Brainfood website encourages healthy eating

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Written by Staff Reporter

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

   A NEW website entitled Brainfood.ie has been launched to encourage students and young people to eat more healthily.


   The website explains how and why Omega 3, in particular, is beneficial for students, parents and people's health in general.
   A survey carried out revealed that during intense study periods, female students are more likely to snack and eat junk food than male students.
   Around 550 students and mothers of students studying for the Leaving Certificate or a Third Level examination responded to a survey about their eating habits.
   Consultant dietician and nutritionist, Aoife Kirwan, said that “usually, female students tend to eat more healthily than male students. Even their snacks are healthier-the girls tend to choose tea, fresh fruit, juice, yoghurt and crackers while the boys go for crisps, soft drinks, coffee and muffins”.
   “Male students are also more likely than female students to eat pizza, a take away or chipper foods once a week. However, when quizzed about their eating habits during intense study times, just before exams, nearly half (48%) of female students ate more junk food at this time, as against 38% of males,” she explained
   “Omega 3 cannot be produced in the body and therefore we have to get it from food. Research shows it is only the Omega 3 found in oily fish-salmon (fresh, tinned or frozen), fresh tuna or tuna fortified with Omega 3, herrings, sardines and mackerel-that have proven health benefits. The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of Omega 3 is 0.45g and we can get this by eating two portions of fish a week, one of which should be an oily fish.”
   Brainfood.ie also features meal plans, menu and lunchbox ideas; brain facts, brain training exercises; Omega 3 and health facts and an 'Ask the Expert' section.

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