Food Standards Agency (UK)
The Ismaili Nutrition Centre is an excellent means to provide information on how much fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar is in South Asian family favourites, and how to make them healthier. The website is user-friendly, informative, and provides practical ideas for helping people to improve the balance of their diet, whilst in keeping with traditional recipes.
– Dr Louis Levy, Head of Nutrition Advice & Behaviour Change,
Food Standards Agency (www.food.gov.uk)
British Dietetic Association
Registered dietitians hold the only legally recognised graduate qualification in nutrition and dietetics in the UK. They are experts in interpreting and translating the science of nutrition into practical everyday language and this is just what The Ismaili Nutrition Centre represents. The scientific data from the original Kings College research has been translated by dietitians into quick and easy recipes and there are practical tips to help people make healthier choices. We are particularly proud to see that the site has been peer-reviewed by five renowned UK dietitians from varied professional and ethnic backgrounds and are pleased to be associated with such a high quality non-commercial venture.
– Andy Burman, Chief Executive, The British Dietetic Association (www.bda.uk.com)
Canadian Diabetes Association
The mission of the Canadian Diabetes Association is to lead the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Today, as many as 9 million Canadians live with diabetes – 3 million with diabetes and 6 million with prediabetes. The South Asian population in Canada is at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The Ismaili Nutrition Centre provides current evidence-based information about the nutritional management of diabetes and supplies recipes that are flavourful, yet healthier versions of traditional recipes. I am delighted to have such a useful resource available for this community.
– Sharon Zeiler, BSc, MBA, RD, Senior Manager, Diabetes Education and Nutrition
Canadian Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.ca)
British Nutrition Foundation
Providing clear, easy-to-understand nutritional information about traditional recipes will help all those enjoying these foods to make better informed dietary choices.
– Sara Stanner, Science Programme Manager, British Nutrition Foundation (www.nutrition.org.uk)
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is delighted to support this new website.
Cardiovascular disease is a disease of inequality and we know that people from certain ethnic groups, including the South Asian population, are disproportionately affected. That's why it is so important to ensure that people are empowered to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Access to culturally appropriate healthy recipes with traffic light colour coded nutritional information should help people from South Asian communities to eat well and reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This will also be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and others.
– Mubeen Bhutta, Policy Manager, British Heart Foundation (www.bhf.org.uk)
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is delighted to be associated with this site. The Nutrition Centre is a valuable communications vehicle that will help us ensure that we are able to reach out to people from the South Asian and other communities, as well as Healthcare Professionals who have a special interest in Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. The practical information will help people with diabetes make healthier choices and understand how healthy eating is an integral part of diabetes management.
– Jenne Dixit, Equality and Diversity Manager, Diabetes UK (www.diabetes.org.uk)
Malaysian Dietitians' Association
I appreciate The Ismaili Nutrition Centre and the Aga Khan Health Board for your effort in providing a platform to sharing and highlight nutrition-related knowledge for the benefit of all. The global trend of consumption of foods high in fats, salt and sugars and a sedentary lifestyle – which also affects Malaysia – challenges healthcare professionals, including dietitians, to address the issues of overweight, obesity and risks of chronic diseases. The Malaysian Dietitians' Association share your commitment to creating awareness and reinforce healthy lifestyles for optimal quality of life. Promoting sensible eating habits and educating individuals to make wise food choices are key to the success of such initiatives.
– Tan Yoke Hwa, President, Malaysian Dietitians' Association (www.dietitians.org.my)
Nutrition Society of Malaysia
The Nutrition Society of Malaysia commends the efforts of The Ismaili Nutrition Centre and the Aga Khan Health Board for providing information on various dishes of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian origin, including their nutritional content. By drawing upon the findings of the South Asian Food Survey, the Nutrition Centre website makes this research data widely available, benefiting both health professionals and the wider public.
– Dr E-Siong Tee, President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (www.nutriweb.org.my)
World Cancer Research Fund
Alongside cardiovascular disease and diabetes, cancer is a major disease in the UK. Research shows that about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented through a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. Using the traffic light system for traditional recipes will help people from Asian communities to make informed, healthier choices about their diet and thus reduce their risk of chronic diseases. This website will also be a useful resource for health professionals.
– Professor Martin Wiseman, World Cancer Research Fund (www.wcrf-uk.org)
National Health Services (UK)
If you are of Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan or Pakistani origin you may have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes than the general population. Culturally appropriate resources are essential to reaching these communities. The South Asian health section of NHS Choices website has articles and videos on reducing your risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Plus information on the dangers of tobacco, paan and shisha, and tips on eating healthily and being more active.
– NHS Choices – your health, your choices (www.nhs.uk/southasianhealth)
The Stroke Association
The Nutrition Centre is a great way to bring together a number of useful resources around healthy eating for the Asian community. With approximately 150 000 people afflicted by stroke every year in the UK, a balanced and nutritious diet can reduce risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. People from South Asian backgrounds can be at higher risk of stroke due to a number of factors including unhealthy diets. The Stroke Association fully supports this new website which provides valuable, practical and culturally appropriate advice.
– Homaira Khan, Stroke Prevention Officer, The Stroke Association (www.stroke.org.uk)
South Asian Health Foundation
Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are two of the many important areas in which South Asian Health Foundation focus on. Heart disease in the South Asian community is one of the most common causes of mortality. This website will help provide culturally appropriate and evidence based nutritional information.
– Dr Kiran C R Patel, Chairman, South Asian Health Foundation (www.sahf.org.uk)
HEART UK
The Ismaili Nutrition Centre fills a gap and meets a growing need. This is the first site that offers traffic light coded authentic South Asian recipes from scientifically published research and other respected sources. It empowers the consumer to learn about the nutritional content of commonly consumed dishes and then offers hints and tips on how to make them healthier.
The Nutrition Centre shows community action and demonstrates an interest in working with key stakeholders such as HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity. HEART UK is supporting the South Asian community to manage their cholesterol levels through a number of projects and we are proud to be associated with the Ismaili Nutrition Centre.
– Michael Livingston, Director, HEART UK (www.heartuk.org.uk)
Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation
DRWF believe that this site ties in well with the charity's objective of ‘staying well until a cure is found' and are happy to lend it support.
Diabetes in Asian communities is common, and a public health issue for this country. Asians are also more likely to develop complications of diabetes than White Europeans.
There are many barriers preventing the delivery of good quality care to Asians in the UK, by way of cultural, religious, language and social issues. Despite this, there are opportunities for improving care for people. In order to reduce diabetes in Asian communities, raising awareness of the condition is extremely important, as well as educating people about lifestyle issues. This website will help to achieve these objectives.
– Sarah Bone, Chief Executive Officer, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (www.drwf.org.uk)
British Dietetic Association Multicultural Nutrition Group
It is universally recognised that a poor diet increases the risk of chronic diseases such as CVD and DM, two highly prevalent conditions in the South Asian population. This website will help provide culturally relevant and vitally needed nutrition information, which would help to reverse this trend.
– Chetali Agrawal RD, Chairperson, British Dietetic Association Multicultural Nutrition Group (www.bda.uk.com/sgroupspublic.html)
The Dairy Council
The Dairy Council is delighted to lend its support to the Nutrition Centre. The Nutrition Centre provides a wide range of useful information which will no doubt prove invaluable to the public and health professionals alike. One of its major benefits is that it goes beyond the simple provision of information and will act as a portal for community action in the area of nutrition and health. We look forward to seeing the Nutrition Centre develop into a major driver for health within the communities it services.
– Dr Judith Bryans, Director, The Dairy Council (www.milk.co.uk)
