Study recommends pregnant women to watch their caffeine intake
A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that pregnant women who fail to reduce their caffeine intake are at increased risk of having a baby with a lower birth weight. A new study has examined a quirky aspect of consumer behaviour: Do shopping lists promote or prevent healthy choices?
The study, from the Journal of Consumer Research, suggests having to come up with options from memory led to more impulsive decisions. Read more
Appetite – it’s a brain thing
The regulation of body weight and energy balance in animals depends on the central nervous system capacity to read the body’s metabolic state and respond accordingly. But how does the brain process and integrate information to regulate feeding behaviour in order to sustain the energetic needs of the organism? In an article now published on the journal "Neuron", scientists from the US and Portugal study the brain activity of rats during a feeding cycle - consisting of an episode of hunger, satiety and hunger again - and found that, while individual neurons respond to parts of the cycle, the pooled activity of the neurons in entire brain areas is always high throughout hunger, diminishing after the animal is fed and satiated, and again increases when the animal is hungry again, a variation that most probably underlies the activation of the mechanism associated with feeding motivation in these animals.
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When should I eat fruit: at the start of a meal, at the end, or inbetween meals?
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Why is it advisable to eat dried pulses together with cereals?
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For breakfast, should I opt for bread, sweet pastries or cereals?
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Many different factors affect the type of food chosen and consumed, but the skill to prepare appropriate food plays an important role. A lack of skills in preparing and cooking food could impact on health as it can limit choices. Can building people’s confidence in cooking food make Europeans healthier?
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Very few of our taste preferences are biologically preset. Much rather they are linked with some sort of experience. Although there are some genetic factors that cause differences in taste perception, similarities in taste preferences much more commonly reflect similar experiences with types of flavours and foods. The shaping of taste preferences begins in the womb and continues throughout the rest of our lives.
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The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents) study gives new insights into the food and lifestyle habits of young people in five countries and shows surprising similarities, as well as some key differences, across Europe.
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One might assume that the many factors influencing food behaviour provide a whole set of means to intervene in, and improve, people's food choices. However, closer examination reveals that barriers to dietary and lifestyle change exist. These barriers, as well as the possible solutions, will be discussed below.
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The article highlighted the need to consider the senses when promoting dietary change. This article focuses on the socio-economic factors that influence food choice and draws attention to the difficulties facing low-income groups in achieving a healthy diet.
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The vast array of factors influencing food choice was introduced in a previous issue of Food Today. This article examines how our biological characteristics determine our food selection and the role of appetite, palatability and taste in food choice. Future articles will examine the socio-economic determinants of food choice, barriers to dietary change and models of behavioural change.
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Energy Balance
With only some basic data, the energy balance calculator defines your Body Mass Index (BMI), your daily energy requirements and if you are at risk for certain diseases.
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