Health News

UNSW

Published

1 year ago

5 August 2022

JeffG

UNSW

If you’ve been to any supermarket recently, you would’ve noticed the shelf space dedicated to milk alternatives such as oat, soy, almond and rice is expanding. Though they’re not strictly speaking ‘milk’, these plant-based beverages are gaining favour among consumers looking for a dairy-free option in their coffee mugs and cereal bowls.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we’re now drinking about half a metric cup of milk alternatives per person every week. In the milk marketplace, consumption of the likes of soy and almond milk is increasing at the same rate dairy milk is falling.

Experts from UNSW Sydney say there are many reasons we’re leaving cow’s milk behind in favour of the plant-based kind, including health reasons, ethical choices and personal preferences.

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE AND MORE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

Professor Johannes le Coutre, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Engineering, says he’s not surprised by the expansion of the plant-based milk aisle. The food and health expert says in the first place, human bodies are not physiologically optimised to digest dairy milk.

“Food history is full of examples where we try to mimic animal products, so having plant-based milk is not an entirely new idea,” Prof. le Coutre says.

“Human adults are not necessarily the target consumers for cow’s milk in nature. It’s a product meant for babies, specifically for cow babies,” he says.

Many adults have an intolerance to lactose – the sugar in dairy – to some degree. If they drink cow’s milk or eat other dairy by-products, they can experience bloating, pain and diarrhoea. For those people, plant-based milk offers a lactose-free alternative.

“If someone has an intolerance to dairy, it is easier for their body to digest plant-based milk,” says nutritionist Dr Rebecca Reynolds, adjunct lecturer, School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine & Health. “While some regular milk has the lactose removed, many prefer the taste of plant-based milk.”

Researcher in consumer behaviour, Associate Professor Nitika Garg, School of Marketing, UNSW Business School, says the quality and variety of plant-based milk available has improved in recent times.

“The taste is undoubtedly a key factor because consumers don’t want to feel they need to compromise on flavour,” A/Prof. Garg says. “Today, if you feel uncomfortable consuming dairy milk, there are a lot more alternatives in the market you can try that weren’t available 20 years ago.”

AN ETHICAL CHOICE FOR ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Many people are also switching up their milk of choice for ethical reasons. One concern is the treatment of livestock in the dairy milk production process.

“There is a movement of consumers who resent animal products – such as milk – because they are not necessarily associated with good animal welfare,” Prof. le Coutre says.

To produce milk, cows must give birth. If the calves are not needed as replacements for the milking herd, they are killed, often not humanely. More cows die per calorie of milk production than cattle for meat production.

A/Prof. Garg says some of the growth in plant-based milks can also be attributed to changing consumer perceptions about the sustainability of the dairy industry. There is growing awareness about the impact it is having on the climate and the environment.

Research suggests a dairy-free diet could be a more environmentally friendly option, and people can make significant moves for the environment by just reducing their dairy intake, Dr Reynolds says.

Some plant milks might be more planet friendly than others though. For example, it’s estimated that growing a single almond requires 12 litres of water. Still, almond milk uses less land and water than dairy milk and has lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“[But] there are challenges when it comes to plant-based products in that they usually destroy a lot of nutritional goodness and require a lot of resources just to mimic a product [milk] that isn’t intended for human consumption in the first place,” Prof. le Coutre says.

HEALTH BENEFITS AND CALORIC CONCERNS

Milk alternatives are also becoming an increasingly popular choice among health-conscious consumers. But what some consider to be a ‘healthier’ option is not always the case, Prof. le Coutre says.

So how does dairy milk stack up nutritionally against plant-based milk? While there is scepticism about the health impacts of dairy products, evidence suggests dairy benefits health.

“Overall, cow’s milk has a better nutritional profile than plant milks, with more protein and micronutrients like calcium,” Dr Reynolds says. “However, plant-based milks often have micronutrients added to them, can have less overall fat and saturated fat than dairy milk and more healthy plant phenol antioxidants.”

There’s a wide variety of plant-based milks in the market, like oat, almond and rice, with varying nutritional quality. Soy might be the strongest dairy-free plant alternative in terms of nutritional profile.

“Some have added refined sugar, which includes ingredients like ‘organic brown rice syrup’, which is less healthy than the natural sugar lactose that’s found in cow’s milk,” Dr Reynolds says. “This means that they can also be higher in high glycaemic index carbohydrates, which can increase blood glucose levels more than lactose. They also have added oils, which are not as healthy as say olive oil, and they’re not suitable as stand-alone milks for children.”

Dr Reynolds says if plant milk and other dairy substitutes are fortified – that is, have micronutrients like calcium added – there might not be a need to supplement in a diet. However, it’s estimated over 50 per cent of Australians aged 2 years and above don’t consume enough calcium and other micronutrients.

“Overall, plant-based diets are still strongly linked to good health,” Dr Reynolds says.

THE FUTURE OF PLANT-BASED MILK

With their rapid rise, A/Prof. Garg expects plant-based milk to become an even more dominant player in the milk market. Perhaps one day, it might even supplant dairy milk in popularity.

“Much of the growth to date appears to be consumer-driven, so I would expect the trend to continue to grow. As these brands continue to scale up their manufacturing and marketing efforts, there’s a huge opportunity for a true milk substitute to emerge and compete with dairy,” she says.

A/Prof. Garg says governments also have a chance to take advantage of the anticipated global demand in the industry.

“People are choosing plant-based milk more and more, and so it would make sense for governments to take advantage of the opportunity to support the production here in Australia,” she says. “It would also still be supporting the Australian agricultural industry, which is an important consideration for some consumers.”

In the short-term, A/Prof. Garg says switching to plant-based milk might not be realistic for everyone because of its high price point.

“We do have an issue with making products such as plant-based milk accessible for everyone. They are more expensive, and some consumers who might want to switch can’t, especially with the cost of living right now where every dollar counts,” A/Prof. Garg says. “It might be something governments need to explore, to help subsidise in the same way they subsidise the dairy industry.”

Prof. le Coutre says plant-based milk – and plant-based mimetics more generally – will continue to play a significant role in strengthening our global food system.

“Plant-based products, existing animal-based materials and, someday soon, cell-based and blended products improve our food choices,” Prof. le Coutre says. “As we expand our portfolio of products, it enriches the spectrum of offerings in the market to everybody’s benefit.”

“Overall, if you can afford it, buying a plant-based milk fortified with micronutrients like calcium and without added sugar can be a good way to use your consumer power to help the environment and climate change,” Dr Reynolds says.

Health News

A Giraffe has arrived in Kids Ward

Published

10 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

Giraffe” Resuscitation Unit Lismore Base Hospital Children’s Ward by Our Kids.

A Giraffe has arrived in Kids Ward

A new ‘Giraffe” Resuscitation Unit, worth $34,000, is now in place at the Lismore Base Hospital Children’s Ward.

The equipment was donated by Our Kids, with money raised through the Local Government Golf Day, the 2023 Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge and the Knappick Family.

This equipment replaces an older unit that is used by the paediatric team to review a baby’s condition, as well as for resuscitation of critically ill babies.

A new ‘Giraffe” Resuscitation Unit is now in place at the Lismore Base Hospital Children’s Ward thanks to Our Kids

L-R: Sergeant Joshua Scott (41st RNSWR Battalion), Samantha Gordon (Team Samson), Jason Clarke (Team Samson), Jason Honeyman (Team Samson), Corporal Renee Campbell (41st RNSWR Battalion).

Representatives from the Local Government Golf Day and ‘Team Samson’, including members of the Lismore 41st Battalion who play a vital part in organising the Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge, visited the hospital to see how the ‘Giraffe’ helps local kids.

“Having this piece of equipment is incredible for Kids Ward and is vital for sick babies that present needing medical care,” Rebekka Battista, Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator, said.

“Large pieces of equipment often stay on the Our Kids Wishlist for a while due to the price tag; however, thanks to the generosity of these groups working together, we were able to purchase the Giraffe quickly,” Rebekka said.

Anthony Magarry (organiser of the Local Government Golf day) and Jason Honeyman (Team Samson)

The Knappick Family donated last year, and part of their donation kickstarted the funding for the Resuscitation Unit, followed by the Local Government Golf Day and the Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge in March this year.

Our Kids works with the Nursing Unit Managers (NUM) in the paediatric areas of each local hospital to determine items for the Our Kids Wish List.

Since 2001, through the community’s generosity, Our Kids has purchased over $2.3 million worth of equipment for local hospitals in Northern NSW to help keep kids local when they need medical care.

If you or your business would like to partner with Our Kids, please email info@ourkids.org.au or phone the Our Kids Office at 6620 2705.

For more health news, click here.

Health News

Tweed Valley Hospital set to open in May 2024

Published

10 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

Tweed Valley Hospital set to open in May 2024

By Sarah Waters

The new Tweed Valley Hospital will officially open its doors to patients next year on Tuesday, May 14, after five years of construction.

The $723.3 million facility will allow 5000 patients to be treated each year, providing a major boost to health care services in the Northern Rivers.

It will be a regional referral hospital and has been designed to provide the health services required for the growing population of the region beyond 2032.

Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said the opening date provided certainty to staff, patients and community members.

“The move to the Tweed Valley Hospital is the biggest whole of hospital move in regional NSW history, and it is important for the safety of patients and staff that we allow appropriate time for this process to occur,” Ms Maisey said.

“We’re excited to work together with our staff and our community to deliver a smooth transition to the new site from the moment the doors open.”

The new Tweed Valley Hospital will replace Tweed Hospital, in Tweed Heads, which is ageing and experiencing an increase in demand due to the high population growth in the area.

It will have 430 beds, an expanded 24-hour emergency department with 42 treatment spaces, 12 operating theatres and a range of outpatient services.

A new integrated cancer care service will provide medical oncology, haematology, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and an onsite PET-CT suite.

Comprehensive maternity and neonatal services for women and children will include modern birthing suites and a special care nursery for newborns requiring specialist clinical care.

The community will be supported with a broad range of mental health services, including inpatient care and hospital in-reach services.

Labor spokesperson for Tweed Emily Suvaal said residents in Northern NSW would benefit from the major boost to local health services.

“As a nurse, I know how important it is for regional communities to have access to high quality healthcare facilities like this one,” Ms Suvaal said.

Health Infrastructure Chief Executive Rebecca Wark said it was rewarding for the project team to achieve the significant milestone.

“We’ve worked through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 2022 floods, so the completion of construction is a milestone worth celebrating,” Ms Wark said.

The Tweed Valley Hospital development has supported up to 650 jobs during the project.

At the peak of construction around 75 per cent of workers were local to the Tweed and Byron regions.

Finishing touches on the landscaping across the 19.4 hectare campus and single-level car park will be completed in the coming months.

Hospital services will transfer to the new Tweed Valley Hospital when it opens on May 14.

BreastScreen and some community outreach services will continue to be delivered in Tweed Heads, either at or near to the existing hospital site.

The new Tweed Valley Hospital is located at 771 Cudgen Road, Cudgen.

For more health news, click here.

Health News

Resilient Kids launched to support Northern Rivers children and teens post-floods

Published

11 hours ago

8 December 2023

Liam

From back left, Play therapist Lisa Wilson, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt, Healthy North Coast CEO Monica Wheeler and Social Futures CEO Tony Davies, have come together to create the Resilient Kids program.

Resilient Kids launched to support Northern Rivers children and teens post-floods

By Sarah Waters

A new program, Resilient Kids, has been launched to support the health and wellbeing of Northern Rivers young people aged eight to 18 years in the wake of the 2022 floods.

Resilient Kids, funded through a $10 million grant from the Australian Government through the National Emergency Management Agency, will support thousands of Northern Rivers youth and at least 75 schools.

Healthy North Coast co-designed the program with children, young people, schools, families and mental health providers from across the Northern Rivers.

It will deliver initiatives that support children and young people to recover from trauma, reduce long-term mental health impacts of natural disaster and promote social and emotional wellbeing.

Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler said to design Resilient Kids, Healthy North Coast looked at information collected from 6611 children and young people.

“The survey results told us that physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, personal safety and reducing risks, a sense of social identity and engagement with learning were all extremely important to young people,” Ms Wheeler said.

“Our North Coast communities have been through many challenging experiences in recent years, and we will continue to support and fund a range of services that enable better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our young people,” she said.

Social Futures CEO Tony Davies said Social Futures has been part of the recovery from the beginning and was well aware that many young people in the region were still doing it tough.

From back left, Play therapist Lisa Wilson, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt, Healthy North Coast CEO Monica Wheeler and Social Futures CEO Tony Davies, have come together to create the Resilient Kids program.

“It is vital that the right care services are in place to support young people to build their resilience,” Mr Davies said.

“Even adults are struggling to navigate this new world and that’s why I’m so proud Social Futures is part of the Resilient Kids program.

“No one will deny that the past few years have been extraordinary, and Social Futures is delighted to partner with Healthy North Coast, The Family Centre and Human Nature Therapy to ensure that Resilient Kids makes a real difference to the lives of young people in the Northern Rivers,” he said.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the program aimed to address an important aspect of disaster recovery.

“The 2022 floods were traumatic for the whole community and the recovery process can bring a lot of change for families, so looking after mental health is so important,” Mr Watt said.

“This program has been developed by locals, for locals, to help families access long-term, positive programs that addresses the mental wellness challenges from disasters and build resilience,” he said.

The Family Centre is delivering Stream 1 of the program which focusses on school-based programs including disaster resilience and social and emotional wellbeing education, plus parent and carer support.

Six Wellbeing Hubs, led by Social Futures, across the Northern Rivers are delivering Stream 2, which focuses on community resilience.

These hubs have been set up to provide services, including counselling for children, young people and their families, peer-to-peer support and group support.

Outreach opportunities also available in smaller communities.

Collaboration with Northern Rivers Aboriginal Medical Services is also underway to prioritise services expected to be delivered through Stream 3, which supports First Nations children and young people.

More information about the Resilient Kids program can be found at the following website.

For more health news, click here.