Tag Archives: REDUCE

Eliminating 12 modifiable risk factors could reduce dementia cases by 40%

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  • Excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury and pollution included in new findings
  • Sleep a possible risk factor but more research needed
  • Lower income countries at greater risk

A new report has estimated that the number of dementia cases worldwide could be reduced by 40% if 12 risk factors for the condition could be completely eliminated. The Lancet Commission Report has included excessive alcohol use, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and pollution as three new risk factors in its updated model for dementia risk. The report, supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, is published today (Thursday 31 July) at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020.

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“This collaborative report from dementia experts across the world highlights a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia throughout a person’s life. Research is constantly uncovering more about dementia and this is the most comprehensive overview into dementia risk to date, building on previous work by this commission and moving our understanding forward.

“As new studies continue to develop the evidence base on dementia risk, the report has identified three new risk factors for dementia. More evidence on the complex topic of sleep is needed before we can make a judgement on its impact on dementia risk, but we hope this report will act as a catalyst for further research.

“With no treatments yet able to slow or stop the onset of dementia, taking action to reduce these risks is an important part of our strategy for tackling the condition. Prevention strategies must be underpinned by robust evidence and while our understanding of dementia risk is growing, there is still much we need to know about the different risk factors for dementia.

“This report underlines the importance of acting at a personal and policy level to reduce dementia risk. With Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Attitudes Monitor showing just a third of people think it’s possible to reduce their risk of developing dementia, there’s clearly much to do here to increase people’s awareness of the steps they can take.

“While there’s no sure-fire way of preventing dementia, the best way to keep your brain healthy as you age is to stay physically and mentally active, eat a healthy balanced diet, not smoke, drink only within the recommended limits and keep weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check.”

The Food Medic: How to reduce free sugars in the diet

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January leaves us all wanting to eat healthier as the decadence of Christmas tends to be hanging around. Mostly in weigh gain. The Food Medic is here to tell you how to reduce free sugars in your diet and be healthier.

You might be thinking, hey, why all the fuss about reducing sugars? First things first, sugar is not poisonous or toxic, nor is it uniquely to blame for obesity or poor health. However, we could generally do with consuming less “free” sugars. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a committee of independent experts that advises the Government on nutrition issues, recommends that the average intake of FREE sugars should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy intake, as they can contribute to excess calories in our diet and tooth decay. But what are free sugars and how might we limit our intake?

 

Free sugars includes sugars added to food and drinks by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, but also includes ‘natural sugars’ found in honey, syrups and juices. These are sugars we generally need to eat less of as they can contribute to excess calories in our diet and tooth decay. Sugars found in fruit and vegetables, grains and cereals, or lactose naturally present in milk and dairy products are not included in this.

 

How can I cut down my consumption of free sugars?

 

Most of the free sugars we consume come from sugars that we add to food and drink, including fizzy drinks and juices, jams and condiments, biscuits, pastries and cakes. There’s no need to totally avoid these foods completely, but you can reduce the amount of free sugars in your diet by basing your meals on fibre-rich, carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potatoes, protein-rich beans and pulses, essential fatty acids from oily fish and flaxseed, and a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables, such as berries and leafy greens.

 

Here are some helpful suggestions:

 

Make your own chia jam – Although there is nothing quite like old fashioned jam, it does contain quite a lot of added sugar, which isn’t great for our teeth or health if we eat too much of it. Chia seed jam is a quick, low-sugar alternative to regular jam. All you need is a punnet of berries and a tablespoon of chia seeds –  You can whip this up in 5 minutes and have an incredible, homemade jam in your fridge for up to 2 weeks!

Simply stew in a pot with 2 tablespoons of water over a medium heat. Cook until the fruit breaks down and becomes syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes. Mash the berries with the back of a wooden spoon and stir in the chia seeds. Cook for another 2-3 minutes then remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, until thickened. If you’d like a thicker consistency, especially with very juicy fruits, stir in more chia seeds 1 teaspoon at a time. Once the jam has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to a jar.

 

Many breakfast cereals are quite high in sugar, including those marketed to be “healthier” options. One way to reduce your sugar intake at breakfast time is to swap to lower-sugar cereals such as plain porridge oats. You can make it just as, if not more, satisfying and delicious by jazzing it up with some warm berries, cinnamon and chopped nuts.

 

Smart snacking – despite their healthy image, many cereal bars and “energy” balls are often pretty high in sugar and fat. Instead of trying to navigate the snack aisle, plan ahead and make your own snacks to take with you – it’s also a great way to save money. How about your own DIY trail mix made with a small handful of chopped nuts, fresh berries, and a square or two of dark chocolate roughly chopped?

 

A large proportion of the added sugar in our diets comes from sugar sweetened beverages such as fizzy drinks and juices. If swapping to water isn’t something you feel particularly excited about, you could try flavoring it with a herbal tea bag, a handful of chopped strawberries or cucumber, or simply just mint.

 

Surprisingly for some, there are also some sugar added to savoury foods – what some people call “hidden sugars” – such as in; condiments, sauces, and ready meals. This is usually to improve taste and texture but it can mean you’re consuming some extra sugar. By making your own sauces at home, and cooking from scratch as much as possible, you are likely to reduce the amount of added sugar in your meals.

 

 

 

PATAGONIA: REDUCE, REPAIR, REUSE, RECYCLE AND REIMAGINE.

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Frost Loves Patagonia’s new initiative. Check it out below. 


PATAGONIA ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIP WITH CUSTOMERS TO CONSUME LESS
AS PART OF THE COMMON THREADS INITIATIVE IN EUROPE.
THE INITIATIVE MUTUALLY PLEDGES WITH CUSTOMERS TO BUY AND USE CLOTHING MORE SUSTAINABLY AND FOCUSES ON 5 “R’S” –REDUCE, REPAIR, REUSE,  RECYCLE AND REIMAGINE
Patagonia launches its Common Threads
Initiative focusing on the first “R”: REDUCE.
Today, Patagonia is the only apparel brand
to tell its consumers not to buy what they
don’t need. The picture on the following page
was published as an advertisement in the New
York Times by Patagonia on November 25th as consumption in the USA is reaching a peak just
after Thanksgiving.
In 2006, Patagonia was the very first apparel
brand to ask its consumer to RECYCLE with
our Capilene® Baselayers, when the Common
Threads Program was launched. Extended
season after season, Patagonia is now taking
back every Patagonia garment put on the
market, recycling what can be and keeping what can’t be recycled yet. By giving back, consumers pledge to keep
all this stuff out of the landfill and incinerator. But this “R” comes at the end. Recycling is what we do when we’re
out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first.
Patagonia in turn commits, with its REPAIR “R”, to make products that last and help repair quickly anything
that breaks. Our policy is to get repairs unpacked, done and back in the mail to you within four weeks, including
transport. We pay for repairs that we’re responsible for and charge a fair price for repairs due to normal wear and
tear.
To help customers put back in circulation used clothes, and set up the REUSE “R”, Patagonia and eBay Inc.
have joined forces to launch a new marketplace for customers to buy and sell used Patagonia gear. Only available
for the US market for now, we are already thinking about a similar partnership for Europe. “eBay and
Patagonia have created this unique store to encourage customers to go into their closets, find the Patagonia
garments they don’t currently need, and list them on eBay to continue their useful life,” notes Rick Ridgeway,
Patagonia’s VP of Environmental Initiatives.
The goal is to get more and more pledges and therefore meet our fifth “R”, REIMAGINE. Reimagine a world where
we take only what nature can replace. At this point, 8,500 people already took the pledge. Our goal is to reach
50,000 a year.
We are now using the resources of one and a half planets on our one and only planet. The environmental
cost of everything we make is astonishing. Consider the R2® Jacket shown, one of our best sellers. To make it
required 135 litres of water, enough to meet the daily needs (three litres a day) of 45 people. Its journey from its
origin as 60% recycled polyester to our Reno warehouse generated nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, 24 times
the weight of the finished product. This jacket left behind, on its way to Reno, two-thirds its weight in waste.
“The Common Threads Initiative addresses a significant part of today’s environmental problem – the footprint of our
stuff,” notes Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s Founder and Owner. “This initiative first asks customers to not buy
something if they don’t need it. If they do need it, we ask that they buy what will last a long time – and to repair
what breaks, reuse or resell whatever they don’t wear any more. And, finally, recycle whatever’s truly worn out. We
are the first company to ask customers to take a formal pledge and be partners in the effort to reduce consumption
and keep products out of the landfill or incinerator.”
To get more information and/or take the pledge visit www.patagonia.com/eu/enGB/common-threads