CSIRO has launched a new online tool to help anyone wanting to improve their diet.
This week, CSIRO launched a new online tool that can help you improve your diet and health. The Junk Food Analyser is a free, online tool that will tell you how much junk food you are eating and will guide users to design a heathier eating plan.
The online tool is not just a new nagging voice that will tell you to stop eating biscuits. The Junk Food Analyser will provide you with different strategies that will help you improve your eating habits in a realistic and effective way.
“While the elimination strategy is common in diet programs and can reduce kilojoules the most, the interactive Junk Food Analyser lets users explore a combination of strategies to reduce discretionary food intake, without cutting their favourite foods altogether. That might include choosing to eliminate alcohol, take a break from cakes and biscuits and halve confectionery consumption,” Dr Hendrie said in a press release.
What’s the problem?
Australians need to improve their diet. According to official figures, less then 1 in 10 adults meet recommended guidelines of daily vegetable consumption.
In contrast, adults and children in Australia are consuming too much unhealthy foods and drinks – about twice the recommended servings of so-called discretionary foods, which include some of Australia’s favourite foods, like sweet biscuits, cakes, desserts and pastries; processed meats and sausages. As far as sugar sweetened drinks, nearly 10% of all adults and more than 7% of children consume these drinks on a daily basis.
“Discretionary or junk foods are the number one issue affecting Australian diets today, with excessive consumption resulting in poor nutrition, high rates of obesity and an even higher risk of lifestyle diseases,” said CSIRO research scientist Dr Gilly Hendrie.
These poor eating habits are a leading cause behind various chronic health problems, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and others. Here are some scary stats:
- About half of all Australians suffer from one or more chronic conditions.
- Half of all hospitalisations are due to a chronic condition
- Nine out of 19 deaths were associated with chronic diseases.
What’s the solution?
Australians need to change their eating habits and increasing their consumption of healthy foods. For example, according to official recommendations we ought to be eating plenty of vegetables, legumes, beans and fruits – about six servings per day for men, five servings for women and 2 and ½ servings for children, every day.
CSIRO’s new tool aims to help Australians gain a better understanding of what foods they are eating and how to improve their diet. “Launching just in time for those who may have overindulged this Easter, the new Junk Food Analyser provides individuals with specific advice on which categories of discretionary foods they are consuming the most, with the interactive tool providing strategies and tips on where kilojoules can be reduced, which is essential for weight loss,” Dr Hendrie said.
“The Junk Food Analyser really does help Australians have their cake and eat it too. With the additional support of a balanced and evidence-based framework such as the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, Australians can feel assured that they are embarking on a health journey that fits into their lifestyle, without the sacrifice,” she added.
To try out the new online tool, head to: www.junkfoodanalyser.com