Canada Food Guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Canada Food Guide - Essay Example inst salty foods in the light of the increased heart disease and blood pressure related problems within the population.A major criticism of this advice is that it is still not clear whether there are any actual benefits or drawbacks of a balanced sodium diet.The last two decades have seen the discoveries of concepts like trans fats, and omega-3 fatty acids .The teenage population has been faced with growing rates of obesity .In the year 2002 alone the Statistics of Canada expressed its alarm at the degrading health of its population. The survey was based upon the information regarding 130,000 people aged 12 and older and the levels of obesity were at an all time high with an overall decrease in physical activity. â€Å"The survey found that between 1994-95 and 2000-01, the number of obese Canadians aged 20 to 64 grew by 24 per cent to almost 2.8 million. Increases in obesity rates were greatest among men and women aged between 45 and 54, who accounted for a quarter of all obese adults in Canada. Among children, nine per cent were considered obese. Another 20 per cent were considered overweight.†1 To inquire into the reasons for these alarming statistics the survey reviewed the consumption trends within the population and found that â€Å" children and adolescents who reported eating fruits and vegetables five or more times a day were substantially less likely to be overweight or obese than those who consumed them less frequently. Forty-one per cent of children and adolescents reported they ate at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.†2 In the light of these changes, the institution of Health Canada announced that the Food Guide would receive a makeover to â€Å"address changes in eating patterns, food supply and diets, as well as advances in nutritional science.† 3 The draft Food Guide was released in April 2006 with the draft recommending a daily number of servings of fruit and vegetables from a range of five-to-10 to four-to-eight. After a three