Posts

Showing posts from October, 2024

20241028 Vitamin D

Image
  Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the Philippines More than half of children in the  Philippines  are deficient (10.3%) and insufficient (50.3%) in  vitamin D , according to an analysis of serum  vitamin D  data collected from six to 12 year old children. This study was based on the 2018 National Nutrition Survey data (NNS 2018), funded by the Government of the  Philippines .  (Angeles-Agdeppa & Tanda, 2021) Vitamin D Status and Usual Nutrient Intake of Filipino Children Aged 6–12 Years in Selected Areas in the Philippines: A 2018 National Nutrition Survey The study aimed to analyze vitamin D status, intake, and food sources among Filipino children aged 6–12 years based on the 2018 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the DOST-FNRI, focusing on various geographic regions. I. Introduction Vitamin D, often referred to as the  sunshine vitamin, is crucial for bone health as it aids in calcium absorption and regulates calcium an...

20241021 Sugar Substitutes (Aspartame as substitute)

Image
  4 .9: Sugar Substitutes  In Canada, food additives such as sugar substitutes, which cover both artificial sweeteners and intense sweeteners obtained from natural sources, are subject to rigorous controls under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. New food additives (or new uses of permitted food additives) are permitted only once a safety assessment has been conducted and regulatory amendments have been enacted. Several sugar substitutes have been approved for use in Canada. These include acesulfame-potassium, aspartame, polydextrose, saccharin, stevia, sucralose, thaumatin, and sugar alcohols (polyols) like sorbitol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, and xylitol. Please see the Health Canada website for more information on sugar substitutes. Bakers must be careful when replacing sugar (sucrose) with these sugar substitutes in recipes. Even though the sweetness comparison levels may be similar (or less), it is generally not possible to do straight 1-for-1 substitutio...

20241014 Sugar (Glucose vs. Starch, Water activity)

Image
  4.1: Sugar Chemistry   Chemically, sugar consists of  carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H)  atoms, and is classified as a  carbohydrate . There are three main groups of sugars, classified according to the way the atoms are arranged together in the molecular structure. These groups are the following: Monosaccharides  or simple sugars.  Dextrose (glucose)  is the major monosaccharide. Others are l evulose  or  fructose  (found in honey and many fruits), and  galactose , which is a milk sugar. Such sugars  do not readily crystallize . (Mono means one, indicating that the sugar consists of only one molecule.) Disaccharides  or complex sugars. Sucrose (common sugar) is the primary example of a disaccharide.  Maltose , found in cereals, and  lactose , found in milk, are others. Polysaccharides . Examples are  starches , dextrins, and cellulose. Additional information mentioned during the course,  G...