Sugar has been, over the years, important to the Caribbean as it is one of our major exports, made from the sugar cane grown in many of our countries. In addition to using it in sweetening drinks and in cakes, puddings and pastries, we use sugar in our own Caribbean confectionary such as peppermint candy, tamarind balls, coconut, peanut or almond drops, among many other uses. In this issue of Nyam News we look at sugar in the diet and whether indiscriminate consumption of sugar leads directly to persons becoming obese.

Green tea is regarded by many as a “miracle tea” and  is reputed to be beneficial for many medical conditions such as: cancer, rheumatoid arthritis,high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, liver disease, halitosis, infection and impaired immune function. What exactly is green tea, and is it really so special?

In this final issue of Nyam News in this physical activity series we attempt to collate the main evidence for the various health indicators. Clearly, physical activity is positively related to health. However, to reap maximum benefits from physical activity, individuals (2yrs and older) are recommended to participate in a minimum of 30 minutes or more on most or all days of the week.

 

Cardiovascular disease accounts for most deaths in the Caribbean. Many of these diseases are preventable by actions of major risk factors including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and smoking.

The incidence of diabetes continues to increase in the Caribbean due to many contributing factors, but the most significant factors are directly linked to prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, diet and obesity. In this issue of Nyam News we willexplore why it is so important to practise a healthy lifestyle through physical activity to prevent or control diabetes.