The development and effectiveness of the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable Essay

The development and effectiveness of the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable policy in the United Kingdom - Essay Example (Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003.) Hence, the two top causes of these diseases are highly preventable. "It has been estimated that eating at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day could reduce the risk of deaths from chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer by up to 20%." (5 A DAY health benefits, 2003, Department of Health's The NHS Plan, 2000.) Breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer are just a few of the cancers that can be prevented. Loaded with plenty of vitamins and minerals, these foods also contain phytochemicals which are "non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties," as defined by Phytochemicals (n.d.). Phytochemicals include flavonoids and fiber along with many other substances that are necessary for sustaining life. Flavonoids are found in the colored portions of the fruits and vegetables prevent the release of histamines, fight free radicals, and increase blood circulation and the immune system. Phytochemicals perform various functions including the prevention of cancer cell replication, prevention of cell damage, and the lowering of cholesterol levels. Amazingly, there are more than 900 different phytochemicals that have currently been identified and one vegetable serving contains 100 different phytochemicals. ... Diet and cancer: the evidence (2006) reports, "EPIC scientists recently found that eating foods high in fiber can reduce one's risk of bowel cancer. People who ate the most fiber had 40% less bowel cancer risk than people who ate the least. Some other large studies have supported these findings." There is much evidence to support the benefits of eating an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables. Groups such as The NHS Plan, The NHS Cancer Plan and the National Service Frameworks for Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes and Older People also stress diet/nutrition as a top factor in the strategy of prevention. (Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, 2003.) These are just a few reasons why the government created the 5 A DAY programme. The goal of this programme is to inform the public of health benefits gained by consuming fruits and vegetables via targeted action. Most people in England consume less than three servings per day. Children eat less fruits and vegetables than adults. The reasons that people eat such few servings include the cost, availability, and quality especially after inconveniences such as shipping, storing, preserving, etc. The government's 5 A DAY programme aims to raise awareness and change the public's attitude. Many people feel that the cost, preparation, "lack of taste", and other inconveniences are not worth it. In today's hurried society, it seems easier to grab something packaged, processed, and "less expensive". But the cost of one's health and quality of life is quite high and more expensive in the long run. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption (2003) lists the target actions of the government in implementing and enforcing the programme: National School Fruit Scheme Local 5

Design and Construction of Motorway Project Essay

Design and Construction of Motorway Project - Essay Example Through utilization of these regulations, project managers could ensure that safety and health applications remain present throughout engineering project implementation period. While engineering projects remain essential for development of the country, the impacts of the implementation process for these projects could be catastrophic. The reduction of imminent risks within the projects remains essential towards safe implementation of the entire project (Bailey, 2002). The aim of this report remains identifying the imminent hazards within the project that could present a danger to people working on the project. This report seeks to establish an informed analysis concerning the health and safety regulation required in engineering projects. Through identification of the imminent risks, the contractors could essentially implement safety operation processes, significantly reducing safety concerns during construction. This report seeks to identify the imminent hazards for contractors durin g construction and workers after project completion. The project engineers could utilize the proposals contained in this report in ensuring safety for individuals involved in the project. Description of works This project involves construction of a motorway seeking to replace the existing M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The project shall involve numerous and continuous excavation processes within the lifetime of construction. The excavation process involves the production of massive amounts of dust, which becomes a potential health hazard for individuals living within the vicinity, and the people working on the project. The process of excavating materials within the construction site comes at the centre of the project. Through excavation, the engineers could achieve a significant level of project implementation. Designing the site into the required form shall involve a continuous bulk excavation process. The proposed route for the motorway passes through Greenfield and Brownfield land, which continue to be associated with mining of different minerals. These areas have numerous deposits of coal and steels minerals. During the construction process, the materials excavated from the site should be carefully handled to reduce the prevalent risks produced by the mining processes of these minerals. While different activities might be affected by construction, the imminent hazards following excavation through coal mines remain a surmountable safety concern. Upon removal of the topsoil, an analysis of the contents of the soil should e performed to determine the presence of harmful elements within the soil. Through this analysis, proper disposal methods could be implemented to ensure reduction of the imminent hazards produced by the material. The project could potentially generate a significant amount of waste materials and remnants of the construction materials utilized. Following the completion of the project, disposal of these materials is likely to become fundamen tal in ensuring safe working environment for people maintaining the project. Disposal of the waste materials generated remains a fundamental post-construction safety and health concern. The waste disposal operation seeks to ensure the environment remains safe for the people after completion of the project (Lagrega et al, 2010). The maintenance employees would be working in safe environments when all generated wastes become