#NCDPrevention

A major American Heart Association (AHA) scientific advisory released this month warns that while most ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) are linked to higher cardiometabolic risk, a subset of industrially processed products can have positive nutritional value and be used sensibly in healthy diets. The advisory stresses nuance: degree of processing alone does not always determine a food’s health impact, and policymakers, clinicians and consumers need clearer guidance that separates nutrient‑poor “junk” UPFs from fortified or nutrient‑rich processed options (AHA Science Advisory). This matters for Thailand as rising UPF availability and high rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) make practical, culturally aware guidance urgent for families, schools and public health planners (AHA newsroom summary; Healthline summary of advisory).

Zucchini — the mild, water‑rich summer squash that suddenly fills Bangkok markets each wet season — is more than a cheap filler for stir‑fries and curries. New popular and scientific coverage highlights zucchini’s antioxidants, eye‑protective carotenoids and blood‑pressure‑friendly minerals, and nutrition experts say adding more zucchini to Thai plates can be an easy, low‑cost step toward meeting WHO fruit‑and‑veg targets and lowering risks from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension (“How Healthy Is Zucchini?”).

Strength training has quietly moved from gym-room side act to public-health imperative — and a recent popular guide argues that when minutes are tight the thruster, a squat-to-overhead-press move done with a dumbbell or kettlebell, gives the most return for effort. The EatingWell feature highlights how thrusters engage multiple large muscle groups, raise heart rate and build stability in a single fluid motion, and recommends simple ways to fold the exercise into a busy day (EatingWell). For Thai readers juggling long commutes, family obligations and work, the thruster offers a compact, adaptable route to meeting international strength-training goals and protecting bone, metabolic and cardiovascular health (EatingWell).