‘No quick answer to good health?

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 10

‘No quick answer to good health?

Food “fadism” and health food shops have been given a low priority by a visiting ‘American expert in nutrition and community medicine, Dr Reva Frankie. A, Dr Frankie, who was for merly in charge o£ the New York City Department, ol Health nutrition clinic, since 1987 been with the'’ office of the Department o! Community Medicine at thr Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She is alsc director of nutrition for Weight Watchers International. ’ “The local supermarket is your health ifood store. All • you need for a healthy diet can be obtained in such a place. A lot of ‘alternative foods are far too expensive and they are clothed in misinformation. Many people get carried away on socalled health foods. In the process they disregard proper medical advice and can create a danger to themselves,” she said. Moderation, balance, and common sense were necessary in the average person's diet, Mr Frankie said. “Health food shops are no quick ; ansv/er to good health.” It was within everyone’s control .to ensure that they had.a food intake which gave variety and controlled intake.

This needed to note the damage possible from too much fat because of meat and too much sugar and salt intake. On a lecture tour of Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, Dr . Frankie said she had not observed New Zealanders as being any more obese than most other people from affluent countries. "However, I have been continually surprised at the lack of fat-free products

such as skim milk in hotels 'and restaurants. Enough options do not seem to be .offered in such places.” i

Dr Frankie said that New Zealanders seem to drink less pure water than many other people. “It is not the same to say you are having water intake through coffee, tea, and the like. Pure water helps yon to . clear the body of wastes and we should drink between eight and 10 glasses a day.’ The point is that if people do not drink water then- they are drinking other flavoured and sugar-sweetened beverages to quench their thirst. This is not a good thing.” While it may be too late for adults to change their eating habits it was vital for; children to be taught the: habits of moderation, a good., choice of food varieties and a gradual process of learning; more about how to control! body weight through exercise and self-control, she said. i “We can control our food intake, but this does not entail food fads and dangerous experimentation with such things as vitamin tablets. Many of the latter can cause problems especially] with vitamin A, vitamin Kl and vitamin D.”