More research needed on the safety data of flowers in food
Research out of Denmark suggests that the new trend of using flowers in food could be damaging to our health with long term exposure.
Of the 23 flowers the researchers are reviewing, 13 of them contain substances that could have harmful effects. The researchers from the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark are trying to flag the lack of safety data.
Speaking to FoodNavigator in the article “Flowers in food ‘give rise to health concern’”, researcher Mikael Mandrup Egebjerg said, “our task was to flag the lack of safety data of these popular plants”. While the research does not suggest there’s any immediate danger and that most of the toxins in the flowers do not make people acutely ill, they could be damaging long term, so more data is needed.
PHE call for the food industry to reduce sugar
Public Health England (PHE) has called on the food industry to meet the challenge of sugar and calorie reduction programmes following the support of the general public in consumer surveys on the topic.
The survey, as reported in this Food Manufacture article uncovered three major health concerns from the respondents, including obesity, cancer and mental health. 80% of respondents said that it is the responsibility of the food and drink manufacturers to tackle obesity, something which the PHE’s reduction programmes look to push by getting the industry to reduce sugar and calories in everyday foods, such as breakfast cereals, yoghurts and pizzas, by 20%.
Could a nut a day improve our health?
Two studies reported in FoodNavigator’s article “A nut a day keeps the doctor away?” suggest that daily nut consumption could have a positive impact on weight management as well as several other health benefits.
The studies go some way to reversing the negative connotations of nuts and their fat and calorie content by highlighting the potential weight loss benefits. One of the studies, showed a lower associated risk of long-term weight gain and obesity when subjects replaced a one-ounce serving of a low nutritional value food with the same measure of nuts or peanuts.
The other study, illustrated the potential benefits of brazil nuts in particular in helping stabilise blood glucose and insulin.
Both studies were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2018.
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Alison is Director and Founder of Metabolics who writes about Metabolics updates, events and natural healthcare. Her experience and passion for natural supplements and healthcare comes from her years of experience as a practising osteopath, having founded Metabolics in her search for high quality, natural products in her own work. Alison has been a qualified and practising Osteopath since 1981 and regularly gives seminars on a range of healthcare subjects to the wider practitioner community helping share her knowledge and experience.
