Sugar Intake must be halved - BBC Report (2014) ; I reprint BBC reprint on WHO Guidelines.

People will be advised to halve the amount of sugar in their diet, under new World Health Organization guidance.

The recommended sugar intake will stay at below 10% of total calorie intake a day, with 5% the target, says the WHO.

The suggested limits apply to all sugars added to food, as well as sugar naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates.

UK campaigners say it is a "tragedy" that the WHO has taken 10 years to think about changing its advice.

The recommendation that sugar should account for no more than 10% of the calories in the diet, was passed in 2002.

It works out at about 50g a day for an adult of normal weight, said the WHO.

It is a tragedy that it has taken 10 years for the WHO to think about changing their recommendation on sugar

Katharine Jenner, Action for Sugar

However, a number of experts now think 10% is too high, amid rising obesity levels around the world.

Announcing the new draft measures, the WHO said in a statement: "WHO's current recommendation, from 2002, is that sugars should make up less than 10% of total energy intake per day.

"The new draft guideline also proposes that sugars should be less than 10% of total energy intake per day.

"It further suggests that a reduction to below 5% of total energy intake per day would have additional benefits."

Dr Francesco Branca, WHO's nutrition director, told a news conference that the 10% target was a "strong recommendation" while the 5% target was "conditional", based on current evidence.

"We should aim for 5% if we can," he added.

Facts about sugar

• Evidence shows most adults and children in the UK eat more sugar than is recommended as part of a healthy balanced diet
• Food and drinks that have a lot of added sugar contain calories, but often have few other nutrients
• Sugary foods and drinks can also cause tooth decay, especially eaten between meals
• Sugar found naturally in whole fruit is less likely to cause tooth decay than juices or blends because the sugar is contained within the body of the fruit
• Source: NHS Choices

Q&A: How much sugar should we eat?

Five foods surprisingly high in sugar

The plans will now go for public consultation, with firm recommendations expected this summer.

Public Health England said its scientific advisory committee on nutrition was reviewing evidence on sugar in the UK diet.

Director of Nutrition and Diet, Alison Tedstone, said: "Our surveys show that the UK population should reduce their sugar intake as average intake for adults is 11.6% and for children is 15.2%, which is above the current UK recommendation of 10%. "

Campaign group, Action for Sugar, said it was pressing for 5% to become the firm recommendation.

Nutritionist, Katharine Jenner, said: "It is a tragedy that it has taken 10 years for the WHO to think about changing their recommendation on sugar, which will have had astronomic implications on the millions affected by obesity and type 2 diabetes the world over. "

The WHO guidelines are based on a review of scientific evidence on the health impact of sugar, including damage to teeth and the effect on obesity.

The obesity study, published last year in the BMJ, found while sugar did not directly cause obesity, those who consumed a lot of it, particularly in sweetened drinks, tended to put on weight as sugary food did not make them feel full.

A review of the link between sugar intake and tooth decay, carried out by UK researchers, found cases of tooth decay were lower when sugar made up less than 10% of daily calories.

Australian Aboriginal Art - Fertility Scene in the Desert

                  Josie Packard's masterpiece sits in my living room, taking pride of place  

   In 2002, during a visit to Sydney's The Rocks, my wife and I found this very outstanding piece of aboriginal art. It depicts a scared ritual, called the aboriginal mating ritual. It is seem from above, and the U designs represent each person sitting down, her legs forming a 'U'. The long sticks represent the holy sticks of the village elder. 

    The art is special because it is done by the artist Josie Packard, who is illiterate. Her signature is a palm print in ink on the reverse of the canvas and there are not brush strokes. There are literally thousands of dot imprints using several dotting tools, hence everything seen is circular. I can imagine her painstainkingly dotting the pieces and using different colours to symbolise the parts of the painting. The fertility ritual is probably carried out somewhere in the Outback (sparse land near the desert) during special occasions.

    The artwork never loses its appeal to me and the people who visit our humble abode.   

Keep me Crazy ; Lyric Video of a super cool band

Time for a visit to S. Korea

Catching Clams at Si Joung City 

After almost 6 years, I long for a visit to Seoul. We have business dealings with a manufacturer based in SiJoung City, near the coast to the west of Seoul. S. Korea is mainly homogenous but the Korean friends I have made are very good people, going out of their way to help me and my colleagues.

So I want to make this trip to catch up on old friends and new ones. Keep you posted ! 

Party on the West Coast

High Altitude Training in the Gym

Scientific studies have shown that the normal body reacts negatively to lack of oxygen in the air. However, well conditioned athletes are being trained in rooms or chambers called Hypoxic rooms and chambers to enhance their bodies physiology and ability to perform in low oxygen conditions. The reasoning is that the human body requires oxygen to perform cardio-respiratory functions such as walking, running, canoeing strokes and all kinds of muscle movement.

My experience is that at 3000 m oxygen level (16%), my body feels like I am burning off 30 % more energy to maintain the same speed of running. So, in effect, my body is improving its physio-kinetic ability and becoming more productive to produce the same output (running speed) for lesser ambient (16%) atmosphere. Hence over time in this special environment, my body will adapt to the reduced oxygen and perform. The longer time I am exposed to this environment, 16% will be the 'new normal' and I will be able to run at a good speed like I used to run when I am at ambient sea level conditions or 20.9% oxygen.

Once the air is set or returned to normal, meaning O2 is 20.9 %. My body will feel it is supercharged and full of energy. Its as if the parachute / backpack which was open on my back has been cut loose. Hence my running speed will be phenomenal.

This is the theory the sports scientists employ to manage, monitor and condition their elite athletes. Its called Hypoxic condiitoning. My company installs such systems worldwide and we are doing projects from Middle East, to Singapore to Australia.   

The future belongs to science. The legitimacy is established by the sporting bodies. So more and more countries will employ such modern techniques to attain sporting glory, trophies and medals for their countries. My business is to provide such equipment to meet those goals. The playing field has never been so exciting. 

Che Part 2

      This is the second part of the Che Guevara Movie Che. Born Ernestito Guevara from an upper middle class family, "Che" refers to the formal name title like 'Mister' of any Argentinian during introductions. He was also referred to the title of 'Commandante' as the overall Commander of the Cuban Revolution. 

     This second parter shows how after the overthrow of the Batista Government, Che 'disappeared'. Watch the show and enjoy. 

     I do not own the rights of any part of the movie.