Choco full of goodness

Research suggests cocoa may lower blood pressure









Food with high cocoa content such as dark chocolates are considered functional food as such food can help to lower one's blood pressure.

Although such products are rich in anti-oxidant, they are also high in sugar, calorie and fat content.

Thus, too much can lead to reverse effects such as weight gain.










Eating 50g of dark chocolate once or twice a week is sufficient, as too much can lead to weight gain. Chocolate should be included as part of a whole meal plan.

-Dietician Nehal Kamdar

Effects of Functional food ingredients: vitamin E

Do you know that both nutritive and non nutritive components of food may slow declines in certain body functions?

Modern concept of aging!- the free-radical theory,which relies on a time-dependent sheet in the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the body that leads to increased oxidative stress,dysregulation of cellular function.( In short, the longer you live, the more "harm" u'll get)

Besides, Environmental factor such as ultraviolet sunlight, ozone,cigareete smoke,smog,and other pollution can also cause the rate of change in the body.
So do a early prevention!=D

HOW TO?

- Eat more fruits and vegetables!!! ( don't think that this is an ah-ma theory, It's TRUE that eating more GREEN food and fruits can lead to a healthier lifestyle)

- A daily consumpution of 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular DISeASE and improve immune function in later life)
VITAMIN E CAN SAVE YOU!!!=D

-A supplementation which is associated with 77% reduction in the risk of nonfatal heart attacks.

- An antioxidant that neutralise those extra free radicals in our body which are bad for health.

p.s: Vitamin E is only one example. There are many more like vitamin C etc. =D

Mushrooms

Do you know all these about mushrooms?

Mushrooms are reported to have...

1. Anti tumor activity
2. Regulate blood pressure,
3. blood sugar,
4. and inflammation


Examples of useful mushrooms:

Shitake- contains lentinan which are now being used to treat colorectal cancers in Japan.

Button mushrooms- rich in proteins, B vitamins & some unsaturated fatty acids

Oyster mushrooms- contains L ergothionine which is a potent anti-oxidant.

Functional Food

One of the recent phenomena in contemporary discussion of eating is ‘functional foods’, i.e. foods marketed as promoting health or reducing the risk of disease.

This article is based on an analysis of eight focus group discussions held with 45 users and non-users of cholesterol-lowering products as specific type of functional foods.

The findings indicate that consumers interpret functional foods and healthy eating from a variety of perspectives.

These perspectives include :

(1) focus on the whole diet,

(2) distinguishing between healthy foods and functional foods,

(3) the dilemma of eating for health or for pleasure,

(4) healthfulness as an ‘individual’ issue and finally,

(5) the duality of risk in the context of functional foods.

The diversity of perspectives illustrates the ways that interpretations of functional foods and healthy eating are entangled with notions of uncertainties relating to scientific knowledge, moral undertones governing what is defined as acceptable eating and the symbolic significance of food as an inextricably social matter.

First survey

This was a survey that we came up with :)


Marketing survey: Functional food as an emerging trend in Singapore

Information provided in this questionnaire is strictly confidential. Data collated will be used solely for research purposes.


Gender : M / F


Race : ____________


Occupation: ______________


Highest Education Level : ____________



Monthly Income:

□ nil
□ < $1,000 □ $1,001 -$3,000 □ $3,001 - $5,000 □ $5,001- $10,000 □ > $10,000


Age:

□ 17- 29
□ 30-39
□ 40-49
□ 50-65
□ 65 & above




1. Do you understand the term ‘Functional Food’?

□ Yes
□ No


2. From where did you get information on functional food?

□ TV
□ Radio broadcast
□ Internet
□ Newspaper/ Magazines
□ Friends/ Relatives
□ Others: ______________________________________ (Please specify)



3. Functional Food:
( Tick the following that applies )

□ is able to reduce the risk of chronic diseases
□ is consumed as part of a normal diet
□ is similar in appearance to conventional food
□ provides health benefits
□ provides nutritional function beyond basic nutrition


4. Do you think functional foods are safe to consume?

□ Yes
□ No
□ Don’t Know


5. Tick the following factor(s) which would affect your decision on
purchasing functional food:

□ Cost
□ Taste
□ Religion
□ Belief that functional food provides health benefits
□ Others (please specify): ______________________


6. Would you buy functional food?

□ Yes
□ No


7. Would you like to know more about functional food and their beneficial
effects?

□ Yes
□ No