Don’t just rely on information on food in internet — Dietician
MIRI: The advancement of technology makes it convenient for one to look for information on the web.
With just one click, information on food and how it affects the body can be found easily on websites and social media.
However, some of the information could sometimes be contradicting and cause confusion.
Dietician Chloe Ong shared that though a lot of information could be easily found via the internet, it is also equally important for users to know the food’s role and function to prevent confusion.
Alkaline diet, organic food and sugar intake are becoming concerns among those who are conscious about their health.
Ong pointed out that though alkaline diet is rising in popularity among health- conscious people who believe it could help in preventing cancer, understanding its nutritional balance is equally important.
Alkaline diet is where food has been classified as alkaline, according to the pH of the solution created with their ash in water.
The alkaline food is tested in controlled environment in the laboratory.
“However, they must always remember that the controlled condition in the lab is not the same as human body, thus, there could be variation because human body can self-regulate pH balance in organs such as stomach. Gastric acid is needed to digest and help the body absorb necessary nutrients.”
Consuming only alkaline diet, which has been claimed to help neutralise the body’s acidity to alkalinity, could cause nutrient deficiency as there are a lot of food that do not fall under the alkaline category, Ong pointed out.
“So, if you only consume alkaline food and little or no food from other categories, the body cannot get enough nutrient and it could lead to other complications,” Ong told The Borneo Post in an interview recently.
Likewise, she added, for alkaline water, the latest diet fad claimed to prevent cancer, no clinical test has proven how it works.
“However, I would neither agree nor disagree with those who would spend tens of thousands of ringgit on buying an alkaline water machine. Similarly, those who cannot afford it should not worry too much.
“The body regulates pH through respiration, mopping up excess hydrogen ions and eliminating the excess through urination and helps maintain kidney function,” she said.
Organic food, she pointed out, is a diet that is rising in popularity, but is not necessarily a good option.
“Food considered organic food are produced without chemical fertilisers - no antibiotic or growth hormones (for livestock) or genetic modification (GMO).
“The claims that consuming organic food is healthier compared to non-organic food is not accurate too because the nutrient content in both categories is more or less the same.”
Consumers must always remember that with limited use of food preservatives, organic food products tend to spoil faster and possibly contain higher amounts of bio- toxins due to the lack of herbicides/fungicides.
“The price of the organic products must also be taken into consideration, because comparing it to same product that is nonorganic, the price could be double or thrice,” she said.
Meanwhile, she advised consumers to take note of certain canned foods like luncheon meat.
She said it has been proven to pose cancer risk by 21 per cent compared to other food products, and consumers should avoid it and opt for fresh meat product instead.
“But for products like canned fruits, canned sardines and tuna, which use real materials, they could be consumed moderately,” said Ong.
The dietician who is currently practising at Parkway Cancer Centre, Singapore also pointed out that sugar- based food and genetically-modified food are among the food that people are most concerned about.
“Food should be consumed moderately. Over consumption of any food, whether it is proven good or bad, is not a good idea. Opting for a balanced daily meal, and perhaps indulging once in a while could help balance your lifestyle,” said Ong.
Ong, who provides dietary advice to cancer patients, including patients undergoing stem cell transplantation, patients requiring gastro-intestinal surgery, patients with head and neck cancer with swallowing difficulties and patients suffering from severe weight loss due to cancer, often conducts nutrition educational workshops.
She was in Miri recently, conducting nutrition workshops for Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) and for professional businessmen under the arrangement by CanHope East Malaysia.