It is no secret that excessive consumption of sugar and fat threatens the health of any person. Although people are nowadays becoming more educated and increasingly paying attention to what they eat, World Health Organization data show that non-communicable diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. [1] Some of the most common causes of non-communicable diseases are changing risk factors, such as unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. Nestlé recognises that both educating the public about nutrition and introducing serious changes in product production by reducing fats and sugars and simplifying the composition of products are essential to address this problem. Nutritionist Baiba Grīnberga together with Nestlé offers to look at the prejudices about the products available in stores and to figure out what is true in them and what is the myth.
There are no good quality products on the shelves of stores, so in order to be able to plan a healthy menu, the products must be purchased on the market, from local manufacturers or grown on their own.
It's a myth. Nutritionist Baiba Grīnberga explains: "The notion that there is nothing good on supermarket shelves is wrong. Often people tend to express the opinion that industrially developed products are "full of chemistry and pesticides" and that "only homemade products have all the strength and health, since they retain the necessary nutrients and vitamins". This trend is very wrong. Firstly, no brand or manufacturer is interested in poisoning us, and secondly, consuming rural goodies is not the key to health. Sometimes people deliberately try to give preference only, in their opinion, to real rural goodies, such as fatty dairy products, thus falling into the trap of overweight. There is no single solution to be healthy, we must each personally think and be able to critically evaluate the entire assortment of products available to us.
In order to be able to decipher the composition of products, it is necessary to have adequate education in nutrition science.
Indeed, the description of the composition of products tends to contain complex scientific terms that may be incomprehensible to the average consumer. Nutritionist B. Grīnberga recommends, firstly, to use the possibilities of modern technology and to find information on the Internet about the effects of certain substances on our organism, and secondly, to try to avoid or limit the consumption of products whose composition has not been fully understood. The nutritionist calls: "Avoid products in the description of the composition of which you see trans-fatty acids and partially hydrogenated fats and oils. Be sure to pay attention to products with a large amount of sugar and added dyes – it is advisable to consume as little as possible in the diet. It is also necessary to avoid excessive consumption of products with a high content of saturated fatty acids, mainly fatty milk and meat products, as well as coconut butter."
Manufacturers deceive buyers by hiding substances harmful to health behind complex names.
"There are no poisonous foods in stores, there are only those whose consumption in large quantities and over a long period of time can be unhealthy. That is why the research and purchase of products must be carried out responsibly and thoughtfully," explains B. Grīnberga. "It is also pleasant to observe the positive tendency of many brands to simplify the composition of products in order to allow buyers to orient themselves well in the assortment and buy valuable products," adds B. Grīnberga. For example, Nestlé has recently released the 'Creation of Common Value' progress report for 2019. It provides a detailed overview of Nestlé's efforts, including introducing healthier products to the market, getting responsible raw materials and working towards a waste-free future.
Vilma Kapočiene, sweets, dairy and food manager at Nestlé, comments: "More and more people are trying to understand the composition of products and be able to identify products that are appropriate for a healthy diet. We can provide this opportunity by providing clear information and abandoning product ingredients that may be unfamiliar to consumers. Nestlé transforms product recipes by abandoning artificial dyes and ingredients that are difficult for consumers to recognize. In addition, we strive to provide as clear information as possible on product labels and diversify our assortment by introducing more vegetables, fibre and whole grain products."
Sugar is added to everything.
That's not true. Sometimes people study the packaging of the product and put the item back on the shelf with the idea that it contains a lot of sugar. But it is important to remember that in many products sugar is present naturally. "If we take sugar with products that are already naturally inside, the body reacts to it differently. In fruits, including dried ones, and in cereals, sugar is associated with fiber, and this is very positive. When it comes to cereals, it should be remembered that whole grain products should be preferred," explains B. Grīnberga.
[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death