Latest news with #Willer
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Parktown High School for Girls eagerly donates blood
Parktown High School for Girls learners eagerly donated their blood to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) on May 9. Blood donation ambassador and learner Jadyn Willer explained that part of her role included encouraging nervous donors. 'A peer promoter's role is to organise the blood donation process. Our role is to also support donors who are nervous, or clueless maybe because it's their first time.' Read more: SANBS stocks up ahead of school closure and Easter holidays Willer added that she began donating at the age of 16. She is currently 18, having donated approximately 8 times. She added that she enjoys donating because she is saving lives, including her own. Through donating, she found out that she has a heart disease, something she wouldn't have known had she not donated. According to the SANBS, maintaining adequate blood stocks is an ongoing challenge for many countries. 'In South Africa, less than 1% of the population are active blood donors, and, with each unit of blood lasting only 42 days after collection, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly, and for blood services organisations to increase the donor pool.' Also read: SANBS urges community to donate ahead of festive season In South Africa, only one person in about 140 donates blood regularly. This means that, most of the time, we are very close to running out of blood, placing the lives of thousands of people who need blood transfusions at risk every day. SANBS aims to collect an average of 3 000 units of blood daily across the country, to keep up with the demand and have some reserve stock. A first time blood donor, Nina Peres, said it wasn't bad. 'I donated because my dad often donates and I drew courage and inspiration from him to donate and help other people. After donating I felt tired but mostly fine. The peer promoters are also helpful in encouraging first time donors, and keeping us calm.' SANBS continues to urge people who are eligible to donate blood to spare 30 minutes of their time to give the gift of life and help stabilise blood stock levels by visiting their nearest sites or mobile drives. SANBS needs to maintain a blood stock level of five days for each blood group to ensure sustained availability for patients in need. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: SANBS urgently needs blood donors to step forward At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Advertiser
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Hard to swallow health claims driving viral recipes
From microwaveable protein lava cakes to cottage-cheese pizzas, foods once considered unhealthy now find an eager appetite among social media users. One purportedly healthy apple crumble recipe has racked up 9.1 million views on TikTok, while almost 450,000 people have liked a low-calorie edible cake batter video. But are these recipes actually good for people? If you believe the creator of the protein lava cake video, the dish has 166 calories and 13 grams of protein. But dietitian and influencer Susie Burrell is sceptical. "If something seems like it's junk food, it probably is junk food," she told AAP. While it and similar viral recipes allow people to have fun in the kitchen, Ms Burrell urges consumers to not rely on them as a healthy alternative to regular meals. "You don't normally get protein in chocolate, right?" the podcaster and supplement brand owner said. "If you've got protein in it, it's a problem, because it means it's ultra-processed. "But if it's protein in yoghurt, it's probably OK because it's already there." Her protein and creatine products are targeted at older women, who can struggle to meet their recommended intakes. Academic dietitian and exercise physiologist Adrienne Forsyth isn't surprised so many of the viral recipes are taking off. "We tend to be really interested in learning more about new and novel ways of improving our health and wellbeing," the Australian Catholic University associate professor said. "It's problematic because it takes the focus away from eating foods for nourishment and for pleasure, and shifts the focus towards food being only a tool for weight management." A study she helped oversee found social media tended to influence the attitudes of young Australians more than their practices. "We thought that young adults would learn about nutrition by social media, but instead we found that they were using it more as a source of inspiration and motivation to make healthy food choices," Associate Professor Forsyth said. "There's great opportunity to learn from others by viewing content." Dietitians Australia head Fiona Willer said people had always had a fixation on food. "It is a human condition that we seek to avoid pain and suffering ... treating food like medicine is a natural narrative for people to have," she said. Many of the recipes include protein powder or other supplements, which are a relatively new food trend. But people should only take protein supplements if they eat small amounts of food, are older or have had weight-loss or cancer surgery, Dr Willer said. About 99 per cent of Australians meet their recommended protein intake, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from 2015, although the rate drops among those in their 70s and beyond. "If everyday people are choosing protein supplements thinking that they're going to provide them with some sort of special health effect, that is definitely stretching science," Dr Willer said. Rebecca Gawthorne is a food influencer who shares high-protein, plant-based recipes such as pretzel bars, salad jars, pastas and frittatas on social media. She has more than 300,000 followers and shares novel recipes, but says they are based on her research as a dietitian. Mrs Gawthorne aims to stop food misinformation from non-dietitians online, but she adds there's only so much that can be done to combat it. "We are responsible for what we choose to consume online and I hope there can be enough qualified health professionals spreading beneficial information," she said. "Having a knowledge of calories can be beneficial, but this also needs to be balanced with a knowledge of nutrition." Food science and nutrition expert Evangeline Mantzioris said consuming high quantities of protein wouldn't necessarily affect people, but it could reduce their intake of other, important nutrients like fibre. "Increasing your fibre is linked to reducing your risk of bowel cancer", the University of South Australia program director said. "We have seen lots of reports about increasing rates of bowel cancer, particularly in under 40-year-olds." The best solution for meeting protein, fibre and carbohydrate targets was to eat more vegetables, fruit and grains, Dr Mantzioris added. Lifeline 13 11 14 Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673 From microwaveable protein lava cakes to cottage-cheese pizzas, foods once considered unhealthy now find an eager appetite among social media users. One purportedly healthy apple crumble recipe has racked up 9.1 million views on TikTok, while almost 450,000 people have liked a low-calorie edible cake batter video. But are these recipes actually good for people? If you believe the creator of the protein lava cake video, the dish has 166 calories and 13 grams of protein. But dietitian and influencer Susie Burrell is sceptical. "If something seems like it's junk food, it probably is junk food," she told AAP. While it and similar viral recipes allow people to have fun in the kitchen, Ms Burrell urges consumers to not rely on them as a healthy alternative to regular meals. "You don't normally get protein in chocolate, right?" the podcaster and supplement brand owner said. "If you've got protein in it, it's a problem, because it means it's ultra-processed. "But if it's protein in yoghurt, it's probably OK because it's already there." Her protein and creatine products are targeted at older women, who can struggle to meet their recommended intakes. Academic dietitian and exercise physiologist Adrienne Forsyth isn't surprised so many of the viral recipes are taking off. "We tend to be really interested in learning more about new and novel ways of improving our health and wellbeing," the Australian Catholic University associate professor said. "It's problematic because it takes the focus away from eating foods for nourishment and for pleasure, and shifts the focus towards food being only a tool for weight management." A study she helped oversee found social media tended to influence the attitudes of young Australians more than their practices. "We thought that young adults would learn about nutrition by social media, but instead we found that they were using it more as a source of inspiration and motivation to make healthy food choices," Associate Professor Forsyth said. "There's great opportunity to learn from others by viewing content." Dietitians Australia head Fiona Willer said people had always had a fixation on food. "It is a human condition that we seek to avoid pain and suffering ... treating food like medicine is a natural narrative for people to have," she said. Many of the recipes include protein powder or other supplements, which are a relatively new food trend. But people should only take protein supplements if they eat small amounts of food, are older or have had weight-loss or cancer surgery, Dr Willer said. About 99 per cent of Australians meet their recommended protein intake, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from 2015, although the rate drops among those in their 70s and beyond. "If everyday people are choosing protein supplements thinking that they're going to provide them with some sort of special health effect, that is definitely stretching science," Dr Willer said. Rebecca Gawthorne is a food influencer who shares high-protein, plant-based recipes such as pretzel bars, salad jars, pastas and frittatas on social media. She has more than 300,000 followers and shares novel recipes, but says they are based on her research as a dietitian. Mrs Gawthorne aims to stop food misinformation from non-dietitians online, but she adds there's only so much that can be done to combat it. "We are responsible for what we choose to consume online and I hope there can be enough qualified health professionals spreading beneficial information," she said. "Having a knowledge of calories can be beneficial, but this also needs to be balanced with a knowledge of nutrition." Food science and nutrition expert Evangeline Mantzioris said consuming high quantities of protein wouldn't necessarily affect people, but it could reduce their intake of other, important nutrients like fibre. "Increasing your fibre is linked to reducing your risk of bowel cancer", the University of South Australia program director said. "We have seen lots of reports about increasing rates of bowel cancer, particularly in under 40-year-olds." The best solution for meeting protein, fibre and carbohydrate targets was to eat more vegetables, fruit and grains, Dr Mantzioris added. Lifeline 13 11 14 Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673 From microwaveable protein lava cakes to cottage-cheese pizzas, foods once considered unhealthy now find an eager appetite among social media users. One purportedly healthy apple crumble recipe has racked up 9.1 million views on TikTok, while almost 450,000 people have liked a low-calorie edible cake batter video. But are these recipes actually good for people? If you believe the creator of the protein lava cake video, the dish has 166 calories and 13 grams of protein. But dietitian and influencer Susie Burrell is sceptical. "If something seems like it's junk food, it probably is junk food," she told AAP. While it and similar viral recipes allow people to have fun in the kitchen, Ms Burrell urges consumers to not rely on them as a healthy alternative to regular meals. "You don't normally get protein in chocolate, right?" the podcaster and supplement brand owner said. "If you've got protein in it, it's a problem, because it means it's ultra-processed. "But if it's protein in yoghurt, it's probably OK because it's already there." Her protein and creatine products are targeted at older women, who can struggle to meet their recommended intakes. Academic dietitian and exercise physiologist Adrienne Forsyth isn't surprised so many of the viral recipes are taking off. "We tend to be really interested in learning more about new and novel ways of improving our health and wellbeing," the Australian Catholic University associate professor said. "It's problematic because it takes the focus away from eating foods for nourishment and for pleasure, and shifts the focus towards food being only a tool for weight management." A study she helped oversee found social media tended to influence the attitudes of young Australians more than their practices. "We thought that young adults would learn about nutrition by social media, but instead we found that they were using it more as a source of inspiration and motivation to make healthy food choices," Associate Professor Forsyth said. "There's great opportunity to learn from others by viewing content." Dietitians Australia head Fiona Willer said people had always had a fixation on food. "It is a human condition that we seek to avoid pain and suffering ... treating food like medicine is a natural narrative for people to have," she said. Many of the recipes include protein powder or other supplements, which are a relatively new food trend. But people should only take protein supplements if they eat small amounts of food, are older or have had weight-loss or cancer surgery, Dr Willer said. About 99 per cent of Australians meet their recommended protein intake, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from 2015, although the rate drops among those in their 70s and beyond. "If everyday people are choosing protein supplements thinking that they're going to provide them with some sort of special health effect, that is definitely stretching science," Dr Willer said. Rebecca Gawthorne is a food influencer who shares high-protein, plant-based recipes such as pretzel bars, salad jars, pastas and frittatas on social media. She has more than 300,000 followers and shares novel recipes, but says they are based on her research as a dietitian. Mrs Gawthorne aims to stop food misinformation from non-dietitians online, but she adds there's only so much that can be done to combat it. "We are responsible for what we choose to consume online and I hope there can be enough qualified health professionals spreading beneficial information," she said. "Having a knowledge of calories can be beneficial, but this also needs to be balanced with a knowledge of nutrition." Food science and nutrition expert Evangeline Mantzioris said consuming high quantities of protein wouldn't necessarily affect people, but it could reduce their intake of other, important nutrients like fibre. "Increasing your fibre is linked to reducing your risk of bowel cancer", the University of South Australia program director said. "We have seen lots of reports about increasing rates of bowel cancer, particularly in under 40-year-olds." The best solution for meeting protein, fibre and carbohydrate targets was to eat more vegetables, fruit and grains, Dr Mantzioris added. Lifeline 13 11 14 Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673 From microwaveable protein lava cakes to cottage-cheese pizzas, foods once considered unhealthy now find an eager appetite among social media users. One purportedly healthy apple crumble recipe has racked up 9.1 million views on TikTok, while almost 450,000 people have liked a low-calorie edible cake batter video. But are these recipes actually good for people? If you believe the creator of the protein lava cake video, the dish has 166 calories and 13 grams of protein. But dietitian and influencer Susie Burrell is sceptical. "If something seems like it's junk food, it probably is junk food," she told AAP. While it and similar viral recipes allow people to have fun in the kitchen, Ms Burrell urges consumers to not rely on them as a healthy alternative to regular meals. "You don't normally get protein in chocolate, right?" the podcaster and supplement brand owner said. "If you've got protein in it, it's a problem, because it means it's ultra-processed. "But if it's protein in yoghurt, it's probably OK because it's already there." Her protein and creatine products are targeted at older women, who can struggle to meet their recommended intakes. Academic dietitian and exercise physiologist Adrienne Forsyth isn't surprised so many of the viral recipes are taking off. "We tend to be really interested in learning more about new and novel ways of improving our health and wellbeing," the Australian Catholic University associate professor said. "It's problematic because it takes the focus away from eating foods for nourishment and for pleasure, and shifts the focus towards food being only a tool for weight management." A study she helped oversee found social media tended to influence the attitudes of young Australians more than their practices. "We thought that young adults would learn about nutrition by social media, but instead we found that they were using it more as a source of inspiration and motivation to make healthy food choices," Associate Professor Forsyth said. "There's great opportunity to learn from others by viewing content." Dietitians Australia head Fiona Willer said people had always had a fixation on food. "It is a human condition that we seek to avoid pain and suffering ... treating food like medicine is a natural narrative for people to have," she said. Many of the recipes include protein powder or other supplements, which are a relatively new food trend. But people should only take protein supplements if they eat small amounts of food, are older or have had weight-loss or cancer surgery, Dr Willer said. About 99 per cent of Australians meet their recommended protein intake, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from 2015, although the rate drops among those in their 70s and beyond. "If everyday people are choosing protein supplements thinking that they're going to provide them with some sort of special health effect, that is definitely stretching science," Dr Willer said. Rebecca Gawthorne is a food influencer who shares high-protein, plant-based recipes such as pretzel bars, salad jars, pastas and frittatas on social media. She has more than 300,000 followers and shares novel recipes, but says they are based on her research as a dietitian. Mrs Gawthorne aims to stop food misinformation from non-dietitians online, but she adds there's only so much that can be done to combat it. "We are responsible for what we choose to consume online and I hope there can be enough qualified health professionals spreading beneficial information," she said. "Having a knowledge of calories can be beneficial, but this also needs to be balanced with a knowledge of nutrition." Food science and nutrition expert Evangeline Mantzioris said consuming high quantities of protein wouldn't necessarily affect people, but it could reduce their intake of other, important nutrients like fibre. "Increasing your fibre is linked to reducing your risk of bowel cancer", the University of South Australia program director said. "We have seen lots of reports about increasing rates of bowel cancer, particularly in under 40-year-olds." The best solution for meeting protein, fibre and carbohydrate targets was to eat more vegetables, fruit and grains, Dr Mantzioris added. Lifeline 13 11 14 Butterfly Foundation 1800 334 673
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi says US exceptionalism has paused under Trump — and investors should load up on China stocks
Citi strategists advise taking profits in US stocks and buying China shares. America's economic edge has dulled under Trump, impacting consumer sentiment and stock performance. China's tech advances and favorable valuations make the country's stocks attractive despite tariff risks. A pause in US exceptionalism suggests now is the time to take profits in US stocks and buy shares of companies in China, Citi strategists said in a Monday note. The bank downgraded US stocks to "Neutral" and upgraded China stocks to "Overweight" on an idea sweeping Wall Street in recent weeks: America's economic edge has dulled in opening days of the second Trump administration. Tariff policies and sweeping layoffs of federal employees have dinged consumer sentiment to such a degree that management teams at economic bellwethers like Delta Air Lines have warned of an imminent growth slowdown. "This may be the last strong employment report, as DOGE cuts, voluntary resignations, and the weaker economy kick in," the strategists, led by Dirk Willer, said, referring to the February employment report published last Friday. Now, investors are pricing in rosier growth prospects for Europe and beyond, evidenced by their stock markets surging to record highs while the S&P 500 flounders. For Citi strategists, the near-10% decline in America's stock market is a good enough reason to start taking profits. "After entering bubble territory, we are more vigilant on protecting profits," Willer said. The recent downside violation of the S&P 500's 200-day moving average and the inability of the "Magnificent 7" stocks to catch a bid were two bearish signals that were too big for Willer to ignore. "When 4 out of 7 'generals' are fading, for at least 5 days, during bubbly periods, it is also a warning signal," Willer explained. Willer said the American AI trade should bounce back in the long term, but it will likely struggle for the next three to six months. "In the bigger picture, we doubt that the AI bubble is already fully played out, and we would expect for the US to remain one of the leaders, maybe jointly with China, while the AI theme is intact," Willer said. "But for the reasons mentioned above, we believe this is unlikely to be the right view for today, as we expect more negative US data prints." As to Willer's upgrade of China stocks, the strategist highlighted DeepSeek's technological breakthrough as proof that the country's technology "is at the Western technological frontier (or beyond)." The note highlighted that Alibaba and Tencent followed up with their own impressive AI models in recent weeks. The note said that combined with compelling valuations and President Xi's recent embrace of the tech sector, now is the time to buy China-based stocks, even with lingering tariff risks amid Trump's trade war. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi cuts recommendation for US stocks as recession fears hit, lifts view on China
By Tom Westbrook SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Citi analysts cut their recommendation for U.S. stocks to "neutral" from "overweight" on Monday after recession fears pummelled the market, arguing that the U.S. economy may no longer outpace the rest of the world in the coming months. At the same time, they upgraded their view on China to "overweight" from "neutral". The report was issued after the close of trade on Monday when the Nasdaq lost 4%, its steepest one-day tumble since 2022. The benchmark S&P 500 fell 2.7%, its biggest daily drop of the year. [.N] Dirk Willer, Citi's global head of macro, asset allocation and emerging market strategy, said in a note to clients that two recent price signals contributed to the shift in view: the S&P 500 breaking below its 200-day moving average and the soft performance of "generals" or market-leading stocks. "In the big picture, US equity outperformance may well return when the AI narrative takes over again, but in the coming months, we expect US growth momentum to undershoot the (rest of the world)," the note said. On China, Citi's economists have revised their forecast for Chinese GDP growth to 4.7% this year from 4.5%, partly on a boost from investment in artificial intelligence. Willer also noted China's tech sector is cheap relative to global peers, even after recent gains. "China screens well," said Willer. "While tariffs remain a risk ... there is also the possibility of reaching resolution in trade discussions with China, which would be very positive." In credit, Citi also downgraded U.S. high-yield debt to "neutral" from "overweight."
Khaleej Times
11-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Citi cuts recommendation for US stocks as recession fears hit, lifts view on China
Citi analysts cut their recommendation for U.S. stocks to "neutral" from "overweight" on Monday after recession fears pummelled the market, arguing that the U.S. economy may no longer outpace the rest of the world in the coming months. At the same time, they upgraded their view on China to "overweight" from "neutral". The report was issued after the close of trade on Monday when the Nasdaq lost 4%, its steepest one-day tumble since 2022. The benchmark SP 500 fell 2.7%, its biggest daily drop of the year. Dirk Willer, Citi's global head of macro, asset allocation and emerging market strategy, said in a note to clients that two recent price signals contributed to the shift in view: the SP 500 breaking below its 200-day moving average and the soft performance of "generals" or market-leading stocks. "In the big picture, US equity outperformance may well return when the AI narrative takes over again, but in the coming months, we expect US growth momentum to undershoot the (rest of the world)," the note said. On China, Citi's economists have revised their forecast for Chinese GDP growth to 4.7% this year from 4.5%, partly on a boost from investment in artificial intelligence. Willer also noted China's tech sector is cheap relative to global peers, even after recent gains. "China screens well," said Willer. "While tariffs remain a risk ... there is also the possibility of reaching resolution in trade discussions with China, which would be very positive." In credit, Citi also downgraded U.S. high-yield debt to "neutral" from "overweight."
