The information explosion in the science of nutrition very often creates the impression that available information is contradictory. Consequently, it is no longer easy to distinguish between fact, misinformation and fiction. The Nutrition Information Centre of the University of Stellenbosch (NICUS) was established to act as a reliable and independent source of nutrition information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¨ " " ! I " & ' & '! " " ! ¨ ' ( " 6 " " ! " ! ! B " & '! 6 7 ) .7 ( - " > ) . > ( - & '! ¨ & ' " ! " ! " 6 ! ! , !) . , !> " , ( 6 : ( . , ) ( ! " , ( . + ) " " ! & ' ¨ ) ! " ! ! ¨ ! ! " " " ! " B C < - ! " * ! ! " " C < C , + - B * ! " ! " ! 6 " 6 ! , ) ) , ( ) # &# ' " " " " ! ¨ &* + + , "# $ #%&' " ! " I ! " " ! @ " " & !' " $# $ & '! ! % . . ! E , ( ) J . + ) ) J , ) ) J . + ) ) J # &# '! , ) ) J # " ! ¨ + 5 " . " ! " ! " K · " · D " · · C " " · - " · H · · L · H " " " · B 6 " - ¨ % ** ' ! 6 & ' ! ¨ " * ! ¨ # ( # . ' - " &" . ' " ! ¨ " " . " " " ! ¨ ( ) ) . : ( ) " & K '! ¨ " " & ' ¨ ! - ! " " " " ! ¨ C ! ¨ - ¨ H 8 " ¨ ' ( .< " ! E 8 " " ! 6 8 ! ¨ " ! ¨ & ' , ) ) ., ( ) # " " " " " & '! " " 6 ! ¨ * ** ' ¨ # B & ' . ! ! 5 " ! * " " ! " " " " ! ! ! ¨ $ B & '! ! ! " " ! ¨ % ! $ ! 6 " ! - ! - ! ¨ % 6 ! 5 ! . ! & & " 'K , G , + " '! " & M " '! & ! ! " " " " " " " '! " ! 0 " ! - & '! = & ' " 8 ! B " 8 8 & ' ! B " " ! References available on request For further, personalized and more detailed information, please contact NICUS or a dietitian registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (previously known as the South African Medical and Dental Council). References from the scientific literature used to compile this document are available on request. Updated: July 2003 NICUS # + / & Department of Human Nutrition 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 : 5 : ' ;< 9 = 5 < 3 >4 7 7 3 ? 5 @ ) 2 ' ;< 9 = 5 < 3 >4 7 7 3 ? 5 : (>! ' #+/ &A 0&/ 0 +0B WEBSITE: http://www.sun.ac.za/nicus/