The new, Nordic recommendation for alcohol is zero intake, for health’s sake. On Wednesday, new reference values for energy and nutrients will be launched in Norway. Carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals are counted among the nutrients that provide energy, and on Wednesday the Directorate of Health will launch new Norwegian reference values for energy and nutrients. It is a technical basis that only says something about the substances the body needs, not anything about which food contains these. There will be a number of changes, some new elements are mentioned and some that are recommended to be avoided. Like alcohol. – We bring alcohol, because it is a nutrient, because it provides energy and calories. But it has no known, beneficial effects, and it is toxic to all the body’s organs. You don’t get deficiency diseases from avoiding this nutrient, so abstinence is now recommended, says Erik Arnesen to NTB. He is a research fellow at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at UiO and a scientific advisor for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations and has been a member of the National Council for Nutrition in the period 2019 – August 2023. Do you know there will be a debate In the national professional councils, until now it has been stated that “From from a nutritional point of view, the intake of alcohol should be limited and not exceed approximately 10 grams of alcohol per day for women and 20 grams per day for men”, but this is now to be changed, and the Directorate of Health is to review the advice on alcohol in the work on new dietary advice. – The safest thing is zero grams per day, says Arnesen, knowing full well that he may add more. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), eight out of ten Norwegians answered in 2022 that they had drunk alcohol in the past year, and half had drunk six or more units of alcohol on the same occasion. The targets have been stable since 2012. Arnesen reminds that changes in reference values do not imply any prohibition or any moral recommendations. – These are recommendations based on a health perspective. There has been a great deal of new research showing that there is no “safe limit” for alcohol intake. There is also evidence that even low consumption of alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer and oesophageal cancer, says Arnesen. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the debate around this can become a discussion about values. – As I said, we look at what will minimize risk. At the same time, there is nothing in life that does not involve risk, so that is probably why it triggers debate, says Arnesen. Advice based on the 1970s body Target groups for the launch on Wednesday afternoon are those who work with issues related to diet within the education sector, the health sector and the food industry. After the new Nordic nutrient recommendations (NNR) came out, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has started revising Norwegian recommendations. Revised Norwegian dietary guidelines, including various food groups, meal patterns and considerations for sustainability, are planned to be launched in 2024. First up are reference values for energy and nutrients. – There are some small changes for most vitamins and minerals, partly because the reference weight for children and young people has changed. It was previously based on figures from the 1970s, says Arnesen. The reference values for adults also require a BMI of 23, which is considered a healthy BMI. Know more now New research and knowledge about the benefits of vitamins has shown that low intake can probably cause more than deficiency diseases. They mean that, for example, the reference value of vitamin C is increased by 46 per cent for men and 27 per cent for women. – It has increased slightly over time, from the first recommendations of 30 mg over 40 years ago. Research now links the level of vitamin C in the blood to the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer in particular, says Arnesen. The new daily dose is now recommended at 110 mg for men and 95 mg for women. The Norwegian Directorate of Health points out that reference values are useful for those who produce food and assemble dishes, for example in the food industry and in the health service. For the population, this will mean little, there it is the food-based dietary advice that applies, and these will be updated in 2024.
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Recommend zero alcohol – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
