Jane Sarasohn-Kahn’s Post

A food as medicine update by health economist and trend weaver Jane Sarasohn-Kahn with analysis of the 2024 Food and Health Survey published this week by the International Food Information Council. 🍽️ Nearly 2 in 3 Americans believe that #digitalhealth offerings like mobile apps and online tools can help them improve their diet and physical activity. 🍽️ Half of Americans surveyed are interested in using #AI-powered coaching can help them make safe and nutritious food and beverage choices. #foodasmedicine #IFIC #foodandhealthsurvey #foodandhealth

What is the true cost of unhealthy eating? Let's dive into the lasting effects and costs of unhealthy dietary habits. A recent eye-opening article from Harvard Health underscored the challenging reality: reversing the adverse effect of unhealthy eating on the heart may be a battle which is not easy to win, with prevention emerging as a more viable approach than attempting to completely reverse blockages. Traditionally, the leading culprits for heart diseases were thought to be smoking and alcohol. However, contemporary research indicates a noteworthy role played by palm oil in contributing to heart-related issues, especially in metropolitan areas. Around 10 years ago, palm oil was not used as extensively as it is today. The go-to fats were refined oils and Vanaspati Ghee. Palm oil is now employed to enhance the taste of the final product and prolong its shelf life. Manufacturers show little concern for our health; their primary focus is on convenience. The widespread use of this seemingly wonder oil in packaged foods, restaurants, roadside stalls, and even so-called 'healthy' alternatives has raised concerns. The excessive consumption of palm oil poses a considerable threat to heart health, and its prevalent use is negatively impacting individual well-being. The genuine cost comes in the form of healthcare expenses. Historically, lifestyle diseases were predominantly associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. However, a new wave of health challenges is surfacing due to poor dietary choices, compounded by elevated pollution levels in our cities. The future remains uncertain, but what we can control is our commitment to adopting healthier eating habits. By prioritizing our nutritional choices, we not only safeguard our individual health but also take a preventive stance against the potential healthcare costs associated with unhealthy eating. 🌱💚 #HealthyEating #WellnessJourney #NutritionMatters #HeartHealth

🌐 Just stumbled upon this eye-opening article on CNN about the impact of ultra-processed foods on our health. 😱🍔 It's a must-read for everyone concerned about their well-being. The insights shared here are a wake-up call to reevaluate our food choices and their potential consequences. 🚨💡 From additives to preservatives, this piece delves deep into the hidden dangers lurking in our daily diets. 🕵️♂️ As someone outside the industry, it's both fascinating and concerning to learn about the correlation between ultra-processed foods and the rise of various health issues. 📈🤔 Swipe left and give it a read – knowledge is power, and understanding the impact of what we consume is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle! 🥦🏃♀️ Share this with your friends and family – let's start a conversation about making informed choices for our well-being! 👥💬 👉https://lnkd.in/gru9YY_A #HealthAlert #FoodForThought #WellnessJourney #StayInformed

Evolving Health Priorities: The Food Industry’s 2024 Initiatives With a growing focus on nutrition and healthy living among Americans, the food industry has been proactive in rolling out initiatives to meet consumer health demands, highlights FMI – The Food Industry Association’s latest "Food Industry Contributions to Health and Well-Being 2024" report. Conducted in October 2023, this comprehensive survey gathers insights from retailers and suppliers alike, underscoring a significant shift towards health-oriented consumer shopping habits. Krystal Register, FMI’s Senior Director for Health & Well-being, notes, "The surge in healthy eating interest has transformed grocery stores into vital, community-centered hubs for health and well-being, reflecting the food industry's deep commitment to supporting positive food choices and overall health journeys. https://lnkd.in/gs7Y5Pdf

🍽️💸 Smart Eating on a Budget: Tips from an RD 🍽️💸 Looking to eat healthily without breaking the bank? Registered Dietitian Bailey Holmquist shares essential tips for maintaining a nutritious diet that's also wallet-friendly. 🥦🥜 Focus on minimally processed foods and stock up on affordable staples like fruits, vegetables, beans, and peanut butter. These ingredients are not only good for you but also gentle on your finances. 🛒🌱 Bailey's mantra for patients: "Do what you're able to." It's about making the best choices within your means, ensuring you can sustain a healthy lifestyle without financial strain. Keep these go-to items in your pantry and watch how easy and affordable eating well can be! #foodandnutrition For health-conscious individuals, families, and business professionals aiming to balance nutrition with budget. 🥗💪

Fear-mongering about “processed foods” is harming public health, science literacy, and causing undue health anxiety. There is no standardized definition of “processed” or “ultra-processed”, so public perception is heavily influenced by media attention. And yet again, media outlets are spreading fear about a meta-analysis that looked at ASSOCIATION of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPF) and health outcomes. There was no causal relationship, and the articles fail to note critical details. Yes, everything you eat is processed, even fresh produce, before you purchase it. Processing runs the gamut from cleaning, preparing, preserving, and more. No single food is inherently “bad” or dangerous, especially when consumed in moderation. No one is saying that someone’s diet should be solely ice cream or potato chips. Many processed foods are nutritious (e.g. frozen fruits, cereals, oatmeals) and often are more accessible options for people who lack access to fresh foods or live in food deserts. When looking at adverse health outcomes that are ASSOCIATED with consuming processed foods, most studies fail to parse out confounding variables. It is not the processed food itself, but rather, the fact that the majority of food calories are coming from foods with lower nutrient density or lower fiber. We know that there are certain nutrients that are important for optimal health. But even your stereotypical UPFs provide ENERGY in the form of calories, which is also essential. These studies also fail to note the amount of the diet that is composed of lower nutrient dense foods, other lifestyle habits such as exercise levels, and socioeconomic factors. Ultra-processed foods are not CAUSING these health outcomes. They may be a contributing player in a very complex and multifactorial story. If you have a healthy lifestyle and a broadly diverse diet, indulging in “treats” in moderation isn’t going to be harmful. Avoiding them also isn’t going to “prevent” disease, and we need to stop demonizing people and individual foods. That is causing more harm than the occasional pizza or cookie. For more on this, read my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/e85cTMyy #nutrition #diet #scicomm #sciencecommunication #womeninSTEM #factsmatter

🥗 🇺🇸 What do YOU need to eat to be healthy? That's the perennial question, isn't it? One day, the answer is eating more fish, and avoiding eggs. The following day eggs are back and fish is considered full of metals... 🔮 That's basically because we are merely guessing, based on small studies focusing on one food. They can then conclude that eating chocolate and drinking wine will make you live longer (if only). 🙌 But, that may change, the US National Institute of Health is starting a 5 years study to see how 10,000 adults' diets affect their overall health. It will cost $189M (that's why we don't have many such studies and why this one is something really important).

🌟 Did you know? In the UK, 60% of our diet consists of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This startling statistic highlights a critical issue in our current food environment, one that significantly contributes to the rise in obesity and chronic health conditions. As a public health nutritionist, I explore this pressing issue in my latest blog. The focus extends beyond individual dietary choices, underscoring the systemic nature of our food landscape where UPFs are a predominant feature. This challenge goes beyond individual responsibility; it calls for a substantial shift in our approach to food policies and nutrition education. 📚🌱 I call for a critical re-examination of our food systems and advocate for policy changes that support healthier choices and better nutrition education. It's time to shift our focus from individual responsibility to collective action and informed policy transformation. 🔎 I invite you to read, reflect, and engage in this vital conversation. Your insights are crucial as we navigate this complex food landscape towards a healthier future for all. #PublicHealthNutrition #FoodPolicy #HealthyEating #NutritionEducation #UPFs #FoodEnvironment

“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.” – Bethenny Frankel   The most basic requirement of the humankind- FOOD. "What we eat is what we become." 🍅 Evolution of food and eating habits of humans has played a major role in human evolution. From hunting to farming to processed food are some of the major evolution we have observed in our eating habits. We depend on more processed food in this fast pace era, and we have come up with brilliant technologies and methods to revolutionize our nutrition consumption. But, we have also complicated it due to lack of mindfulness. 🤷♀️ It’s high time now to reconsider our eating habits and inculcate some traditional food practices for our own wellbeing. 🏃♀️   Through this course I learned about some really easy and the most significant concepts about nutrition. How the macro and micro nutrient aids in maintaining our overall health and some easy to inculcate food habits that can prevent various lifestyle diseases such as: Diabetes, Blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. In this course I studied about: ·      Sociocultural history of obesity ·      Metabolism of nutrients ·      Trends in sugar consumption and recommendation ·      Behaviour change for our eating habits ·      Sensible cooking ·      Nutrition labels     Busting various myths about food and nutrition, this course helped me gain insights into the actual functioning of metabolism and, reflected upon how we can accommodate simple cooking practices in our schedule, to derive most nutrition out of our meal, that is budget friendly and also build a positive mindset regarding our body and nutrition. 🍈 🍓 🥝 🍝 Real-life case study also helped in encountering the struggle we face while shifting to healthy eating and how we can break the loop of going back to the unhealthy eating habits. Breaking the stigma of “cooking is time consuming” 🍲 it introduced some hassel-free tips and advices and recipes that can be followed in regular life and bring some small healthy changes that will provided remarkable changes in health with consistency and positive approach towards these practices. #foodindustry #nutrition #healthcare #awareness #minimalist #simplefood #cooking #habits #freshfood