May 2011 Press Cuttings
Daily Mail (Scotland), 31 May
Row over hospital patients fed for only 75p
Rick Wilson, of the BDA said: "If the NHS food service fails to cater for patients' nutritional needs then the consequences of under-nutrition and treating this are far more expensive. Malnourished patients will not benefit fully from the treatment they are receiving and it will take them longer to recover and rehabilitate."
Daily Mail, 31 May
Fancy camel milk on your cornflakes?
Sian Porter, of the British Dietetic Association, gives her verdict on the health benefits of various milks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392525/Fancy-camel-milk-cornflakes.html#ixzz1PA8QUoMo
Times, 31 May
Scales of justice to rule on 'dangerous' celebrity diet
Article about the founder of the Dukan diet Pierre Dukan, who is suing a rival in a French libel court. The BDA listed Dukan on its Top Five worst diets of 2010.
Daily Mail, 27 May
Hollywood fad sends baby food sales booming thanks to diet 'favoured by Cheryl Cole and Jennifer Aniston'
The British Dietetic Association, which speaks for the nation’s dieticians, said people who use the baby food diet should ‘grow up’. A spokesman said: ‘This diet works on portion control and guess what? Yes, restricted calories, as a jar of baby food has very few. ‘Although fruit and veg are included they are pureed so have much less fibre and texture. Chewing food is associated with feelings of fullness, so reach for an apple or a carrot rather than a jar.’
www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1391125/Sales-baby-food-soar-thanks-Cheryl-Cole-Jennifer-Aniston.html#ixzz1PA6oeKLa
Daily Mail, 21 May
That 'healthy' bowl of granola has more sugar than coke... and more fat than fries: Busting the diet food myths
‘Most granolas are classified as high sugar, with more than 12.5g of sugar per 100g, much of which has been deliberately added to make it taste more palatable than the granola once found in health food shops,’ says Anna Raymond, dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. ‘Health guidelines recommend consuming no more than 90g of sugar in a day. Don’t be fooled by the addition of honey – it’s still a sugar, and no more healthy.’
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1389515/That-healthy-bowl-granola-sugar-coke--fat-fries-Busting-diet-food-myths.html#ixzz1PA4p3bPD
Health Business, 17 May
Making a real difference
Dietitians are essential in ensuring the population achieves better nutritional status against the bleak backdrop of declining public health, says Esther Avery of the British Dietetic Association .
http://www.healthbusinessuk.net/content/view/2487/11/
Daily Mail, 17 May
One cup cuts blood pressure, two stave off dementia... and six reduce your skin cancer risk - the GOOD news about coffee!
PROs: A Bristol University study of 600 people found those who had a cup of regular coffee performed better in mental tests than those who drank decaffeinated coffee or nothing. This may be because caffeine causes more sugar to travel to the brain, giving it extra energy and creating a temporary ‘lift’, says Dr Sarah Schenker, a dietitian.
CONs: Even one cup during the day could keep you counting sheep late into the night, says Sian Porter, of the British Dietetic Association. It takes around eight hours to completely remove caffeine from the body, she explains, so don’t drink a cup after 3pm to 4pm if you suffer from sleep troubles.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1387746/1-cup-coffee-cuts-blood-pressure-2-stave-dementia-6-reduces-skin-cancer-risk.html
Put down those digestives - they've got as much salt as a bag of peanuts!
Sian Porter, of the British Dietetic Association, analyses three food diaries, with some eye-opening results: " Also, cooking from scratch, such as using chilli powder and tomato puree to create chilli con carne instead of chilli mix (which contains a staggering 6.9g of salt in the 100g packet), allows you to control salt intake more closely."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1387714/Put-digestives--theyve-got-salt-bag-peanuts.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Times, 14 May
The intolerance myth
The BDA has warned of the dangers of cutting out gluten if it is not medically necessary. Replacing gluten products with those using flours made from rice, cornmeal and buckwheat can lead to weight gain, it says. This is because so many gluten free products contain extra sugar and fat to make them more palatable and can be packed with salt.
Daily Mail, 14 May
Forget Atkins... carbs could help you LOSE weight
Anna Raymond, from the British Dietetic Association, said: ‘I’m pleased someone has finally advocated carb consumption. ‘Of course Atkins-type diets give results but in the long-term cutting out carbs means you metabolise using different processes that are harmful. ‘[The Carb Lover’s Diet] is basically a low GI diet. Resistant starch is fibre so it’s harder to break down and can suppress appetite. If you feel fuller for longer, you eat less. ‘But it’s got to be interpreted quite carefully. People shouldn’t think they can eat a big bowl of pasta and half a loaf of white bread.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1386993/Forget-Atkins--carbs-help-LOSE-weight.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, 12 May
It’s all white to drink milk
Many people believe milk to be a high fat product, but according to the British Dietetic Association, milk isn’t officially a high-fat food. High fat foods are set at five per cent fat or higher, yet even whole milk, also known as full fat, is only 3.5 per cent fat, while semi-skimmed is 1.7 per cent fat and skimmed milk is 0.3 per cent.
http://www.northantset.co.uk/lifestyle/spree-with-jill-robinson/it_s_all_white_to_drink_milk_1_2663538
Western Mail, 10 May
Eat healthier - the Mediterranean Way
In last week’s WM, Linia Patel of the British Dietetic Association explained why the Mediterranean diet can help you lose weight and boost your long-term health. Here, Linia has designed an exclusive two-week plan to get you started.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/health-check-wales/2011/05/10/eat-healthier-the-mediterranean-way-91466-28667728/
Daily Mail, 10 May
Can snack bars and bread count as one of your five-a-day?
Sian Porter, of the British Dietetic Association, offers her verdict on a range of products.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1385329/Can-snack-bars-bread-count-day.html#ixzz1M80m6D7E
Why your love handles may be GOOD for you
Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at St. George’s Hospital London, explains: ‘Once someone hits their 40s and 50s I would rather see them slightly overweight than underweight. Being a bit overweight at this stage in life can give you a reserve for older age that can keep you alive for longer.’ She says that being a bit plump can increase bone density, due to the extra load you are carrying, which can help prevent brittle bones, particularly in older women. Furthermore, fat can act as a reserve of vitamins and minerals, helping to counter malnutrition in later years, and it also acts as a layer of insulation for the major organs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1385299/Love-handles-GOOD-The-latest-findings-ease-fears-chubby-bits.html#ixzz1McFyHwsR
Sunday Times (Style), 8 May
Suck it up
Helen Bond of the BDA doesn't necessarily disagree that a high-protein, low-carb diet such as Atkins or Dukan will help you to shed pounds rapidly, but says that many of them are also high in fat and likely to raise your 'bad LDL-cholesterol levels.
allaboutyou.com, 6 May
Reclaim your waistline
Have three portions of low-fat dairy food each day. ‘Several studies have shown that including low-fat dairy as part of a calorie-controlled diet leads to a lower waist circumference and increased abdominal weight loss, as well as to better weight loss overall,’ says consultant dietician Sian Porter of the British Dietetic Association.
http://www.allaboutyou.com/health/health-advice/fight-middle-aged-spread
BBC News, 4 May
Juice cocktail 'good for heart'
Commenting on the study, Tracy Parker, heart health dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research adds more weight to evidence that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us in terms of reducing our risk for heart disease. "However, we still don't fully understand why, or whether certain fruits and vegetables are better than others. Even this study acknowledges that scientists can't yet explain any link. "What we do know is that we should all eat a wide range of fruit and veg as part of a balanced diet, and fruit juice is a tasty and handy way of doing this. "Don't forget though, juice contains less fibre and more sugar than the original fruit so it only counts as one of our five-a-day."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13285805
Western Mail, 3 May
The healthy heart diet
Article by BDA member and dietitian Linia Patel on the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet: "Scientists believe that eating the Med way brings about a multitude of health benefits as the diet is packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids as well as monounsaturated fatty acids." http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2011/05/03/the-healthy-heart-diet-91466-28621849/
Daily Mail, 3 May
Is drinking less milk putting our health at risk?
‘Though you can live without it, milk is a really efficient and convenient way of getting a dose of a vast array of nutrients,’ adds Anna Raymond of the British Dietetic Association. ‘So if you don’t drink it you need to source those vitamins and minerals from elsewhere or risk a deficiency. It also provides protein, essential for maintenance and repair of body tissues.’
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1382946/Milk-Is-drinking-putting-health-risk.html#ixzz1LZ3FJORe
Daily Express, 3 May
Salad Days
There is solid science to support the suggestion that salad leaves should be torn and not cut. Structurally, lettuce is like bubblewrap and made up of lots of cells containing pockets of nutrients and water. Dr Frankie Phillips, BDA media spokesperson explains: “If you use a knife you cut through these cell walls and lose nutrients, vitamin C in particular.” If you tear the leaves, they break away between each bubble, minimising damage to the cell walls and subsequent loss of nutrients. Tearing also reduces bruising and wilting for the same reason.
www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244346/Salad-days
Are you sitting comfortably?
Housework is an excellent opportunity to tone and strengthen muscles and get the heart pumping, says dietitian Juliette Kellow. Be sure to space out your chores if you want to counteract long periods of sitting down. “Be more creative in the kitchen,” says Juliette. “Peeling, chopping, stirring, whisking and beating all burn more calories than simply heating up a ready meal. Have a go at making your own bread as kneading dough is hard work.”
www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244345/Are-you-sitting-comfortably-Are-you-sitting-comfortably-#ixzz1LZGfk0ev
Boots Magazine, 2 May
Find the secret to a better beach body
Sian Porter, of the BDA, says: "Just eat sensibly, choosing a range of food in the correct proportions. Add some exercise to get your heart racing, and you're well on your way to a healthier lifestyle."
Mail on Sunday, 1 May
Why we crave these ... and not fruit and veg
"Cravings are a psychological need for high-fat and high-sugar foods which taste pleasant – but which should, of course, form only a small part of our daily intake," said Anna Raymond of the BDA.
University Caterer, 1 May
Shake up your wake up
According to Sian Porter, a BDA dietitan, breakfast should provide about 20-30 per cent of your daily nutritional requirements.
Pregnancy and Birth Magazine, 1 May
Seven smart health changes to make now
As long as you don't exceed 500g per week and it's well cooked, red meat is a great addition to your pregnancy diet. "Lean meat is the best source of readily available iron," says Helen Bond from the BDA.
Top Sante, 1 May
Should restaurants put calorie counts on their menus?
"Most people understand the language of calories. They're short-hand for health: food that is low in calories generally contains acceptable amounts of fat and sugar. Having that information readily available on a menu can only be a good thing," said Eileen Steinbock, BDA media spokesperson.
Runners World, 1 May
Get in PB shape with the ACICS pro team
BDA member Ruth McKean gives her top five race week tips including: "as soon as the race is over, start replacing fluids and try to eat a balanced recovery meal. If you find it difficult to eat, cut your food up and nibble - small jam sandwiches are perfect for this.
Health and Fitness, 1 May
Diet Dissected
Dietitan and BDA media spokesperson Sian Porter reviews The Juice Diet: "The low calorie count is a concern on the first two plans; we don't recommend going below 1,300 a day. If you miss out on carbs, you miss out fibre and a source of energy, plus key B vitamins. Having juices every day long term isn't great for your teeth. Anything that encourages people to eat more fruit and vegetables is a good idea. But we need carbohydrates and dairy for a balanced diet.
Good Housekeeping, 1 May
The GH plan to reclaim your waistline
Have three portions of low-fat dairy food each day. "Several studies have shown that including low-fat dairy as part of a calorie-controlled diet leads to a lower waist circumference and increased abdominal weight loss, as well as to better weight loss overall," says consultant dietitian Sian Porter of the BDA.