UNDERSTANDING and MANAGING SWEETNESS A International Scientific Conference

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UNDERSTANDING and MANAGINGSWEETNESSA
International Scientific Conference

• Organized by
• ILSI-India Oldways
• 17 September 2009 Hotel Taj Mahal New
  Delhi, India

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THE CONTEXT FORUNDERSTANDINGANDMANAGING
SWEETNESSDr. K. Dun GiffordPresident and
Founder, OldwaysBoston, Massachusetts
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Understanding and Managing Sweetness is an
education program for health professionals and
consumers. It responds directly to the need
for new approaches that effectively address the
steady world-wide increases in overweight and
obesity, and the chronic diseases that follow.
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It is a science-based, practical approach (1)
To consuming a healthful, balanced diet based
on familiar, delicious foods and drinks,
and (2) To living a healthy lifestyle.
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The Context forUnderstanding and Managing
Sweetness

• 1. Rising world-wide rates of overweight and
  obesity that are precursors for increased chronic
  health diseases.
• Declines in physical activity in homes,
  workplaces, and schools -- joined by poor eating
  and drinking habits, increasing urbanization, and
  intense internet usage -- are contributing
  causes.
• Current solutions/programs for these chronic
  diseases are proving ineffective to reverse these
  trends.
• Searches for quick fixes ignore the real
  obstacles to reversing over-consumption and
  under-activity.

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Q. What Is Understanding and Managing
Sweetness? A. It is a science-based,
common-sense approach to enjoying sweet tastes,
foods and drinks wisely. Q. How does it
work?A. It works in three ways 1. It informs
individuals and families about how to manage
their calories of sweet foods and drinks. 2.
It emphasizes the health and energy benefits of
balanced diets and healthy lifestyles and urge
choosing foods and drinks wisely. 3. It
includes physical activity as a full partner
with wise eating.
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This Oldways Managing Sweetness approach has
been widely recognized by leading international
media. One example, in the Financial Times
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(No Transcript)
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Human evolution depended on learning how to
develop and manage a reliable food supply. This
required Creating and maintaining shelter
Farming grains, vegetables and fruits
Raising food animals Catching fish and
shellfish Cooking foods from plants and
animals Storing foods.
Managing is a learned behavior that is
essential for human life.
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Sweetness is a sense, or sensation.Sweetness
signals safe and nutritious food. Bitterness
is also a sense, but warns of foods or drinks
that may be dangerous, or even poisonous.
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Sweetnessisan essential mammalian
sensation,because it directs infants, at
birth,to safe mothers milk.It continues as a
guide to safe foods and fluids throughout life.
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In summaryIt is important to remember that
eating, drinking and exercising are behaviors.
Managing these behaviors wisely is a learned
behavior. Because of the staying power of food
habits, causing changes in these behaviors
generally requires use and application of
sophisticated behavior change techniques.
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Thank you very much.

• Dr. K. Dun Gifford
• President and Founder, Oldways
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Understanding and Managing Sweetness