Rahber Moments

Hello team foodie,

Today's post is not about food safety or nutrition but healthy minds and happy society. I am sharing with you my experience of being a Rahber (mentor) of seven school girls. I have just completed Rahber cycle 14. It is the most inspiring, exciting and joyous experience of my life. Rahber progamme by The Citizens Foundation-TCF is life transforming not only for students but mentors as well. I joined this programme to pay back to the society but instead mentees helped me develop grateful attitude. In just seven saturdays, I have met two real life heros, many friends, re-lived my childhood, learned the recipe of life and loads more. 

Because pictures say more than words, I am sharing glimpse of my Rahber journey with mentees, co-mentors and coordinators.

Exposure trip at IBA

Recipe of life

Discussing the importance of balance in life with the help of birynai ingredients.

What else you can expect from a food technologist! :)

Pledge activity

Hands made gifts by my mentees

If you want to mentor young children in need of some guidance, register for Rahbar sessions today.

Cheers!






Photo credits: Mind Vision Artwork & NK Photography

Halal Challenges in a Muslim Society

Muslims living in Non-Muslim regions have more understanding of Halal than Muslims in Islamic countries. In Muslim society people expect everything is Halal in their markets. People need to understand the concept of Halal is not limited to blood, pork and animal slaughtering methods. Now, the food preference trends have been changed. Read-to-eat, partially cooked and caned products are replacing fresh commodities. These products contain different additives like colour, flavor, gelling agents etc. In international market these ingredients are available from both Halal and Non-Halal (Haram) sources. We have food items in our local markets from all parts of the globe. These products may contain Non-Halal ingredients. 

In 2009, a book called Pig 05049 was published by Christien Meindertsma that proved pieces of one pig ended up in 185 separate products from toothpaste, Chewing gum to dough improver and desserts. The pig is considered Haram, or not to be consumed by Muslims. Apart from this, many additives are derived from insects and animal hides. Gelatin is the most common example of suspected additives. If it is derived from Halal animal which is slaughtered ritually then it is acceptable. 

This situation is alarming for Muslim consumers especially in Islamic states. They must adapt smart shopping, research and traceability skills. Every individual must read food labels before putting food items in the grocery cart. If Halal logo is present at the package then the product is safe for consumption. When the logo is absent one should read the ingredient list. But, absences of prohibited ingredients in the ingredients list do not assure Halal status of food. There might be traces of prohibited ingredients. Consumers should ask the product manufactures and suppliers to assure the Halal status of food.

Always remember, "We are what we eat".

Fat for Life

No Fat, Low Fat, Fat Free and like claims are the center of attraction for today’s health oriented community. There is a vision that fat is not good for health. It is the culprit behind increased rate of Obesity and Coronary Heart Diseases. While the truth is fat plays an important role to maintain regular body functions. Fat is the structural component of the cell, our body needs it for cell repairing and growth. Too low fat diet disturbs the absorption of fat soluble vitamins and antioxidants. Cutting fat too much can lead to constant hunger.  Fat makes an insulating layer beneath the skin to maintain body temperature. It also surrounds and protects our delicates organs. Fat servers many physical, chemical and nutritional functions in the food. Fat improves the flavor, provides creamy texture and glossy look to the food.  To maintain acceptable taste profile in fat free products high quantity of refined carbohydrates and sugar is being used which ultimately leads to obesity.

Instead of being fat phobic, one should monitor the quality and quantity of fat. Fat alone don’t cause any disorder in our body. It is our life style practices such as physical activity, smoking and uncontrolled consumption of fatty foods that leads to excessive fat accumulation.

For lifelong healthy heart always prefer liquid fat over fat that is solid at room temperature. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) & polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) keep heart healthy; they reduce serum cholesterol. Add no or less shortenings and hydrogenated fat in your plate. By the process of hydrogenation liquid fat is converted into solid fat at room temperature, during this process t here are chances of formation of Trans Fatty Acids. Avoiding fat completely is not the solution for obesity; it may cause other health problems in the long run. Understanding the difference between good and bad fat is the wise decision.

Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety in Food Manufacture Seminar

Food Safety and Health Awareness would like to share that AIB international is presenting a seminar at "Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety in Food Manufacture". This interesting seminar provides essential information needed to develop and maintain effective prerequisite programs meet the challenges of maintaining the proper environment for the production of quality, safe, legal food. 

In this informative two day seminar participants will learn how to:

• Develop a Sanitation Program 

• Manage Foreign Material 

• Develop an Integrated Pest Management Program

• Conduct a Self Inspection 

• Allergen Management 

• Principles of Food Defense

The seminar will be held on 22nd and 23rd August, 2013 in Mumbai. 

For registration and queries please contact:

Mr. Vikas Sharma

Phone: +91-11-47675204

Email: vikas@assocom-india.com

www.assocom-india.com

For Online Registration:

http://assocom-india.com/foodsafety/index.php

Future Development Programme

Last week, I attended a very interesting and motivating workshop organized by Helping Hands Trust. This organization is running many programmes for society welfare. Future development programme (FDP) is one of them.

It is a worrier against hopelessness, despair and depression. FDP helps people to explore their vision of life while motivating them to work for it.

In the beginning Maliha Khan, the project head introduced Helping hand trust and future development programme. The session was interactive, opened with an ice breaking activity to refresh the attendees' minds. Trainer Murtaza Mustafa enlights what is 'Vision' and it's importance in our life.

Trainer Zain Shahid describing goals

Later Trainer Zain Shahid continued this topic and elaborated steps to achieve the mission of life i.e goal setting. 

After an energizing activity Trainer Bilal Ayaz highlighted the essence of 'Freedom'. In this session people enlist their frustrations and made their tree of life.

Participants enlisting their frustrations

Participants making their tree of life

Trainer Anmol Zehra cheered up audience by describing happiness. With smiles people came to know materialized things should not be the reason of their happiness.

At the end of this truly motivating session Arif Khan, training manager and Anwer Ali Afridi, Chairman HHT distributed certificates of participation among attendees. Everyone left with spark of positivity,  joy and motivation.

All Volunteers and Donners join hands with HHT, please visit Helping Hand Trust Website www.helpinghandstrust.net

Food Safety and Health Awareness is volunteering 

at Helping Hand Trust, Are you?

Health Benefits Of Fiber

Statistical data shows that cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent cause of death worldwide. Dietary patterns and life style practices such as smoking, physical activity significantly affect cardiovascular heath. Epidemiological studies associate high dietary fiber intake with lower prevalence rate of coronary heart diseases, stroke and hypertension. Studies suggest high fiber consumption reduces major risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemeia.

Many cohort studies stated that high fiber consumption,specifically whole grains are associated with a significantly lower CVD risks. While cereal fibers are found to have very similar effects of whole grains. 26% reduction in stroke prevalence is allied with higher whole grain intake. In French and Chinese studies, high fiber consumption was linked with lower prevalence of hypertension, lower total serum cholesterol and triglyceride value than were lower intake. Chinese study also associated lower BMI with high fiber consumption. Persons with high fiber consumption levels have a 29% lower risk of CHD. Increased fiber intake modestly lower the blood pressure of normal people and also reduces systolic & diastolic blood pressure for hypertensive individuals by -6mm of Hg and -4 mm of Hg respectively.

Individuals with the highest level of dietary fiber consumption have 29% reduced risk for developing diabetes as compared to those with lowest intake. Randomized controlled clinical trials illustrated that moderate increase in dietary fiber intake are linked with improved fasting glycemia and insulinemia and increased insulin sensitivity for non diabetics. Randomized controlled clinical trials for diabetic individuals also suggest moderate increase in fiber utilization improves glycemic control.

 High fiber foods or supplements are likely to improve heart health, blood pressure, serum lipoproteins and also assist weight management. 

Worriers Against Cancer -- Fiber

Very few specific foods or drinks have been shown to significantly increase or reduce the risk of cancer. EPIC studies have found that eating foods high in fiber can reduce the risk of bowel cancer.  Some other large studies also support these findings. But few found that fiber does not affect bowel cancer risk, these studies don’t represent large populations.

Fiber could protect against colorectal cancer in different ways like

• It triggers the production of helpful chemicals. Bacteria in the bowel interact with fiber to produce several chemicals including butyrate.
• Soluble fibers increases the frequency of bowel movements, hence reducing the residence time of harmful chemicals in the body.
• Bioactive compounds in fiber sources also play important role in cancer prevention.