ABSTRACT
Eating chili peppers is a cultural tradition in Mexico. Controversial characteristics have been empirically associated to chili pepper consumption and human health. In this paper, the beliefs about the health impacts of chili pepper consumption in two independent groups of Mexico City residents are described. The results confirm, on the one hand, that there is a wide variety of health benefits and damages associated with chili pepper consumption, but on the other hand, that the levels of chili pepper consumption are not related to beliefs about its human health impact.
Subject(s)
Capsicum , Feeding Behavior , Plants, Medicinal , Adult , Attitude to Health , Capsaicin/adverse effects , Capsicum/adverse effects , Female , Food, Organic , Humans , Male , Mexico , Middle Aged , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
The mechanisms of bone loss involve a predominance of osteodestructive cell activity over bone repair. Age and gender are the most significant biological risk factors; perimenopausal women constitute the most susceptible population group. Hormone-related phenomena, such as pregnancies and lactational performance, as well as heredity and ethnic origin, are also associated with osteoporosis. Alcohol and caffeine have been linked with progressive bone demineralization. A reduced body mass increases the probability of fractures. Dietary factors, such as adequate intakes of calcium, phosphates, and vitamin D, exert a protective action while the effect of fluoride and dietary fiber is still controversial. A constant physical activity promotes an appropriate development and maintenance of bone mass and architecture.
Subject(s)
Osteoporosis/etiology , Body Mass Index , Calcium, Dietary/administration & dosage , Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Life Style , Male , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/etiology , Reproductive History , Risk Factors , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Certain nutrients serve as individual influences in the development or protection against chronic and/or degenerative diseases. Specifically, it has been observed that the abundant consumption of dietetic fiber is a protective factor against tumors of the digestive system. Many scientific articles have reported mechanisms by which dietetic fibers exert an important protective effect for colon cancer and in lesser degree against cancer of the stomach and rectum. In Mexico during 1990, neoplasms were the second cause of general mortality for the persons over the age of 65 years. The Fourth National Report of Cancer in Mexico revealed that tumors of the digestive tube were the third most frequent type of neoplasm in the country and that stomach cancer had the greatest incidence among cancers which affect this system. To date, we do not know how much the urban immigration and the consequent changes in food patterns have acted as cofactors for the increase in this type of tumors. During the seventies, a number of national and regional nutritional surveys showed that the Mexican population had a high consumption of fiber, as part of the traditional diet, comprised primarily of tortilla and beans. At the present time, the national dietary patterns have changed; the increasing consumption of high energy foods with a low nutritional value is associated with much less ingestion of dietary fiber. This article points out that the population may have additional digestive cancer risks, due to new food consumption patterns which have reduced the availability of dietary fiber.
