Assessing the impact of Micronutrient Powders
Improving nutritional status can be a complex process–giving people just any micronutrient supplement or powder doesn’t guarantee results. It is important to think about the quality, not just quantity of nutrients. A study published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicated that the prevalence of anemia did not decrease when children were given a micronutrient powder, despite excellent compliance and knowledge of appropriate dosage from caregivers. Read more...
read moreLeverage nutrition to improve school performance
The Campaign for Education Equity has published a paper calling for schools to focus on key health disparities as a method to improve school performance, especially among low-income and minority youth. The report asks schools to target seven major health disparities, one of which is eating breakfast daily. These disparities, both individually and collectively, affect children’s ability to learn through five major causal pathways: sensory perceptions, cognition, school connectedness and engagement, absenteeism, and temporary or permanent...
read moreGarden-based education found to improve dietary choices among kids
New research out of University of California – Davis has studied the effects of school gardens and garden-based nutrition education on fruit and vegetable consumption of school-aged children in California. The study concludes that after participating in garden-based education, children are more likely to diversify their diets with a variety of fruits and vegetables. The study explains, “[A]fter a 17-week standards-based, garden-enhanced nutrition education program, fourth-grade students preferred a greater variety of vegetables than did...
read moreCaring for Non-communicable Diseases in the Underdeveloped World
A lack of continuity care for non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a growing global health problem as the global burden of diseases shifts towards NCDS, according to a collection of Policy Briefs from the NCD Working Group at Johns Hopkins University. The briefs focus on access and adherence to medication for NCDs, which is especially low in areas with poor health infrastructure. Additionally, the quality of many medications for NCDs is lower in low-and middle-income countries, which often lack regulatory systems to control the production and...
read moreThe Need for Metrics and Data Systems for Measuring Full Nourishment
Because we have no good way to measure whether a person is fully nourished or not, we measure inputs instead, or we measure a few of the nutrient outcomes (e.g. iron levels in the blood; or NPK levels in soil). So it is critical to find new ways to cheaply and rapidly measure nutrient absorption and retention in foods, supplements, and full spectrum nourishment in humans and land. Wouldn’t it be useful, for example, to be able to compare the nutrient density in an orange from California with one from Chile? Or to be able to check the...
read moreAshoka Fellow’s fortified supplementary food has beneficial effects
Basil Kransdorff has been working with HIV/AIDS and TB patients in South Africa for a decade. He realized that part of their difficulty in combating the disease comes from their (often extreme) malnourishment. So he developed a “cocktail” of 28 micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), embedded in a pre-cooked whole grain meal (which contains some essential oils). The micronutrients are in complex forms that increase their bioavailability to the body. Putting AIDs and TB patients on this advanced nutritional supplement has resulted in...
read moreSugar in our food supply and human health
Mark Bittman’s opinion piece highlights problems related to our food supply and human health: “increased sugar in a population’s food supply was linked to higher diabetes rates independent of rates of obesity” in a study published by PLoS One.
read moreMediterranean Diet Shown to Ward Off Heart Attack and Stroke
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that concluded that: “Among persons at high cardiovascular risk, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduced the incidence of major cardiovascular events.” It is becoming evident that the right nutrients in the right form can have a real impact on health and wellness. Read the full article here.
read moreMobile Health Technologies Play a Role in Disease Management and Behavior Change
PLOS medicine published “The Effectiveness of Mobile- Health Technology-Based Health Behaviour Change or Disease Management Interventions for Health Care Consumers: A Systemative Review” in January 2013 which concluded that: Text messaging interventions increased adherence to ART and smoking cessation and should be considered for inclusion in services. Although there is suggestive evidence of benefit in some other areas, high quality adequately powered trials of optimised interventions are required to evaluate effects on objective...
read more“Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development: Building a Consensus”
In 2011, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a summary of the conference ‘Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development: Building a Consensus.'” The role of biomarkers in nutrition is discussed, as well as applications for biomarkers in clinical and community assessment for malnutrition. This discussion highlights the challenges in understanding the nutrient status of a person and community and how to ensure it is complete. A summary of the article is as follows: “…the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National...
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