Day: November 27, 2023

What is iodine? Iodine is an element that is essential for normal growth and for brain development. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones influence metabolism. They are essential for the development and function of the brain, nerves and bones. A healthy diet needs enough iodine to function well, but too much may cause health problems. Many Australians have enough iodine in their diet, but some don’t. Do not take more than the recommended dose of supplements. If you have a thyroid condition, speak to your doctor before taking iodine supplements. Where does iodine come from? Iodine is found naturally

Barbecuing food safely What are barbeque food safety risks? Barbecuing food can lead to food poisoning if it is not done correctly. Food poisoning is usually mild and most people get better within a week. However, sometimes it can be more severe, even deadly; so it’s important to take the risks seriously. Summertime is a great time to get together to share a meal, but it is also a time when food poisoning cases increase because of warmer temperatures. When cooking on the barbecue, there are 2 main risk factors for food poisoning: undercooked meat spreading germs from raw meat onto food

What is food safety and why is it important? Food safety refers to the storing, handling, and preparing food in a way that reduces the spread of bacteria, and minimises your risk of becoming sick from the food you eat. Taking care to prepare and cook your food safely is important in preventing illness. How to cook and cool food safely Preparing and cooking food properly and to the right temperature reduces the risk of food poisoning. Always cook minced meat, sausages and poultry all the way through until the juices run clear and there is no pink. Whole pieces

What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is caused by bacteria and viruses getting into the food we eat. It can also be caused by toxins produced by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Food poisoning is also called ‘foodborne illness’. What are the symptoms of food poisoning? Symptoms of food poisoning can range from mild to very severe. You may be sick with food poisoning but not know what food caused it. Different bacteria and viruses cause different symptoms. If you have food poisoning, you’ll probably have gastroenteritis symptoms such as: abdominal (tummy) cramps nausea vomiting diarrhoea fever headaches Symptoms can take between a

What information is on the food label? The label on a packaged food will tell you: the name and brand of the product what ingredients it contains (listed in order from largest to smallest by weight) — this includes a list of food additives and information for people with food allergies nutrition information (such as average amount of energy, fat, protein, sugars and salt) percentage labelling (how much of the main ingredients it contains, so you can compare it to other products) use-by or best-before date and directions for use and storage details of the manufacturer and the country where the food was produced how much it weighs

beginning of content A balanced diet What are the 5 food groups? A healthy diet does not need to be complicated. Eat foods from the 5 food groups every day. The 5 food groups are: vegetables and legumes (beans) fruit grains and cereals lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes (beans), tofu, nuts, seeds milk, cheese, yoghurt or alternatives Each food group has important nutrients. The amount of each food you need will vary during your life. Your diet will depend on factors such as: how active you are whether or not you are growing whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding Why should

What are the symptoms of food allergy? Symptoms of a mild allergy include: hives (red circular weals on the skin) swelling of the face or around the mouth vomiting abdominal discomfort or pain Symptoms of severe allergy may include: wheeze or trouble breathing difficulty talking more than a few words and/or a hoarse voice cough swelling or tightness of the throat collapse light-headedness or dizziness diarrhoea swelling of the tongue going pale and floppy (in young children) What foods cause allergies? Some foods are more likely to cause allergies than others. These include: dairy (including milk) eggs peanuts tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, pine nuts,

What is fluid retention? Fluid retention is also called oedema or water retention. It occurs when parts of the body swell due to a build-up of trapped fluid. The fluid gets trapped and makes the area swollen or puffy. Fluid retention is most common in your ankles and feet. What are the symptoms of fluid retention? Signs of fluid retention can be: swelling or puffiness under the skin skin that looks or feels tight or shiny skin that does not bounce back if you press it for a few seconds skin that is not the normal colour limbs or joints that