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NUTRITION IN EMERGENCIES

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  What is nutrition in emergencies? A variety of classification systems at national, regional and global level have been developed to classify the severity of a food and nutritional crises. These classifications suggest that emergencies can be divided into progressive stages. What are the causes of nutrition emergencies? Poverty Urban pressures Climate change Chronic food insecurity Poor infrastructure Conflicts Who are the most nutritionally vulnerable in emergencies? ·          Physiological vulnerability (e.g. young children, pregnant and lactating women, older people, disabled and people living with chronic illness such as HIV and AIDS) ·           Geographical vulnerability (e.g. people living in drought- or flood-prone areas or in areas of conflict) ·           Political vulnerability (e.g. oppressed populations) ·      ...

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (GMOs)

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  What is genetically modified organism? A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. How do we make GMOs? Identify : Scientists identify what trait they want a plant to have. Then, they find an organism that already has that trait within its genes. Copy: Aster scientists find the gene with the desired trait, they copy that gene. Insert: Next, scientists use tools to insert the gene into the DNA of the plant. Grow: In the laboratory, scientists grow the new plant to ensure it has adopted the desired trait. If successful, scientists then grow and monitor the new plant in greenhouses. Why do we use GMOs? Increased crop yields Reduced costs for food production Reduced need for pesticides Enhanced nutrient composition and food quality Resistance to pests and disease Greater food security Medical benefits to the world's growing population

COMPLEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

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  What are complementary and alternative medicine? Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. Types of complementary and alternative medicine Mind-body therapies Biologically based practices Manipulative and body-based practices Energy healing Whole medical systems Mind-body therapies These combine mental focus, breathing, and body movements with helping relax the body and mind. Some examples are : Meditation: Focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind and lessen stressful thoughts and feelings. Biofeedback: Using special machines, the patient learns how to control certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness such as heart rate and blood pressure.  Hypnosis: A trance-like state in which a person becomes more aware and focused on certain feelings, thoughts, images, sensations or behaviors. Yoga: Ancient system of practices used to...

GLYCEMIC INDEX

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  WHAT IS GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI)? The glycaemic index (GI) is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates . It shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when that food is eaten on its own . Foods are classified as low, medium, or high glycemic foods and ranked on a scale of 0–100. The lower the GI of a specific food, the less it may affect your blood sugar levels. Here are the three GI ratings:             - Low : 55 or less            - Medium : 56 - 69            - High : 70 or above HIGH GI FOOD Carbohydrate foods that are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose have a high GI rating. Some high GI foods are  : LOW AND MEDIUM GI FOOD Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time . Some examples are : Some fruits and vegetables Pulses Wholegrain...

OBESITY

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  Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It's a medical problem that increases the risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OBESITY? Body mass index (BMI) is often used to diagnose obesity. Body mass index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilogram divided by the square of height in metres.  For most people,  BMI  provides a reasonable estimate of body fat . However,  BMI  does not directly measure body fat , so some people, such as muscular athletes, may have a  BMI  in the obesity category even though they do not have excess body fat. Many doctors also measure a person's waist circumference to help guide treatment decisions . Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches (102 centimeters) and in women with a waist measurement ov...

FUNCTIONAL FOOD, NUTRACEUTICALS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

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  FUNCTIONAL FOOD Nutrient consumed as a part of a normal diet but delivering one or more active ingredients (that have physiological effects and may enhance health) within the food matrix. The functional food category and examples are shown as below : HOW ARE FOODS MADE TO BE "FUNCTIONAL"? 1) Taking out potentially harmful components. For example, cholesterol in egg yolk and lactose in milk. 2) Increasing the amount of nutrients and beneficial non-nutrients. For example, fiber-fortified liquid meals, calcium-, and vitamin C-fortified orange juice. 3) Using beneficial substances in food production or products. For example, using bacteria in fermented milk and soy products. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS A product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet , which contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients. A vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or ...