How to Lose Weight Fast: Sustainable, Natural Foods Lead Diet Trends

Sustainable, natural foods lead diet trends

A recent survey of more than 200 registered dieticians shows what food trends will he hot (and not) for consumers and food companies in 2012.

By Louise Pollock

Green is a hot color this year. We’re not talking about fashion trends or red carpet “best and worst” lists: we’re dishing about the hot new diet trends for 2012, and green is the way to dress your plate this year. Pollock Communications worked with the nation’s top nutrition experts to identify the top 2012 nutrition trends for consumers and food companies. The survey of more than 200 registered dietitians revealed five nutrition trends that will make news and affect your choices in the coming year.

With green foods coming out on top of the trends, the survey also revealed that, while Americans are getting enough protein, carbohydrates and fats, they really need to boost their intake of antioxidants, phytonutrients and fiber. Since many consumers might be confused by which food choices are good sources of these nutrients, this is the ideal opportunity for food companies and retailers to help translate the trends into sales, by communicating how their products and services can help consumers meet their 2012 diet demands and needs.

Here’s a complete list of the top five findings from the registered dietitians survey:

Unprocessed becomes avoidable

Unprocessed, natural foods will be the biggest consumer nutrition trend in 2012.

This indicates that food companies and retailers will see an increase in demand for more green products. Most registered dietitians (72%) predict that consumers will continue to seek out local, organic, sustainable, fresh, minimally processed foods. With consumers returning to the table and cooking at home, they will become more aware of where their food is coming from and what it contains.

According to the survey, almost half of all registered dietitians also agree that simplifying the ingredient list will be a major factor in diet changes, while more than a third of registered dietitians agree that sodium reduction and elimi nating high fructose corn syrup will play key roles in dietary modifications in the coming year.

More antioxidants, fiber

Americans need to increase antioxidants and phytonutrients and, in tum, get more fiber.

Of the 204 responses, almost all registered dietitians (96%) emphasize that Americans are lacking antioxidants and phytonutrients in their diet, and many (59%) say consumers need more vitamins and minerals. While most agree that consumers are already consuming enough protein, carbohydrates and fats, registered dietitians say Americans are lacking sufficient amounts of fiber from whole grains and fruits and vegetables.

Seasonal goes fashionable

Seasonal and local fruits and vegetables will rise to the top. Almost all registered dietitians (94%) agree that in the coming year there will be a bigger push for Americans to consume more fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonal and local plant based foods that are organically grown will be a big trend in the coming year, as well. Not only does this reinforce the green trend, but it also supports the trend of increased antioxidants, phytonutrients and fiber.

Transfats = food label poison

Consumers will take it easy on the trans and saturated fats, sugar and sodium.

The majority of registered dietitians (78%) name trans fats as the most harmful nutrient in the diet, followed by added sugars (68%), saturated fat (58%) and sodium (52%). In 2012, we will see a greater emphasis on reducing these ingredients, as Americans focus more on unprocessed, natural foods that are enhanced with healthful exotic and ethnically diverse spices and flavors.

MyPlate to drive awareness

USDA’s MyPlate will prove to become a helpful guide for consumers and brands in the coming year. Nearly 70% of registered dietitians are using MyPlate to counsel patients and it will continue to play a role in diet recommendations through 2012. MyPlate recommends half the plate consist of vegetables and fruit, with the other half made up mostly of whole grains and a small portion of lean protein. Following these guidelines will serve  as a helpful tool for food companies and retailers, too, as they assist consumers in achieving their dietary needs.

We see this trend toward health and wellness being driven by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As consumers learn more and understand the connection between healthy eating and overall well-being, there will continue to be a shift in eating patterns and demand for wholesome, nutrient-rich options. Including relevant brand benefits that appeal to consumer diet trends in all marketing and communications efforts is paramount to helping consumers make purchasing decisions.

Companies and brands that take proactive steps to meet consumers’ changing diet needs will go far to enhance brand loyalty and reputation, while helping to increase their bottom line in the coming year and beyond.

Louise Pollock is President of Pollock Communications in New York. #

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Lose Weight or You'll Never Have a Child

Surgeon’s 'dire warning as number of obese women is set to soar to six million in two years.

RISING levels of obesity could leave millions of women infertile and ineligible for treatment on the NHS, a surgeon at the Imperial Trust has warned.

Dr Ahmed Ahmed has called for more obese women to be referred for drastic weight loss surgery to allow them to give birth naturally.

The 35-year-old, who specialises in the controversial gastric band operations, also stressed that IVF will not work for these women due to their size.

He said: “In 2003, the number of women over 16 in the UK who were obese was 4.8 million but by 2010 there will be six million.

“A lot of these women are of reproductive age and often can’t become pregnant naturally so they seek IVF, which is quite expensive and the NHS won’t pay for them because of their weight.”

Under government guidelines, women are entitled to at least onefree NHS cycle of IVF.

But many primary care trusts will not consider those who are obese due to the low success rate.

“These poor women are spending their life savings on IVF and it may not even work for them,” said Dr Ahmed.

“This is where the role of surgery comes in because there is evidence that surgery will help obese women lose weight and become fertile again. They will also become eligible for IVF.”

Dr Ahmed hit the headlines this summer when he shunned the dieting fads favoured by celebrities, and welcomed TV star Fern Britton’s decision to have gastric band surgery.

He proposed his latest ideas to tackle obesity and the linked fertility problems at a medical conference held at Paddington-based Imperial College on Wednesday.

He believes the way forward is for GPs to start making more referrals for weight loss operations than at present.

Currently around 4,000 people receive this type of treatment each year but National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance says that number should be 60,000.

The cost of gastric bypasses, sleeve gastrectomies and the fitting of gastric bands start at £7,000, while IVF is around £4,000 per cycle.

Some critics have dismissed talk of offering the two procedures in combination due to the expense involved for the NHS.

But Dr Ahmed argues that rather than losing money, the health service would save cash if stomach-reducing surgeries were offered more widely.

“It will cost the NHS much more to treat long-term health problems if people are not given the opportunity to lose weight,” he said.

“And having the surgery might be enough for them to become pregnant naturally anyway.

He added: “There are also lots of other advantages to having the surgery because it reduces the risk of diabetes, still births, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and physical malformations.”

sanchez.manning@hamhigh.co.uk

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Sanchez Manning