Archive for June 23rd, 2009

Food Labels

Claims made for foods can be classified as follows:

• Nutrition claims: These, in general, relate to the nutrient content of the food and include statements for high or low contents such as `rich in protein’ or `low fat’. Such claims relate to the presence or absence of a nutrient, normally with quantification.
• Nutrient function claims: Claims in this category relate to the function of a nutrient, or group of nutrients, in a normal, healthy human. These can be as diverse as `glucose for extra energy’ and `iron to help maintain healthy blood’.
• Health claims: These are claims that state or imply that there is a relationship between the consumption of a food, or a component of a food, and health. Health claims make a reference to the health of the individual, who may benefit from the consumption of appropriate amounts of the food and can include claims for the reduction of disease risk.

Health claims have to be carefully worded to ensure that the distinction is made between the `prevention’ of a disease and the `significant reduction of a disease risk factor’. The former implies that the food may play a part in the prevention of a disease or condition, whilst the latter relates to the effect of the food on the management of aspects or factors known to play a part in the development of a disease.

SOURCE: FUNCTIONAL FOODS, Ageing and Degenerative Diseases

earth

In the distant human past, all plants and animals were seen as repositories of secret power that could be used for good or ill. In a sense, the whole world was a pharmacopoeia. Our ancestors’ relationship to the food they ate was very different from ours. They understood nourishment in a different way than we do: food was sacred and our ancestors believed that the plants and animals they ate were gifts from the divine. Plants and animals had spirits, and when you ate a plant or animal, you partook of its spirit as well.

In our day, most people would have trouble explaining where their food was grown or how it came to the table at which they sit. Too few people appreciate the expertise and effort that goes into cultivating and growing food. We have lost the primal connection to the food we put in our bodies and with it, we have lost our connection to the earth. Most of us understand food in terms of flavor and texture, but we don’t understand that food is our connection to the earth and its vital energy.

Creative Theraphy

Most people, including health care professionals, don’t put much thought into food or nutrition. When they think about food, it’s usually about how it tastes, looks, smells, or feels in their mouths. Typically the focus of family gatherings, holidays, and parties, food gives us a reason to get together and socialize. We don’t often stop to consider what it actually does in our bodies. But when you have a child with autism or a related disorder, it’s critical to understand that food is more than just something that brings us pleasure. What your child eats can have a major positive or negative impact on his brain and bodily functions. Therefore, it’s important for you to know exactly how food impacts your child. Both you and your child’s health care team need to recognize that without proper nutrition, your child will not function at his full potential and will not fully benefit from his therapy sessions. Following are just a few examples how a poor diet can negatively affect your child:

Brain development and function. Your child’s brain is highly dependent on the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and calories found in food. For instance, if your child is not getting enough of certain key nutrients, it compromises his neurotransmitter production, the synthesis of his brain’s myelin sheath, glucose oxidation, and his visual and cognitive processing. If he’s consuming too much sugar and artificial additives, it can compromise his brain function and contribute to behavior and learning problems.

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