'Whole foods needed to stop malnutrition'

McPeak believes that the main problem faced by the US because of its eating habits is malnutrition.

"I have dicovered that obesity is a disease of malnutrition and that we need to nourish the body back to health, not starve it,"​ she told NutraIngredientsUSA.com​.

McPeak believes that the best way of nourishing the body is to feed it whole foods and whole food supplements, not empty calories in the form of processed foods.

Whole foods particularly grains, are known to contain a mix of naturally occurring antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein, very similar to fruit and vegetables.

She is an enthusiastic advocate of raw fruit and vegetables and does not believe that GM ingredient should be used because of the lack of clarity as to what they contain.

Moreover, she thinks it is down to the consumer to show an interest in what he/he is eating as she doubts that the big food companies, US intitutions or media are likely to demand enough research - in her eyes - into, for example, GM crops.

"We need to be more concerned about our food and take more reponsibility for our health,"​ she said.

Her company NutraCrea manufactures rice bran derivatives that have, during the past year, been patented to reduce cholesterol and atherosclerosis progression, but McPeak is also keen to promote all whole grain products.

She applauds the decision taken by General Mills in October to start making all their cereals from whole grains.

It is on the account of decisions like this that she remains hopeful that there is the will in the US to improve its diet and at the same time its health.

McPeak will sit on the twelve person advisory committee, Changing The Shape of California and be part of a summit on the prevention of obesity to be held in the state on 9-10 February 2005.

The organisors hope the summit will gather over 100 leaders from the public and private sector to develop a plan of action to reverse the obesity crisis.

The newest patent awarded to NutraCea allow various claims for the RiceMucil, RiceSolubles and Cea100 products, including inhibition of platelet aggregation, inhibition of HMGCoA reductase activity and dissolving aortic streaks, thereby reducing the risk of cardio and cerebrovascular disease in humans and mammals.

A previously issued patent for the rice bran derivatives allowed claims for reducing LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein-B and triglycerides in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and xanthomatosis, a very serious form of hardening of the arteries.