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China’s youth obesity rate worsens

China’s youth obesity rate worsens

By RJ Whitehead

Youth obesity continues to rise in China, according to a national fitness survey that blames the trend on lack of exercise. 

Pollution partly to blame for India’s low vitamin D status

Pollution partly to blame for India’s low vitamin D status

By RJ Whitehead

High levels of environmental pollution have been blamed for being among the causes for elevated vitamin D deficiency in India after a study found that three-quarters of the population did not produce enough of the compound.

Nicotinamide breakthrough could help cut A$500m skin cancer bill

Nicotinamide breakthrough could help cut A$500m skin cancer bill

By RJ Whitehead

A year of treatment with nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, significantly lowered the risk of common, non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk patients, according to Australian research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dairy debunked: Ingredients could benefit SE Asian physiology

SE Asia dairy focus

Dairy debunked: Ingredients could benefit SE Asian physiology

By RJ Whitehead

For generations, Southeast Asia has been a black hole for dairy, mainly because lactose has been seen as incompatible with regional physiology. But that is changing, says Sharon Gerdes, a food scientist and author. Ingredients like whey permeates could...

Heavy-drinking Koreans seeing obesity skyrocket

Far East digest

Heavy-drinking Koreans seeing obesity skyrocket

By RJ Whitehead

Obesity has emerged as one of South Korea’s biggest threats to health, according to a study released by the National Health Insurance Service last week. 

Malaysia diabetes rate doubles since 2011

Dateline Southeast Asia

Malaysia diabetes rate doubles since 2011

By Richard Whitehead

An official study has shown that the instance of diabetes had more than doubled in Malaysia over the last four years.

Partial to 32kg of chocolate a year, Aussies told they must eat better

Australia

Partial to 32kg of chocolate a year, Aussies told they must eat better

By RJ Whitehead

Around two-thirds of Australians are obese and consume on average a quantity of chocolate each year equivalent to a passenger’s first-class baggage allowance on long-haul flights, Csiro, the country’s government research network, has revealed. 

Entrepreneur's frustration in marketing cheap protein for India's poor

special edition: Protein

Entrepreneur's frustration in marketing cheap protein for India's poor

By RJ Whitehead

There’s no shortage of children in India in need of cheap, high-quality and—crucially—vegetarian protein. Trouble is, there’s a chronic lack of companies wanting to produce it, and governments to promote it, even when its formulation could be massively...

Join the free FoodNavigator-Asia infant nutrition forum on Wednesday

Join the free FoodNavigator-Asia infant nutrition forum on Wednesday

By RJ Whitehead

On Wednesday, January 21 FoodNavigator-Asia will be holding its first free online forum under the banner "Red flags and white gold: Marketing infant formula in Asia-Pacific". Join us as a panel of experts debates the vital subject of how the...

Finding right omega 3 and 6 ratio is key to protecting cell membranes

Soapbox

Finding right omega 3 and 6 ratio is key to protecting cell membranes

By Paul Benhaim, chief executive of Elixinol and Hemp Foods Australia

While many people are eager to rid themselves of as much fat as possible, there is still one part of the body really should contain a large quantity of it. Indeed, over 60% of the dry weight of the brain is made up of fats. 

Will hemp replace fish as the king of omega-3?

Soapbox

Will hemp replace fish as the king of omega-3?

By Paul Benhaim, chief executive of Hemp Foods Australia and Elixinol

As decades of unjustified prohibition and persecution continue to lose their grip, hemp is rapidly regaining the popularity it held for millennia as a primary and sustainable source of life's necessities — including omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.

Maintaining standards as market demands natural medicine discounts

Soapbox - Guest viewpoint

Maintaining standards as market demands natural medicine discounts

By Ryan Gorman, brand director of Network Nutrition-IMCD

Through the gradual process of rationalisation, corporatisation and sophistication, the world’s supplements manufacturers are now bringing an unprecedented level of competitiveness to the industry.

Malaysians still bugged about eating insects

Southeast Asia

Malaysians still bugged about eating insects

By Rei Rengsen Siew Lin

Many Southeast Asians might wonder what all the fuss is all about as the insect ingredient industry looks at ways to make dietary bugs more enticing to Western consumers. 

Diabetes expert: Rice is obese Malaysia's most dangerous junk food

Malaysia

Diabetes expert: Rice is obese Malaysia's most dangerous junk food

By Rei Rengsen Siew Lin

The causes behind the rise in obesity and diabetes in Asia’s most overweight country, Malaysia, are very different to those in the Western world, according to one of the Southeast Asian country’s leading endocrinologists.

After much waiting, China establishes long-chain omega 3 guidelines

China

After much waiting, China establishes long-chain omega 3 guidelines

By RJ Whitehead

China has finally published official dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for EPA and DHA omega 3 fatty acids—a move that is expected to help thousands of its consumers who are at risk of poor health by not consuming enough of the substance.

China’s krill market opening up to newcomers

China’s krill market opening up to newcomers

By RJ Whitehead

Canadian biotechnology company Neptune has followed its krill supply rivals Aker Biomarine in receiving New Food Raw Material certification in China, which allows the companies to sell their krill oil nutraceutical products in the county.

Oz government should provide more support for complementary medicine

Oz government should provide more support for complementary medicine

By RJ Whitehead

According to Australia’s Complementary Healthcare Council, 2014 will put an ever-increasing burden of chronic health problems on the country’s healthcare system. As a result, the body is urging the government increase prominence for complementary medicines...

Vitamin-shy Asia-Pacific on verge of osteoporosis crisis

Vitamin-shy Asia-Pacific on verge of osteoporosis crisis

By RJ Whitehead

A new report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, shows that osteoporosis is a looming crisis throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with half of the world’s sufferers set to come from Asia by 2050.

GM golden rice dispute continues in the Phillipines

Is GM rice’s future golden?

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A recent attack on a GM golden rice trial field in the Philippines has raised questions about the future of the project in the country and beyond.

Can ramen be the saviour with food security in the soup

Books

Can ramen be the saviour with food security in the soup

By RJ Whitehead

If you were asked to list Japan’s biggest export concepts, what would you say? Undoubtedly consumer electronics would be there; cars too - after all, the country has made the production of complex goods into an art form, regardless of the weight of the...

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