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Heartline Magazine January - March 2006
The NutraBalance Programme
In response to the increasing prevalence of chronic disease
in Barbados, Super Centre Ltd has created the Nutrabalance
programme. Strong evidence supports the fact that consuming a
healthy diet can assist in preventing diseases such as heart
disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. The Nutrabalance
programme has been developed in order to increase the awareness
of healthy eating in Barbadians, and to encourage the
consumption of a balanced and nutritious diet.
Central to the Nutrabalance Programme are six tenets, which
act as dietary guidelines for a healthy lifestyle for the
general public. These tenets are incorporated into all the
activities of the Nutrabalance Programme and are as follows:
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Eat a Variety of Foods
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Maintain a Healthy Weight
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Reduce Fat and Cholesterol Intake
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Increase Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables
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Choose High Fibre Alternatives
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Limit Sugar, Salt and Alcohol.
Activities of the Programme
Handouts with Nutrition Information
Due to the limited availability of easily
accessible nutrition information in Barbados, seven handouts
have been created. Of these handouts, six describe the tenets of
Nutrabalance in detail, with practical tips for integrating the
tenet into one’s lifestyle. The seventh handout provides an
overview of the entire programme. These handouts are available
on Nutrabalance branded stands in all of the Super Centre
supermarkets .
 While
the tenets are an important aspect of healthy lifestyles, they
have particular relevance to individuals who are at risk of, or
suffer from, heart disease. Most of the medical nutritional
therapy regarding this illness focuses on components of these
tenets. This led Super Centre, in conjunction with the Heart
Foundation of Barbados, to create a handout titled “Heart
Disease and Strokes”. This handout provides information
concerning the dietary changes necessary for the prevention and
treatment of these illnesses. The development of the handout is
part of the Heart Foundation of Barbados’ Stoplight Campaign,
and the handouts can be located on a stoplight stand currently
sited at Super Centre Warrens.
Nutrabalance Shelf
Labels
In March 2006, the Nutrabalance Programme
will be introducing the Shelf Labeling segment of the programme.
The goal is to assist consumers in making the appropriate food
choices. By highlighting products on the shelf using a
Nutrabalance label, those that have passed carefully designed
criteria and are considered the healthier alternative within
their food category will be easily identifiable. The criteria
used to evaluate the food products is based upon the tenets of
Nutrabalance, and therefore, the label highlights products which
can be added to diet such that a person can fulfill the
guidelines necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The presence of
the labels will allow the consumers to quickly scan the shelf to
determine the healthier choice. All of the “guess work” and the
need to read each nutrition label is removed, as the assessment
of each product has already been done by a trained professional.
Supermarket Nutrition
Tours
During January, 2006, Super Centre
implemented the Nutrabalance Nutrition tours, in which consumers
are guided through the supermarket, and educated on nutrition
and the healthy food alternatives which are available. These
tours are an important complement to the entire Nutrabalance
programme, as healthy eating begins with food selection made at
point-of-purchase, in locations such as supermarkets. Consumers
benefit from the tours by gaining a better understanding of how
to read and interpret nutrition labels, being directed towards
the most nutritious food choices in each food category, and
learning which products they should consume if they are
suffering from any nutrition related ailment or chronic disease.
The tours are available monthly but are also open to booking for
any group of 3 or more people. Check press for tour dates.
Interested groups can contact Emily Rose at 435-8158 to schedule
a tour.
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