PHARMACY & HEALTH

MyPyramid

2010-03-03T15:08:00.001-08:00

MyPyramid, released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on April 19, 2005, is an update on the American food guide pyramid. The new icon stresses activity and moderation along with a proper mix of food groups in one's diet. As part of the MyPyramid food guidance system, consumers are asked to visit the MyPyramid website for personalized nutrition information. Significant changes from the previous food pyramid include:

* Inclusion of a new symbol—a person on the stairs—representing physical activity.
* Measuring quantities in cups and ounces instead of servings.

MyPyramid was designed to educate consumers about a lifestyle consistent with the January 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, an 80-page document. The guidelines, produced jointly by the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), represented the official position of the U.S. government and served as the foundation of Federal nutrition policy. Currently published every five years, an update is expected in 2010.

5 A Day

2010-03-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

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5 A Day is the name of a number of programs in various countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, to encourage the consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, following requests by the World Health Organization to consume at least 400g of vegetables daily.

5 A Day is also known as 5 + A Day in Australasia.

Health Food

2010-03-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

Health food is used to describe any food that is considered to be healthy, or it can mean specific foods claimed to be especially beneficial to health. "Health food" is not precisely defined by the USDA or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Health foods are not necessarily organic foods.

Health food labeling

While there is no precise definition for "health food", the FDA has warned food manufacturers against labeling foods "healthy" that have high sugar, salt, or fat content. Specific health food claims

A common definition of "health food" is a food that acts like a medicine, providing specific favorable effects on health. Purported examples of health foods include alfalfa or broccoli sprouts, wheat germ, and yogurt. In general, these claims of health benefits have not been evaluated by the FDA. Health foods are sold in health food stores or in the health/organic section of supermarkets.

In the United States, the term is often used for foods that are low in fat and/or sugar, since overconsumption of fatty and sugary foods is seen as contributing to the obesity epidemic.

Regulatory Authorities

2010-03-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH)
European Medicines Agency (EMEA)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (India) CDSCO
Ukrainian Drug Registration Agency

Industry Associations

2010-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE)
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)
European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association (EphMRA)
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
New York Health Products Council (NYHPC)
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA)

Pharmacy of Sri Lanka

2008-11-17T02:44:00.000-08:00

Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences, and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of medication. The scope of pharmacy practice includes more traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medications, and it also includes more modern services related to patient care, including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists, therefore, are the experts on drug therapy and are the primary health professionals who optimize medication use to provide patients with positive health outcomes. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes.

The first pharmacy in Europe (still working) was opened in 1241 in Trier, Germany.