As the old saying goes – You are what you eat. Nutrition is an essential part of our well being, and what we eat impacts our physical metabolism, the functioning of our organs, and the overall state of our health. Food can either offer immense health benefits, or cause great harm, depending on how much of it we consume in our everyday diets. Here, we list five ubiquitous foods that feature in our every day diets, yet, should be eaten moderately to insure our health and well being.

1. Salt - Salt is essential to any food production process, and can generally never be completely removed from our diets. Doctors however advise that we consume limited quantities of it as it can greatly impact our bodies’ biochemical pathways. Salt consumption in excess of 2000 milligrams per day can be harmful and inhibit effective absorption of nutrients, causing long-term side effects including hypertension, abnormal heart development, kidney disorders, osteoporosis, dehydration and swelling, electrolyte and hormonal imbalances, and digestive diseases. Increased salt intake can also greatly heighten risks of strokes, heart attacks, stomach and duodenal cancers, and trigger other health conditions such as circulatory problems and chronic fatigue.

2. Sugar − We consume excessive sugar in our diets; with the rise in consumption of pre-processed food and fizzy drinks, we consume the equivalent of 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. Excessive sugar consumption can bring on consequences such as exposing us to heightened risks of obesity, cancer and heart disease. Unregulated sugar consumption can be harmful for us in many ways and cause a range of health conditions including diabetes, cancer, depression and mood disorders. Consuming too much sugar also increases the glycemic index in our bodies, causing acne and skin inflammations.

3. Margarine (solidified vegetable oil spread) − Butter has long been regarded as a rogue food, but turns out the real culprit is margarine. Margarine is derived from hydrogenated vegetable oils which are loaded with trans fats, and when excessively consumed can trigger vascular blockages, and coronary and arterial diseases. In addition the refined vegetable oils used in margarine are often genetically modified, and deficient of the highly beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Bread – Most of us know that white bread is made with refined grains and does not really contain sufficient nutrients. Whole grain bread is recommended as a better alternative, as it contains high amounts of fiber. However, some health professionals now state that even whole grain bread may not be all that beneficial, since the majority of them aren’t really made of “whole” grains. The high carbohydrate content in bread can elevate blood sugar levels, and the gluten in it can cause several digestive problems.

5. Processed fruit juices - We have always been encouraged to drink fruit juices, as they provide a range of essential vitamins and fiber. Yet, we could be consuming excessive levels of sugar and preservatives if we consumed them from juice cartons. Nutritionists today recommend that fruit juices that are freshly squeezed from a slow cold press juicer, or fresh cut fruits are a much healthier option.

Technorati Tags: Bread, Margarine, Nutrition, Processed Fruit Juices, Salt, Stay Healthy, sugar

As impact from the H7N9 avian flu in China widens, food safety concerns are spreading from across individual household buyers to fast-food consumers in the country. Microbiologists from the Chinese Academy of Science have identified the H7N9 as a rare strain, originating from a mingling of viruses between migratory birds such as chickens, ducks and pigeons along the Yangtze river delta.

Presently, poultry sales have been severely impacted across China. Live poultry markets in large cities such as Hangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai have already shut, and farmers supplying chicken meat to bustling cities such as Shanghai have seen their daily sales fall from 10,000 chickens to less than a dozen. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified H7N9 as a new strain of avian flu, and has also added that no evidence of human-to-human transmission has been cited thus far, and that the virus is completely destroyed in well-cooked meat. However, most restaurants in Shanghai are choosing to play it safe, and imposing outright bans on the sale of poultry dishes. Schools across Shanghai have discontinued serving fried chicken. Farmers in the country are panicking and culling hundreds of thousands of birds in a desperate attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

With rising income levels over the past decade, meat consumption in China has risen considerably. Between 2005 and 2011, urban household consumption of chicken meat rose by 18% and fast food chains witnessed booming sales. The current avian flu crisis has many fast food chain operators worried, forcing them to slash prices in a bid to hold on to their customers. McDonald’s recently discounted the price of their McNugget meal to nearly half, from 36 Yuan (£3.60) to 20 Yuan (£2).

Sales at KFC and Pizza Hut (both enjoy a significant presence in China) have also been significantly impacted. In its 8-k filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Yum! Brands, has indicated that the H7N9 avian flu does not bode well for its sales performance and will likely impact profitability. The company witnessed a 13% decline in sales (16% at KFC and 4% at Pizza Hut) across its China operations in March.

China has been a lucrative market for Yum in recent years. Having opened its first KFC branch in China in 1987, the company now has a wide network of 5,000 restaurants across 800 Chinese cities, and generates 40% of its profits from the country. In its third quarter report, the company cited over 50% of its overall revenue of $3.57 billion was generated from China. China is a market that the company can scarcely afford to lose – and not surprisingly, using several measures to educate customers on how properly cooked chicken meat can be safely consumed. Overall, for KFC, coping with the avian flu crisis is about more than just food safety, it is also about creating measures to navigate uncertain environments, and deliver on performance.

Technorati Tags: Chicken, China, Crisis, H7N9, KFC

Here is a great article that goes over in detail about the abuse of antibiotics in todays livestock. Why has congressed not passed any laws prohibiting the use of antibiotics. Who wins, who loses?

Read the article here from ConsumerReports.

Technorati Tags: antibiotics, livestock, meat

School District Bans All Sorts Of Yummy Food At Games, Events, Field Trips & Dances

Technorati Tags: Food policy, Portland

You can read the article here: Here’s How China’s Propaganda Machine Wants Journalists To Cover Food Safety Concerns.

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After careful investigation Walmart has determined that there are no safety concerns with the GM corn. This is the same GM sweet corn that others, like Whole Foods, have said absolutely no, to GM sweet corn.

Genetically modified food carries a negative connotation in the eyes of the consumer, there is concern about allergies, long term impact on food supply chain, etc.

It will be interesting to see if consumers will accept the GM sweet corn from Walmart or if there is a consumer revolt.

Read more, click here.

Technorati Tags: genetically modified, GMO, Monsanto, sweet corn, Walmart

It started with last years draught in Texas and now has expanded to a much larger area in the Midwest. Will Mother Nature come to the rescue?

Already we have seen the December corn futures contract increase in price 40% since the middle of June. November soybean prices are at an all time high. The USDA has lowered the yield for corn to 144-147 b/p/a (bushels per acre), a 12% decrease (in 1988 the last major drought the corn crop experienced a 25% decrease to 120 bpa). The outlook for the next 6 – 10 days is for continued high heat which will continue to stress the crops. What’s next?

Some articles to read:
MSNBC
Atlantic Wire
Business Insider

Technorati Tags: corn, draught

Click here to read the post.

Technorati Tags: junk food, Mom's, Nutella, sugar

See the article, click here.

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Check out the website, click here.

What are your thoughts? Is this surprising?

Technorati Tags: China, food