Rama Idea! is 39% fat spread. It contains the essential fatty acids (linoleic acid
and alpha linolenic acid) and fat soluble vitamins A, D and E. On top of this, the product
contains EPA and DHA as well as a combination of B-vitamins (B1, B6, folic acid and
B12).
Using this spread on a daily basis provides a tasty and easy way to increase the intake of these important nutrients for the brain.
If you want to learn more about (essential) fatty acids and their role for the body and the brain, please click here to see a interactive animation explaining it.
Rama Idea! contains important nutrients (ALA, EPA, DHA and B-vitamins) for the brain.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid. DHA is a building block of the
brain, like calcium is a building block of the bones. The body can make small amounts of DHA by converting ALA into DHA. This process is very slow therefore it is also important to get DHA from your diet.
DHA together with EPA is mainly present in fatty fish and breast milk. Many people do not manage to eat fatty fish once or twice a week and thus it is difficult to get enough EPA and DHA from foods.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an omega-3 fatty acid. It is an essential fatty acid, which means we have to obtain it from our diet because our bodies cannot make it. The body needs it to function properly. The body can convert ALA into DHA. DHA is a building block of the brain, ALA itself is not present in the brain.
There are not many dietary sources that contain ALA.
ALA is present in rapeseed oil, linseed oil, soybean oil.
Rama Idea! contains B-vitamins (vit B6, B12, folate) because B-Vitamins play an important role in functioning of the brain as they are involved in neurotransmission. This means that they help in sending information from one cell to another.
Vitamin B1 is important for the energy release from food. It plays an indirect role in delivering energy to the brain. The brain needs a lot of energy to function.
Water, vegetable oils & fats, yoghurt (6%), modified starch, purified fish oil,
emulsifiers (E471, E322), salt (0.3%), preservative E202, antioxidants (E306, E385), acid
E330, aroma’s, vitamins (E, B6, B1, A, folic acid, D, B12), colorant E160a (carotene).
E= EU approved processing aid.
The brain is a very active organ it is only 2% of the body's weight but it uses 20% of the
oxygen supply. The brain can hardly store energy therefore the brain needs to be
constantly supplied with nutrients.
The brain consists for a large part of fat. 50- 60% of the dry weight of the brain consists
of fat, of which ± 35% is in the form of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA). Fatty acids are a kind of fat.
Nutrients that have been identified to be important for the brain include omega 3 fatty
acids (ALA, EPA, DHA) and B-vitamins (vitamin B1, B6, B12, folic acid).
Balanced nutrition is essential for feeding the brain throughout life, thus contributing to
brain functioning. Some nutrients are important building blocks of brain cells and of the connections between the brain cells.
Other nutrients play a role in transferring information between brain cells.
Brain growth starts before birth. The brain achieves 90% of its full adult size by the age of five, with most rapid growth during the first two years of life.
The brain develops throughout life as the cells in the brain are being organized and new
connections are made because we continuously learn new things. Connections in the
brain are important for storage and remembering of things you have learned, heard, seen.
Even at 50 years of age it is possible to learn new things (e.g. learn a new language).
An essential fatty acid is a fatty acid that must be obtained from the diet because our bodies cannot make it.
Fatty acid is a scientific term for fat, which refers to its chemical structure. ALA or alpha linolenic acid (omega 3) is an essential fatty acid.
Omega-3 are types of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are good fats. ALA (alpha linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are
omega 3 fatty acids. The different names refer to their different chemical structures.
ALA is an essential fatty acid, as it needs to be obtained from the food we eat because our bodies cannot make it.
Although our bodies can make small amounts of DHA (strictly speaking it is not ‘essential’) from ALA via EPA, this is a slow process. They probably do not make enough for brain functioning and other health benefits. Therefore the supply of EPA & DHA via the diet is considered to be important.
It is extremely unlikely that anyone would consume too much ALA. The richest sources of ALA are seed oils, such as linseed oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil. Nuts such as walnuts and peanuts are also good sources. Most people only consume small quantities of these foods.
The recommended intake for ALA is set a 2 g/day (this equals 25g walnuts per day). Most of the people only get half of the recommended amount (check local data).
EPA & DHA are mainly present in fatty fish. There are no negative effects from regular consumption of fatty fish.
Some species of fish however, may contain heavy metals or toxins (e.g. methylmercury,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins). Health authorities have given advice to
particular groups of the population (for example: pregnant women) about the maximum levels at which risks outweigh the health benefits.
Margarine is an essential part of a healthy diet because it is an important source of essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E. Spreading margarine is a daily habit and easy to integrate in the routine of for example breakfast.
Rama Idea! is enriched with important fatty acids (ALA, DHA, EPA) and B-vitamins (B1, B6, B12 and folic acid). Using this spread on a daily basis will be an easy way to enhance the intake of these nutrients that are important for the brain.
ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) as well as EPA and DHA are added because of their role in the
brain. EPA & DHA can be formed from the essential omega-3 fatty acid, ALA. However,
the body can only make small amounts of EPA & DHA. Adequate dietary intake of EPA
and DHA is therefore considered important.
Research shows that in several countries in Europe omega-3 intakes are not optimal and
that it is difficult to increase omega-3 intake by changing dietary habits (e.g. eating more
fatty fish).
Rama Idea! contains important fatty acids among which ALA, EPA & DHA. Using this spread on a daily basis will be an easy way to enhance the intake
of these nutrients that are important for the brain.
Per serving of 20 gram (2-4 slices of bread) 100 mg EPA+DHA is added to Rama Idea!
which is 50% of the recommendations. Daily consumption of 20g Rama Idea! equals
approximately 1 portion of fish per week.
Rama wants to make a significant contribution to the intake gap and help people to be able
to reach the recommended intake for these fatty acids and also B-vitamins.
Rama Idea! contains 0.6% yoghurt powder which is the equivalent of 6% yoghurt.
Yes, dairy proteins and fish oil. They are indicated on the ingredient list.
Rama Idea! is a low fat (39% fat) spread and it is recommended to use it for spreading
and not for shallow frying.
Shallow frying can cause spattering and it can cause loss of the important nutrients in Rama Idea! like B-vitamins.
No. We use only the finest quality ingredients in our products. The fish oils that are used
to make Rama Idea! are highly refined. All our products go through thorough consumer taste trials before they are launched onto the market.
Yes, we recommend storing the product in the fridge. It is possible that the product can
develop a different smell and taste when it is not stored in the fridge for a prolonged period of
time.
The fish oil used in Rama Idea! is obtained from sardines and anchovies. Unilever only uses fish oils from sustainable fish sources for all their fish of fish oil
containing products.