Food & Drink

Despite their negative publicity over the years, edible oils play an important role in maintaining physical health and wellbeing. Compared to other nutrients, they are particularly high in energy and are routinely stored as a reserve supply. Every cell is surrounded by a lipid layer which helps to maintain the integrity of the intracellular environment. Oils play a key role in transporting fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin E, D, and they are key constituents of the steroidal compounds which regulate metabolism, development and integration of the body’s vital functions. It wasn’t long ago that health advocates were recommending polyunsaturated vegetable oils like safflower, sunflower, and soybean as the best choices for a healthy diet....

Why have so many chocolate lovers shifted their allegiance to organically certified products? We contacted industry representatives across the globe for their responses. Sjaaks is a family business located in Northern California specialising in the manufacture of premium quality organic chocolates. Jessica Holten is the daughter of Sjaaks founder, Jacques Holten. Having grown up with chocolate, Jessica probably has a better understanding than most. She believes many consumers have become increasingly wary of the high levels of pesticides applied to raise conventional cocoa crops. The chocolate products may then contain residual chemicals present within the cocoa butter as derived from the oily components of the bean. Jessica also agrees with...

Sugar, honey, and other natural sweeteners are an important source of pleasure. They are frequently used in drinks, cakes, biscuits, sauces, candy, and many other indulgence foods. Unfortunately, most of the sugar appearing on supermarket shelves is highly refined, which means that it is stripped of the nutrients which were originally present in the plants from which it was derived. Highly refined sugar and our health Highly refined sugars and sweeteners provide what dieticians describe as empty calories. These provide a form of energy which can be used by the body but do not contribute to its longer term maintenance, repair, or vitality. When taken, the body must use the calories as a source of immediate energy or begin a complicated process...

In their unrefined state, many whole grains are covered with a coarse husk which prevents their easy absorption within the digestive tract. Most of them can be milled to create flours which are sufficiently digestible and convenient for blending with other ingredients. In historical times, milling was a simple physical process which involved repeatedly cracking and grinding the grains against suitably flattened surfaces of stone. Today, the technology of milling has advanced to include many additional applications which homogenise, bleach, blend and fortify our basic flours. Consumers demand wholesome food The current shift toward wholesome and unadulterated food ingredients encompasses the organic approach which restricts the unnecessary use...

Grain can be defined as the edible seeds from a wide variety of grass-like plants. Complex whole grains are a natural source of digestible carbohydrates, protein, essential oils, in addition to minerals and the fibrous material of their external husks and bran layer. When raised in healthy, unpolluted soils, they provide the foundation for an optimally balanced diet and active lifestyle. Throughout history, most societies depended upon one or more of these foods to provide their basic nutritional requirements. The unique characteristics of the grains combined with their manner of processing assumed a significant role in the development of many cultural practices and traditions. Increased consumer choice Unlike earlier periods in history, the...