scientists are recommending that fruits in our diet be based on a variety rather than any single fruit, and this is for a number of reasons. Fruits contain a number of phytonutrients and each affects wellbeing in different ways. While each has its own job to do, the way they are combined in a 'live' fruit means their effect is greater than can be created by individual supplements. This Synergy is also found when fruits are combined. While scientists have now mapped all the individual genes in the human body, nutrition influences how they are expressed. RDI's (Recommended Dietary Intakes) are used to determine the adequacy of individual nutrients in our diet however they are intended to evaluate average requirements of groups to prevent deficiencies, not for specific individuals to perform above average. They do not take into account an individual's requirements or include the synergy effect. As nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD of Boston remarks " People eat food, not nutrients" If our bodies consume high nutrient food for which they are naturally designed, and nature provides it in the right combination, small doses are all that is required, and as is the case with the '19 fruit juice blend' - less is more.

Empty Calories

Packaging of food is not limited to the container it comes in. Processed carbohydrates, saturated fats and sugars are often used to make food appear more attractive. However this processing often removes a lot of the nutrients and fibre. The result is a high calorie /low nutrient food. To obtain nutrients from this food, the body consumes larger quantities of the empty calories which are the 'packaging'. Calories not needed by the body are converted to fat. If less of these foods are consumed in an attempt to control weight, nutrient intake is also reduced. Dietitians are now recommending consumption of nutrient-dense foods without the empty calories. These are the low processed foods such as fruit. The '19 fruit juice blend' is produced in a way which avoids this high processing, and as it is high in phytonutrients without empty calories, it is an ideal nutrient-dense food.

Obesity

Obesity and under nutrition are two of the greatest concerns for the health of the current generation. These are a result of changes in choices of food in the diet, and reduction in food nutrient quality in food. A diet based on high-quantity, low -quality carbohydrates, reduced fibre and low essential nutrients creates conditions associated with obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Supplements have been used in an attempt to overcome poor diet but these are often taken without consideration of the balance required to have effect. Some vitamins and minerals for instance need to be taken in combination to be effective, while others if taken together or in incorrect concentrations, are less easily absorbed. For this reason scientists and nutritionists recommend intake of nutrient rich 'live' food combinations based on great variety so that the balance of nature can be best utilized.

Genetically Engineered Food

Genetic engineering of foods is causing more problems than it is solving. In attempts to increase crop production scientists are finding that genetically modified foods often lack the delicately balanced protective safeguards which nature has developed over millions of years. A number of incidents of inflammation and allergies have been reported in GM studies. The British Medical Association also highlighted the risk of ongoing antibiotic resistance in humans, in calling for a moratorium on GM foods. A further report by the UK's Royal Society stated that genetic modification could "lead to unpredicted harmful changes in the nutritional state of foods." It recommended that potential health effects of GM foods be rigorously researched before being fed to pregnant or breast-feeding women, elderly people, those suffering from chronic disease, and babies. Nature however can often provide perfect foods without these risks.

Appetite Control

One of the major aspects of nutrition to come out of the Anthony Robbins Seminar held recently in Sydney, and which I attended, was the emphasis on peak nutrition through "live foods" and foods which have minimal processing Besides the nutritional advantage of this approach, Time Magazine has also reported similar findings for control of excess appetite. According to Time, one of the factors that create appetite when a person is not really hungry is a lack of variety in meals when one or more of the various food groups is excluded from the diet. This leads to continued craving for substitutes for the missing food, even though adequate volume of food has been consumed at a meal. This may be why we often still crave sweets after a heavy meal. Another factor was the intake of refined carbohydrates, e.g. processed sugary foods, which cause rises and falls in blood sugar and which re-stimulate appetite soon after a meal. These findings are an encouragement to regularly include fruits in our diet, both for nutritional reasons and for appetite control.

Omega 3 and ADHD

Scientists have found that some children with ADHD are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids which are important in brain function. While all children with ADHD are not deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, it is believed that the addition of omega-3 to the diet may be important for some ADHD children, and dietary improvements may be the key to fostering long-term health and acceptable behavior in some cases. Studies carried out in South Australia and Britain have shown that children and teenagers experienced significant improvements in inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity while taking Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, and improvements were still being seen after the studies ended. While there has been some evidence in the past that symptoms of ADHD could be reduced by exclusion of problem foods from the diet, these recent studies have indicated that the inclusion of specific nutrients may be more beneficial. Trials have been carried out using supplements extracted from foods but it is known that whole foods are more beneficial as their unique combinations of nutrients cannot be replicated.

Danny can be contacted here.