18 Oct The Effect of Nutritional Profiling on Your Wellness
Wellness is all the hype, and to give credit where credit is due; it should be! Wellness is more than just how often you go to the gym and what protein shakes you drink, wellness is holistic. It’s about moving your body, it’s about finding the diet that works for you (not the other way around), and it’s about maintaining a good sleep schedule. However, it’s mostly about understanding what you consume; mentally, emotionally, and physically.
In this article, we discuss the importance of nutritional profiling, how it impacts and aids one’s health and well-being, as well as the technological strides that nutritional scientists are aiming to attain. This goal that scientists are trying to attain is mainly to end malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. In fact, countries all over the world have pledged to this deadline.
Nutrition cements itself as one of the three main aspects that define healthy living, the other two being sleep and physical activity. So, let’s dive into the world of what we essentially are; what we eat, or rather; what we allow ourselves to eat.
What is Nutritional Profiling?
Image: EFSA – European Union, 2023
Nutritional profiling assesses the nutritional qualities of a specific food item, including things like the item’s calorie content as well as the types and amounts of vitamins and minerals it contains. You may also know it as those labelled infographics at the back of packaged foods and drinks. However, understanding these labels poses another hiccup in personally understanding what we eat. These models are not only used to show nutritional content but also for consumers to compare different food and beverage items.
The purpose of nutritional profiling is to help people make healthier food choices. Scientists use various methods like chromatography, microscopic analysis, molecular tests, and metabolomics to assess the overall nutritional value of produced and packaged food items. Nutritional profiling models serve as a great tool for decision-making in public health nutrition interventions, enabling consumers to choose healthier foods.
The Impact of Nutrition on Wellness
According to the World Health Organisation, making poor food choices and consuming unhealthy meals are the primary reasons for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Furthermore, the WHO has established that Europe has the most deaths in the world due to non-communicable diseases. The diseases that fall under NCDs include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease! When considering the entirety of these diseases, they are currently responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide!
With the use of nutritional profiling, one can learn more about the health advantages of nutrition and how to prevent disease. According to Science Direct, food policies designed to promote healthy diets can play a direct role in consumers’ choices in alignment with their aims to live healthy lives.
How Nutritional Profiling Works
Nutritional profiling methods have been created for evaluating the nutritional content of meal items. These can be described, although not entirely, as food that has been packaged. It is a vital instrument for consumers and public policy to assess the value of what they choose to promote, buy, and ultimately consume.
Numerous labels and ‘front-of-pack’ icons and logos convey information concerning the item’s nutritious composition. Nutritional profiling models have an array of applications and the majority of these models are nutrient-based, focused on selected nutrients such as fats, sugars, and salt.
However, there is still a long way to go according to a research paper conducted by Drewnoski in 2019. Some models on which nutritional profiling is based often fail to capture the true nutrient density of a food item and the correlative ‘healthiness’ of these food items. This research paper suggests that hybrid profiling should be developed that takes into account all appropriate food groups and food ingredients. This will ultimately enable consumers and policymakers to make more informed decisions.
Benefits of Nutritional Profiling
Nutritional profiling is a valuable tool for both individuals and organisations to make more informed, health-conscious food choices and it plays a significant role in promoting public health and well-being. Policymakers, civil society, businesses, and other key sectors evaluate their global commitments on nutrition and food. These evaluations come amid global health and planetary crises that are escalating malnutrition across the world. Thus, nutritional profiling aids in empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their food choices.
Essentially, nutritional profiling enables consumers to understand the nutritional content of foods and ultimately aids in the decision-making process of what aligns with their health choices and what does not. Nutritional profiling is also a useful tool for meal planning and dietary tracking. It’s mostly about allowing individuals to create well-balanced meal plans and diets. Some other benefits include public health initiatives, research and policy development, allergen and dietary restriction awareness, and environmental impact assessments.
Nutritional Profiling for Your Wellness
Nutrient profiling models can benefit individuals in various ways, helping them make informed and health-conscious dietary choices. Here are some of the ways you can benefit from nutrient profiling models.
Nutritional Profiling can be beneficial for consumers’ wellness by improving dietary choices and helping consumers select foods and beverages that are better for their health. Nutritional profiling assists with weight management as well, helping one choose foods that are lower in calories but still provide essential nutrients.
Moreover, nutritional profiling aids in dietary planning by making it easier to plan healthy meals that are not high in calories, but rather nutrients. One of the most important aspects of nutritional profiling is making consumers aware of potential allergens. In summary, nutrient profiling models can be valuable tools for making informed, health-focused, and personalised dietary choices. They can empower individuals to take control of their nutrition and contribute to better overall health and well-being.
Yet, to fully reap the benefits of nutritional profiling, it is important to understand what to look for. Different countries have different nutritional profiling models that they work with so knowing how to read the nutritional fact chart in your country is important. However, if you follow this link to the FDA’s website, you can get a better understanding of what to look for when it comes to nutritional benefits. Education is the sprout of blossoming health after all.
Future Trends in Nutritional Profiling
Advancements in nutritional research, including nanotechnology, proteomics, and microarray technology, contribute to an expanded scope of nutritional profiling. These trends in nutritional profiling are likely to contribute to a more comprehensive, personalised, and sustainable approach to nutrition in the future and align with the evolving needs and values of both individuals and society as a whole. However, nutritional profiling is moving towards a more personalised approach.
Advances in genetics and data analysis are allowing for the development of personalised dietary recommendations based on an individual’s unique genetic makeup, health status, and dietary preferences. Moreover, artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly being used to analyse vast datasets and make nutritional profiling more efficient and accurate. These technologies can help predict an individual’s nutritional needs and provide tailored dietary advice.
Other technological advancements include smart labels and mobile apps that provide nutritional information. Another future trend that is emerging is long-term health monitoring with which nutritional profiling will be integrated into to provide educational programs focusing on the nutritional value of food choices.
Profiling is There For You
As consumers, it can be hard to navigate through a world of packaged nutrition. However, with enhancements in nutritional profiling models and educational initiatives, the hazy woods can be cleared bit by bit to get through and reach the end goal: health. Health is the new wealth and one only attains wealth through education.
With a steep rise in malnutrition, especially in third-world countries, policymakers have been tirelessly working with nutritionists to enhance the nutritional makeup of food items. With the help of doctors, blood work, and dietary specialists, all consumers can gaze upon the charts at the back of the packages to make better decisions for their overall health.
