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Expert Predicts Higher Food, Fuel Commodity Prices

April 23, 2011 by ·

Those who think gasoline and food prices are high now should brace themselves for what is coming, a leading commodities strategist warns.

“People may be surprised at how high prices can go,” predicts Colin Fenton, the head of commodities research at JP Morgan in New York. Fenton, in Denver this week to talk to clients, said inflation is well under way in everyday items consumers buy, even if the consumer price index reports a modest 2.2% rate.

As an example, he points to the little bag of chips that are a staple of sack lunches and sandwich shops. From November 2001 to August 2007, they were stable in price, rising only a penny to 34 cents. They now cost 45 cents, with a 6% jump the past 12 months.

Gasoline prices are where consumers probably notice commodity volatility the most. But people need to fill their tanks to get to work, he said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Food, People ·

Mangoes Arrive In Markets As Season Begins

April 16, 2011 by ·

As the most sought-after seasonal fruit begins to make its appearance in the city, the Chennai Corporation is gearing up to curb the sale of mangoes ripened using chemicals.

According to its Health Officer P. Kuganantham, teams of health department officials have been sensitised and trained to identify and seize mangoes that have been ripened artificially. In the last few years, some fruit vendors were found selling mangoes ripened using calcium carbide.

The last few years have seen the Chennai Corporation conducting raids on godowns and storage points of fruits every summer. “We have been adopting the practice for the last four years. We seized over 150 tonnes of mangoes in a year and over 25 tonnes of calcium carbide kept in some of the godowns,” Dr. Kuganantham said.

Food inspectors, along with sanitary inspectors, will conduct raids at different points across the 10 zones of the Corporation, including the wholesale market in Koyambedu. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Fruits & Vegetables ·

Heal With Food Therapy!

March 26, 2011 by ·

Feeling low? Indulge in food therapy. Crackling bones? Hit the fridge rather than the medicine box. Food therapy is emerging as the latest prevention against multiple lifestyle diseases. Experts believe it’s better to pop an apple, rather than popping the pill.

Eat well and feel good

A healthy diet has shown experts that food could be the answer to combat diseases. Foods can be therapeutic and also make you feel good. Says Dr Shikha Sharma, dietician, “Eat well not just for basic nutrition but to heal. After a lot of suffering, people realise it’s better to eat well than pop in medicines. Food science introduces us to foods that heal rather than just provide basic vitamins. Increase your intake of yellow and orange vegetables to prevent infertility. Leafy vegetables are good for eyesight and detox the liver. If you want to avoid depression, just eat lots of seeds, nuts and watermelons for a better nervous system. Salads make the digestion stronger as they have enzymes.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Health & Fitness ·

Turn Veggie, Prevent Chronic Diseases

March 19, 2011 by ·

Well planned vegetarian diets are healthy and nutritious for all age groups and help prevent heart diseases, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

Winston Craig, professor of nutrition and wellness at Andrews University, and Reed Mangels, nutrition advisor at the Vegetarian Resource Group , Baltimore, conducted the study on behalf of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

Vegetarian diets are often associated with health advantages, including lower blood cholesterol levels, lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure levels and lower risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

“Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fibre, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids,” the study said.

These nutritional differences may explain some of the health advantages of those following a varied, balanced vegetarian diet, said an ADA release. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Disease, Food, Health, Research & Study ·

Add Fibre To Your Diet

March 10, 2011 by ·

Though they aren’t generally given much importance, including an adequate amount of fibre in your daily diet is a must.

There are plenty of foods that are have high-fibre content, including whole wheat breads, green vegetables, cereals, pasta, fruits and even nuts.

- It’s important to eat such food in order for your digestive system to function normally. It’s especially helpful for those suffering from constipation, piles and other digestive disorders.

- Eating fibre-rich foods can also reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. Some of these foods also tend to be low in fat and good sources of other nutrients. Cereals boast of iron and vitamin B, many fruits also come rich in vitamins. [Read more...]

Filed Under: diet, Food, Health & Fitness ·

One Food Critic Is Making Healthy Oatmeal His Mission

February 28, 2011 by ·

Mark Bittman Says Some Fast-Food Restaurants Put Too Much Sugar and Other Ingredients in ‘Wholesome’ Breakfast

McDonald’s sells its oatmeal as a healthy breakfast alternative, but according to one food critic, it includes too many not-so-healthy ingredients.

Its new oatmeal, which McDonald’s released nationwide last month as a “bowl full of wholesome,” is actually a crock full of something else, according to Mark Bittman, a food author and blogger for The New York Times.

Watch ABC’s “World News With Diane Sawyer” for more on this story tonight.

“It’s put forward as this wholesome thing when, in fact, it’s sort of an amalgam of ingredients you wouldn’t ordinarily have at home,” he said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food, Health & Fitness ·

It’s Really Time Now To Eat What We Grow And Grow What We Eat

February 21, 2011 by ·

IN January, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization announced that its food price index for December hit an all-time high, and the World Bank’s food price index increased by 15 per cent between October 2010 and January 2011.

The prices of many commodities have surged exponentially to above the peak reached in 2008. Corn is now US$290 per tonne and oil is back above US$100 per barrel. Soaring food and energy prices now pose a threat to the fledgling impetus in the recovery of the world economy.

Increased food prices could aggravate poverty in developing countries like Jamaica, increasing the risks of political and social instability. India, for example, is struggling to cope with an 18 per cent annual food inflation rate.

Another food crisis appears imminent. Finance ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies met in Paris Friday to discuss the food crisis but failed to devise a plan to address this urgent issue. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Food, Humanities ·