Oxfam warns about rising global food prices as one-sixth of all people go hungry
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Oxfam warns that as global food prices continue to increase the resultant hardship caused to people who were already struggling to obtain adequate amounts of food is increasing demands for a major reform in global food prices.
When world food prices reached a new historic peak in January, it left over a billion people, or one-sixth of the world’s population, hungry and millions of people under threat of starvation, with the situation expected to worsen, Oxfam officials say.
Oxfam is calling on world leaders to act to improve the regulation of food markets. In addition, it is asking for investment in a global climate fund.
World food prices have more than doubled since 1990, but the incomes of the poor have not.
“Poor people in developing countries spend between 50-80% of their income on food, making higher prices, as well as unpredictable prices, a serious threat to their ability to eat – let alone continue spending on other basic needs such as health, or education,” Oxfam officials say in a statement posted on the website.
The key drivers of rising food prices are reduced production caused by bad weather that might be linked to climate change; export restrictions and panic buying mostly caused by weather related problems; increased demand for food and for biofuels, which removes land from food production; financial disruptions, including low interest rates, depreciation of the dollar and speculation in commodity markets; and increased oil prices that increased the costs of fertilizer for crops and transportation to get food to market or stores.
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Health professionals challenge McDonald’s to stop marketing to kids
Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – More than 550 health professionals and activists from across the country have challenged McDonald’s to stop marketing junk food to kids.
Currently the fast food retailer uses a proven marketing campaign that makes parents virtually powerless over the allure of their products and brand images.
The group Corporate Accountability International also is seeking to retire the company’s iconic corporate symbol Ronald McDonald. The clown character who wears oversized red shoes and yellow rompers adorned with the restaurant chain’s “Golden Arches” logo — for decades has been used by McDonald’s as a kid-friendly corporate spokesman.
The open to letter to the company’s CEO found at lettertomcdonalds.org comes just weeks after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed sweeping new guidelines on junk food marketing to kids.
Wednesday’s move comes a day before McDonald’s annual shareholders’ meeting. During the meeting a resolution calling on the corporation to assess its impact on public health will be voted on.
“Today, our family practice offices, pediatric clinics, and emergency rooms are filled with children suffering from conditions related to the food they eat. These health problems will likely play out over their lifetime through early onset of diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.” said Dr. Steven K. Rothschild, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine at Rush Medical College. “Through this initiative the public health community is rallying behind a simple message to McDonald’s: stop making the next generation sick – retire Ronald and the rest of your junk food marketing to kids.”
A range of leading health institutions from the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have endorsed the letter featured in today’s ads.
The full-page ads can be seen appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times, New York Metro, Boston Metro, San Francisco Examiner, Minneapolis City Pages and Baltimore City Paper urge still more individuals and institutions to sign the open letter and share it with their peers. The ads have sparked debates on morning talk shows and around water coolers.
“This initiative has struck a chord, particularly among health professionals who work in the communities most targeted and impacted by McDonald’s marketing,” said Esther Sciammarella, Executive Director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition. “Children in these communities are not as healthy. Access to healthy food is limited. There is less nutrition education. But we do have more of one thing: McDonald’s junk food and junk food marketing. It’s time that changed.”
In response to the letter McDonald issued a statement:
McDonald’s cares about kids. We are committed to responsible advertising and take our communications to children very seriously.
We understand the importance of children’s health and nutrition, and are committed to being part of the dialogue and solution.
We serve high quality food, and our Happy Meals offer choice and variety in portions just for kids. Parents tell us they appreciate our Happy Meal choices.
As the face of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald is an ambassador for good and delivers important messages to kids on safety, literacy and balanced, active lifestyles.
Researchers say that an increasing amount of studies from the Institutes of Medicine to the National Bureau of Economic Research show that reducing junk food marketing to kids could spare the health of millions of children.
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American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown Says CDC Report On Children’s Food Environment Underscores Need For Strong Public Policies
Our nation’s youth face major roadblocks to good health with easy access to calorie-laden snacks, sugary beverages and other unhealthy foods in their schools and communities. With about 1 out of every 6 children in the U.S. considered obese, we are condemning our kids to a bleak future of premature health problems such as type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease…
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FDA panel to review Abbott drug Trilipix
A Food and Drug Administration panel will discuss the safety and effectiveness of Abbott Laboratories’ (ABT) cholesterol drug Trilipix next month, the agency said Monday.
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Connecticut Food Executives Bring Delicious, Heart-Healthy Living to New Levels
When former Connecticut chocolate executive Rob Leighton discovered he had high cholesterol, he was faced with the prospect of a strict, bland diet; a lifetime of medication; or possibly both. Not …
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Mylan sues FDA nod to Ranbaxy Lipitor generic
Mylan sued the US Food and Drug Administration, seeking to block Ranbaxy Laboratories exclusive rights to sell a generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol pill Lipitor, the world’s best-selling medicine.
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Food for thought: 7 Foods that boost brain power
Make every meal count by incorporating these brain foods in your next family meal.
Sure, fruits and veggies are good for your body and brain, but what foods really give your brain the biggest nutritional boost? Lucky for us, our brains have excellent taste, so you’ll certainly enjoy adding these foods into your diet. Avocado
The low-fat myth is over, folks. “Good” fats are essential nutrients with many health benefits. Avocados are a great source of MUFAs , which the brain soaks up like a tortilla.
How to cut an avocado Chocolate
As if we needed an excuse, the cacao bean is actually one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Whether you eat dark chocolate , or just go straight for whole, dried cacao beans, your brain gets blasted with flavanoids, which increases blood flow and may help to protect against conditions like dementia and stroke. It also boosts the brains’ seratonin and dopamine levels through feel-good chemicals ananandamine and theobromine; and a happy brain is a good thing.
16 Signs you might be a chocoholic Green tea
Especially great for the brain is Matcha tea, the Japanese powdered whole green tea leaf. It is full of EGCG , a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, and it’s also calming and focusing while stimulating at the same time. If you don’t like drinking tea, try cooking with tea instead.
Try these high antioxidant teas Flax seeds
Flax seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids , which our bodies cannot make on their own, and they can help the brain function and have also been linked to a number of other health benefits for the heart, cholesterol and even relieving arthritis pain. Walnuts
Fat, again. You need a lot of it and different kinds. Walnuts are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. And have you ever noticed that whole walnuts look an awful lot like tiny little brains?
Try these walnut recipes. Turmeric
This spice most common in Indian cuisine has actually more to offer than just great curry. Curcumin, which is the powerful antioxidant found in turmeric, has been linked to plaque removal in the brain. Populations that regularly eat curry, such as India, have reported lower rates of dementia.
Spice up your health with turmeric. Apples
That’s right, one a day really just might keep that doctor far, far away. Quercetin, which is found in abundance in the skins of apples, has been shown to protect the brain from damages associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Apples are also a great source of fiber, which helps the elimination process. Regular bowel movements help remove toxins from the body, which can otherwise cloud the brain and make you less focused.
Browse over 400 apple recipes on SheKnows. More on brain foods
Green tea: Miracle drink? Chocolate for breakfast: Chocolate recipes How to cut an avocado
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Donors pledge $65m for Libyan humanitarian crisis
Nairobi, Kenya (IRIN) – Donors have so far announced some US$65 million of humanitarian contributions in response to the Libyan crisis and pledged another $10 million, but humanitarian operations there will need much more than that, say aid agencies.
A preliminary UN-coordinated “flash appeal” for $160 million for 17 organizations has been published. As of 7 March, the five largest donors to the regional crisis response are the US, the European Commission, Norway, Australia and Canada.
Priority areas include assistance in evacuation, food, decongestion of transit areas, assistance packages to people in transit (non-food items, food, water/sanitation and health services); and protection and monitoring at the borders.
Major sectors or clusters highlighted for aid:
- Multi-sector (including camp management and transport) – $81 million;
- Food security – $48 million;
- Health – $11 million, and
- Water, sanitation and hygiene – $6 million.
More than 200,000 people have fled Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration. Given uncertainty around conditions and needs inside Libya, and a volatile situation, the appeal is to be revised in two weeks.
eo/cb/bp/mw
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How to control cholesterol level
Make your food choices wisely. If you like non-vegetarian food, become a fish vegetarian instead of being Lacto-vegetarian. Have zero cholesterol food like fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber in addition to fresh water fish. Have this as a snack every time you crave to eat something.
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Premature Ejaculation (PE) Herbs, Food and Natural Supplement
Every man wishes to last longer to give him and his partner full satisfaction during lovemaking but some of them reach orgasm and exclaim faster than they might think, usually one to four minutes after beginning intercourse. This is called premature ejaculation (rapid climax, PE).
Now, that is a little bit upsetting particularly for guys who want to give their women mind-blowing lovemaking experience and pleasure. This is where they want to find the premature ejaculation herbs, foods and herbal supplements to eliminate the problem from the root.
Some natural remedies help treat premature ejaculation and many health professionals are agree with this. In many health and grocery store, these remedies are available.
A plant named Angelica that grows up to 6 feet tall is widely used herb for PE. Its root is generally used for medicinal purposes. The oil or cream made from Angelica has been used to treat PE, by applying directly to the skin of the male organ.
Ho Shou Wu which is an important herb in Chinese Medicine is another useful herb for premature ejaculation. It provides increased energy and improves blood circulation as well as increases sperm count. Tribulus terrestris, Mucuna pruriens and many others herbs are also used in treating PE.
Let us look at some of the other ways like change in Diet as well as Lifestyle to make sure that you and your partner will enjoy the rest of the sexual relations.
You should learn how to keep in control eating foods that are rich in cholesterol and sugar. When this situation arises there are high cholesterol and sugar in your blood and you will experience rapid climax during lovemaking.
Drink Almond milk as it contains active components that will enhance your energy level as well as help get rid of sexual problems. Aphrodisiac saffron can be added to boost the effect of almond milk. What you need to do is to immerse the almonds in water and let it saturate for the night. Next morning, you can peel the skin off then mingle the almond with cow’s milk as well as the other ingredients namely ginger and cardamom. This is a good blend of health drink that you can take once or twice in the morning and evening.
Last but not the least, some herbal supplements have gained popularity in eliminating rapid climax naturally. One that is highly recommended is DuraMale. Dietary changes and exercises helps in treating PE but to boost your reproductive system and cure the problem from the root, you need an herbal supplement. DuraMale is the right answer for those who want a natural way to deal with this problem.
About Author Read DuraMale Review – an herbal supplement to cure rapid climax. Also know how Premature Ejaculation Pills helps to improve lovemaking stamina and performance. Read information on Herbal Male Enhancement pills and supplements.
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