Report Calls for Dietary Changes to Federal Nutrition Program

Meals and snacks served to children and adults at day care facilities through a federally supported food program should have more vegetables and fruits and less fat, salt and added sugars, according to the new “Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All" report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

The report's recommendations will bring the nutrition standards of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in line with the latest nutrition science and dietary guidelines used in other federal food programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Approximately 3 million children and 114,000 functionally impaired adults and other adults over age 60 received meals and snacks through the program in fiscal year 2010.

The report builds on existing CACFP requirements for meals and also calls for each meal to include one serving of fruit and two of vegetables and for the amount of dark green and orange vegetables served each week to increase while limiting starchy vegetables to no more than twice a week. Juice should be 100-percent fruit juice without added sugars. At least half of the grain products served should be rich in whole grains. Day care facilities should limit their use of foods and ingredients that are high in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat and added sugars. Sites should use vegetable oils and limited amounts of salt when preparing meals. Meats should be lean; soy products, beans, eggs, nuts, and other meat alternatives may be used.

“The meals and snacks made possible through the Child and Adult Care Food Program are an important source of nutrition for millions of children and tens of thousands of adults," said committee chair Suzanne P. Murphy, researcher, professor, and director of the Nutrition Support Shared Resource, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. “This report points the way to updating the program's meal requirements so that they reflect the latest nutrition science. The changes recommended will help program beneficiaries get more of the nutrients they need without getting too many calories and will promote lifelong healthy eating habits."

Sources:

* Institute of Medicine: Changes Needed to Improve Nutrition of Meals and Snacks Provided Through Federally Supported Day Care Food Program For Children and Adults

Resveratrol May Help Treat Malaria

Resveratrol, a key antioxidant found in chocolate and red wine, may help fight severe malaria that kills an estimated 1 million people each year, according to a study presented Nov. 4 at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)'s 59th annual meeting.

A new National Institutes of Health (NIH) study suggests that treatment of parasite-infected red blood cells with resveratrol significantly reduces their ability to adhere to the body's cells lining small blood vessels. That reduction in binding to blood vessels is predicted to greatly lessen the probability of developing severe clinical manifestations of malaria, according to the study. The study suggests resveratrol, which is commercially available, can be used in combination with antimalarial chemotherapy to improve the survival chances of people with severe malaria.

Sources:

* PR Newswire: Substance Found in Red Wine May Help Treat Malaria

Organic Veggies Don’t Have Higher Antioxidant Levels

Organically-grown onions, carrots and potatoes do not appear to have higher levels of antioxidants than vegetables grown with traditional fertilizers and pesticides, despite their premium cost, according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

According to the study, the most important reasons for the popularity of organic food products include improved animal welfare, environmental protection, better taste and possible health benefits. However, the health benefits of organic food consumption are still controversial and not considered scientifically well documented.

The researchers analyzed onions, carrots and potatoes that were cultivated in 2-year field trials in three different geographical locations, comprising one conventional and two organic agricultural systems. The contents of flavonoids and phenolic acids in plants were analyzed by pressurized liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography—ultraviolet quantification. In onions and carrots, no statistically significant differences between growth systems were found for any of the analyzed polyphenols.

“On the basis of the present study carried out under well controlled conditions, it cannot be concluded that organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes generally have higher contents of health-promoting secondary metabolites in comparison with the conventionally cultivated ones," they wrote.

Sources:

* Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry: Effects of Organic and Conventional Growth Systems on the Content of Flavonoids in Onions and Phenolic Acids in Carrots and Potatoes

Grapes and grape products may play a beneficial role in cardiovascular health,

As I always stated,grapes are a very healthy fruit!

More than 50% of Americans list heart health as their number one health concern.(1) According to recent scientific papers published in Nutrition Reviews(2) and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition(3), consumers can take steps to support heart health by incorporating grape-based products into their diets. Specifically, these studies reveal that grapes and grape products, most notably Concord grape juice, may play a beneficial role in cardiovascular health as part of an overall nutritious diet.

A new review by Vislocky and Fernandez, summarizing previously published research, outlined existing scientific evidence on the role of Concord grapes in heart health. In particular, this review highlighted several studies that support the beneficial role of grapes on maintaining healthy, flexible arteries (endothelial function) and managing the effects of "bad" cholesterol to help keep arteries clear of plaque (LDL oxidation). Grape seeds, skins and juice have natural plant nutrients known as polyphenols (or more specifically, flavonoids) which naturally serve many functions in the body including acting as antioxidants to help fight free radicals, which are known to harm healthy cells. Eating and drinking polyphenol-containing foods has been associated with promoting overall health. This review provides further support for consuming Concord grapes and juice for heart health.

"Grape products can be a wise choice for a healthy lifestyle," said Maria Luz Fernandez, PhD with the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. "Grapes and grape juice are easy ways to take a proactive step in maintaining health."

An additional study by Dohadwala and colleagues examined the role of Concord grape juice in maintaining healthy blood pressure. Study participants included 64 adult men and women with an early stage of high blood pressure classified as either pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. This study showed that drinking Concord grape juice helped lower nocturnal or night-time blood pressure (an indicator of healthy blood pressure regulation), and had a beneficial impact on blood sugar levels compared to a calorie-matched, grape-flavored drink. While this is exciting, it is important to note that more science is needed to confirm these findings, and that the researchers found no significant effect on blood pressure measured over a 24-hour period.

The review by Vislocky and Fernandez also outlined emerging areas of grape research, including cognitive function. As the brain ages, it becomes more vulnerable to free radicals which can hinder cognitive function. Recent studies have suggested that polyphenol-containing Concord grape juice may help support cognitive function in older adults with age-related memory decline.(4) While early research in this area appears promising, the science is preliminary and further exploration is needed to determine if Concord grape juice can have an effect on cognitive health.

These two recent scientific papers complement a growing body of evidence suggesting that Concord grape juice can help promote heart health in certain groups of people. Consumers can bring this refreshing discovery into their lives by adding a glass of 100% grape juice made with Concord grapes to a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Welch's is committed to supporting independent research exploring the role of Concord grape juice in a healthy lifestyle and provided support for these studies.