All articles by Amit Thadani
Amit Thadani
Trans fats: Reform or re-educate?
The question of nannying or nurturing is one that people are confronted with in many aspects of their daily lives, and the food industry is no different. Andrew Tunnicliffe speaks with expert James Stevenson to discover how the line between the two are increasingly blurred but steps are being taken by policymakers and industry to offer greater focus on how to eliminate trans fats.
On the bottle
Formula milk has long enjoyed a valued spot on pharmacy shelves – but can formula feed ever match human milk in terms of the health benefits? Abi Millar talks to Dr Steven Abrams, a Dell Medical School professor at the University of Texas and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee, about the value of breast milk and developments in the field of formula.
Kick-start health with carotenoids
Carotenoid supplements are enjoying increasing media attention, especially for their ability to fight cardiovascular disease. So, what exactly do these compounds do to help prevent heart attacks, among other health benefits? Jim Banks talks to Volker Bohm of Eurocaroten, and Allen Levine of the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association about how astaxanthin and other carotenoids benefit the human body.
Probiotics: A key tool for health?
With Covid-19 transforming our attitudes to disease, the demand for immunity-boosting supplements is booming – especially when it comes to probiotics. Jim Banks asks Esben Laulund, president of the International Probiotics Association Europe, and A K Srivastava, president of the Probiotic Association of India, about the latest immune-boosting research.
International Conference on Creatine in Health and Disease 2022
The International Conference on Creatine in Health and Disease 2022, March 16-19, will bring together the world’s leading creatine researchers to discuss the role of creatine supplementation in health as well as clinical treatment of disease. Health, exercise, nutrition and wellness experts, young researchers, entrepreneurs and students from around the world are invited.
Take it to heart
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which causes around a third of all deaths globally, can be reduced through changes in diet. But the medical profession isn’t doing enough to address the nutritional challenges many people face. Ellys Earls speaks to Dr Tom Butler, a senior lecturer in Nutrition and Health at Edge Hill University and head of the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention’s Diet Working Group, to find out what needs to change and where to start.
The taste of time
From impossible meat to the rise of plant-based proteins, the demand for healthy and sustainable food shows no sign of abating. What is behind this trend, and does it have the legs to last? Nikki Peach speaks to Vinciane Patelou, director of The European Plant Based Foods Association (ENSA) and Carlotte Lucas, corporate engagement manager at The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI) to unearth the main drivers behind the trend, how plant-based eating is the key to a sustainable future, and why motivation doesn’t always matter.
The desired effect
Cannabidiol, or CBD, continues to be marketed as a non-intoxicating substance with a raft of wellness benefits. While still only licensed as a treatment for childhood epilepsies and forms of multiple sclerosis, doctors are increasingly experimenting with CBD for pain relief, and as a novel treatment for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Is it a panacea or a lucrative snake oil? Will Moffitt discusses the potential of this illusive compound with Steven Moore, cofounder of The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), and Mikael Sodergren, founder of the Medical Cannabis Research Group.
A flexible approach
While the shift towards veganism began as a principled fight for animal welfare, it’s no secret that a boom in plant-based eating isn’t just being driven by customers abstaining from meat outright. Coined by a US dietician more than a decade ago, flexitarian eating has become a pivotal industry trend as consumer wants and needs evolve with the times. Indeed, the rise of flexitarianism is reshaping the entire structure of food and ingredients markets across the globe. Martin Morris asks what novel techniques are behind a slew of plant-based products coming to market.
Break in the chain
With the Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain issues continuing to undermine global trading patterns, particularly in Europe and the US, Mark LeDoux, founder and CEO of Natural Alternatives International tells Martin Morris how these deadlocks and delays are impacting the ingredients industry.