10 key trends in Food, Nutrition
& Health 2009
Digestive Health
Digestive health is a wellness issue that affects everyone. When we talk about
digestion, we automatically think about bowel system. Constipation is one of the
most common gastrointestinal problems, which occur when stool takes longer than
usual to pass through the bowel. There are a number of ways to treat constipation
which include increasing fluid and fiber intake and increasing physical exercise. Fiber
helps to expand and soften the stool. In addition, fiber will also speed gastrointestinal
transit in people whose movement is slow. Probiotic is one of the sources for fiber. It helps to maintain a good environment in our digestive system. Probiotic can strengthen our resident friendly microbes and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Child’s Nutrition
Among children and adolescents, evening meals provide the largest intake of energy in proportion with key nutrients, compared with others meals and snacks. However many children love to eat snacks, fast food and sweets rather than nutritious food. To compound this parents usually buy food that their children will eat. In
order to increase their intake of healthy food some parents would try to disguise healthy food to look like what children would normally love to eat (i.e. : cakes).
Energy
Food that provide energy requirement is essential to maintain amount the basic processes of our body at rest, also known as, basal metabolism, plus the amount needed for physical activity (Example: walking, running and working). Body weight is an important factor in determining how much energy we need, since more energy will be needed to sustain and move a greater body mass.
Fruit and dairy based drinks are classified as a new category which provides energy in a healthier form. Fruit contain energy in the form of natural sugars. The burning of these sugars is a 'clean' process. This is because, the energy in fruit is in the form of sugars (glucose). Our body can easily turn this glucose into energy by using oxygen. When the body burns the sugars with the help of oxygen there are waste products produced (which include water and carbon dioxide). Our body can use the water and disposes of the carbon-dioxide through the lungs by breathing. It is a very quick, clean and an easy way to extract energy.
Healthy Snacking
Some snacks fulfill both nutritional and social needs. It is recommended to consume snacks 2 hours before the next meal. However, we should be more careful when eating snacks because some might lead to uncontrolled weight gain.
Naturally Healthy
In this day and age, many people are in search of “natural” foods. ‘Natural’ meaning foods or drinks which are pure and do not contain any chemicals substances added to it and is therefore thought to be healthier (Cambridge Dictionary). According to Healthfocus, the recognition of serious risk factors in children by health professionals and parents will create a new demand for naturally preventative and functional foods for children.
Feel the benefit
Children’s functional food products are increasingly moving beyond the standard vitamin and mineral fortification, to include newer, science-backed ingredients, such as DHA, AA and Probiotics. Food provides essential nutrients for children to grow up active and healthy. Thus, benefits or functions of food are a critical element for parents before making the decision to buy the food. Now days, parents will not only make sure that food is healthy & nutritious but also safe consumption.
Weight Management
Reducing body fat is the next mainstream agenda in weight control. Parents should take charge of their child’s food consumption. One of the key points to remember is portion control, knowing when & how much food to give a child is critical in ensuring that the child receives their recommended daily food intake.
Loyal Niches
“The future of health-enhancing foods is a future of niches”. A report from the Center for Culinary Development and Packaged Facts says that the coming wave of functional and nutraceuticals foods will address quality of life enhancement rather disease prevention.
Packaging & Premiumisation
Packaging emerged during World War I and World War II as a result of protecting food in war zones. Packaging innovation is primarily driven by consumer needs and demands influenced by changing global trends, such as increased life expectancy, fewer organizations investing in food production and distribution and regionally abundant and diverse food supply. According to Institute Food Technologist, the use of food packaging is a socioeconomic indicator of increased spending ability of the population or the gross domestic product as well as regional (rural as opposed to urban) food availability.
Reference:www.ift.org
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