Scientists present new trend drink for healthy nutrition

How a nutritional concept should help in crisis situations

A team of experts from the fields of nutrition science, dietology, physiotherapy, social work and psychology has developed a nutritional concept that will help people in difficult life situations. Part of this concept is a newly developed trend drink. The focus is particularly on disadvantaged young people who are neither in education, work or training. This group is particularly affected by a generally poor diet.

The mixed research team from Vienna and St. Pölten wants to ensure greater health equity with its nutritional concept. The concept is divided into different areas. On the one hand, a course as well as corresponding health days should provide the affected persons with important basic health information and, on the other hand, a healthy drink - called "frizz tea" - should serve as an ambassador. This drink is to replace sugary and unhealthy soft and energy drinks, which are very popular among young people, but often cause overweight.

An interdisciplinary team of experts would like to establish a new healthy trend drink, which should act as a health ambassador for young people. On the label, adolescents should be informed about healthy nutrition in a way that suits their target group. (Image: saschanti / fotolia.com)

Healthy through competence

The team would like to give affected young people their own health literacy. With the help of this competence, they should make self-determined decisions in everyday life to promote their health. According to the experts, such expertise includes knowledge, motivation and the ability to find, understand, assess and apply relevant health information. "Personal competence in health matters contributes significantly to the health and health equity of the population," says the interdisciplinary team in a press release on the project.

Special attention for the disadvantaged

According to the researchers, the group of young people without work and training show a particularly adverse health behavior, which is why the project should also pay special attention to them. "If health services are tailored to the target group and the young people are involved, the young people are very interested in the topic of health", explains Elisabeth Höld, nutritionist at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences and head of the project.

Self-determined mastering everyday life

With the novel approaches, the researchers want to support young people to make self-determined decisions in everyday life to promote their health. In particular, the drinking behavior of young people is in the opinion of experts questionable. This is often characterized by the high consumption of energy drinks and lemonades, which play a major role in lifestyle. As the scientists involved in the project report, a large proportion of disadvantaged adolescents are affected by obesity and obesity.

Healthy drink as health ambassador

Together with the young people, the nutrition experts developed the tea-based drink "frizz tea". This new trend drink should serve as a means of communication with the young people. In a target-group-specific language, the label of the drink provides important health information on healthy drinking behavior. "The drink thus uses an element from the environment of adolescents for communication and represents a novel approach to transport knowledge to this target group," the experts said.

The youth lays the foundation for future health

"As the foundation for our long-term health is laid for growth and development in adolescence, this stage of life is an important phase in supporting health and disease prevention," says nutritionist Petra Rust.

Educational course at universities

In another part of the project, the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten and the University of Vienna developed a nutrition-specific course for persons with basic psychosocial training. In this course scientifically sound nutritional information and a repertoire of methods for the practical implementation of health promotion projects in youth work shall be imparted. (Vb)