Mediterranean diet as intangible heritage of humanity: 10 years on.

Ten years ago the Mediterranean diet was inscribed into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This official recognition of the Mediterranean diet as intangible cultural heritage, and awareness of its significance, has provided us with a measure with which to monitor our path in the field. Indeed, the last ten years has seen several undertakings with varying implications in the years to come. Emphasis on safeguarding the intangible heritage of the Mediterranean diet and activities to avoid possible erosions which may affect it at a national, regional and local level have taken centre stage. Preserving our heritage also recognized the importance of further research and we ask what needs to be focused on over the next ten years. Gradually, several myths and misconceptions associated with the traditional Mediterranean diet have emerged and should be clearly addressed and dispelled, particularly those that label as "Mediterranean" an eating pattern that is not in line with the traditional diet. Going beyond physical health benefits, the Mediterranean diet naturally infuses any reference to 'Sustainability' by pure definition as ideally, sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically affordable, nutritionally adequate, and safe and healthy. As our 'Regional' Mediterranean diet becomes the base for a global reference diet with all the acknowledged benefits, we agree that 'humanity as a whole' will benefit from its preservation and scientific-based evidence. A true 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity'.

Consumo alimentario y cumplimiento de recomendaciones dietéticas en estudiantes que ingresan a la universidad / Food consumption and adherence to dietary recommendations for students entering university

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los jóvenes se consideran una población sana, sin embargo, los malos hábitos alimentarios podrían contribuir al aumento de enfermedades cardiometabólicas, discapacidad y muerte prematura. OBJETIVO: Identificar el consumo alimentario y cumplimiento de las recomendaciones dietéticas en estudiantes que ingresaron a una universidad estatal. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de tipo descriptivo con diseño transversal en el que participaron estudiantes entre 17 y 24 años, que ingresaron a la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad estatal, quienes respondieron una encuesta de Tendencia de Consumo Cuantificado semanal auto administrada que consultó sobre el consumo de 89 alimentos y preparaciones. Para la evaluación antropométrica se midió el peso, la estatura y la circunferencia de cintura. Los datos fueron procesados con el programa SPSS V. 24. RESULTADOS: Participaron 139 jóvenes de 18.7 ± 1.1 años, 29.5% con exceso de peso. El consumo fue bajo en frutas y verduras, lácteos, legumbres, pescados y frutos secos, y alto en cereales blancos, carnes procesadas, comida chatarra, jugos, bebidas y alimentos azucarados. Sobre el 40% reportó un consumo excesivo de energía y macronutrientes, ácidos grasos saturados, vitaminas A, B1, B2, B3, B6, fósforo, hierro, sodio y yodo, mientras que el 30% presentó una ingesta deficiente en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3, omega-6, vitaminas B9 y C, calcio, potasio y fibra dietética. DISCUSIÓN: Investigaciones reportan que la alimentación de los estudiantes universitarios es poco variada y desequilibrada, excedida en proteínas y deficiente de calcio, hierro, vitamina A, ácidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3, y fibra dietética. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de la buena o excesiva ingesta en energía y macronutrientes, existe deficiencia en el consumo de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados, ciertas vitaminas, minerales y fibra dietética, y exceso en el consumo de nutrientes críticos, evidenciando la mala calidad de la dieta

INTRODUCTION: Young people are considered to be a healthy population; however, poor eating habits may contribute to increased cardiometabolic diseases, disability and premature death. Objetive. Identify food consumption and compliance with dietary recommendations in students who entered a state university. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 17-24-year-old students, who entered the Faculty of Health Sciences of a state university, who answered a self-administered weekly quantified consumption trend survey consulted on the consumption of 89 foods and preparations. For the anthropometric evaluation, weight, height and waist circumference were measured. The data were processed with the SPSS V. 24. RESULTS: 139 youths participated in 18.7 ± 1.1 years, 29.5% were overweight. Consumption was low in fruits and vegetables, dairy products, legumes, fish and nuts, and high in white cereals, processed meats, junk food, juices, beverages and sugary foods. Over 40% reported excessive intake of energy and macronutrients, saturated fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, phosphorus, iron, sodium and iodine, while 30% had a deficient intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega -3, Omega-6, vitamins B9 and C, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber. DISCUSSION: Research reports that college students are unhealthy and unbalanced, over-protein and deficient in calcium, iron, vitamin A, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fiber. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of good or excessive intake of energy and macronutrients, there is a deficiency in the consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids, certain vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, and excessive consumption of critical nutrients, evidencing the poor quality of the diet

El índice de calidad de la dieta mediterránea en la infancia y la adolescencia (KIDMED). Propuesta de actualización para países hispanohablantes / Spanish update of the KIDMED questionnaire, a mediterranean diet quality index in children and adolescents

El cuestionario KIDMED ha sido utilizado desde 2004 para evaluar la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea de niños y adolescentes. Desde entonces, ha habido un cambio de paradigma en referencia al consumo diario de zumos de fruta y al consumo de cereales integrales. Proponemos una actualización del cuestionario KIDMED en lengua española. En la primera pregunta se propone quitar la expresión "o un zumo natural". En la octava pregunta se añade el término "integral" al consumo diario de pasta y arroz. En la novena pregunta se añade el término "integral" al consumo de cereales y derivados en el desayuno. En la duodécima pregunta se propone la siguiente reformulación: "Salta el desayuno". Con este trabajo se proponen algunas modificaciones al cuestionario KIDMED en lengua española, con el fin de suministrar una herramienta conforme a las nuevas recomendaciones que se han ido implementando en los últimos años para poder considerar si una dieta es correcta en niños y adolescentes

Since 2004 the KIDMED questionnaire has been used to evaluate adherence to the mediterranean diet in children and adolescents. During the last decade, there was a paradigm shift about the daily consumption of fruit juice and whole grains. These changes have led to an update of the KIDMED questionnaire in English. We propose an update of the spanish version of the KIDMED questionnaire. We propose deleting 'or fruit juice' from the first question. In the eighth question we propose adding 'whole-grain' to the daily consumption of pasta and rice. In the ninth question, we propose adding 'whole cereals or whole grains' to the consumption of cereals or grain over breakfast. The twelfth question is reformulated as: "Skips breakfast". We propose some modifications to the spanish version KIDMED questionnaire to provide a tool according to the new recommendations for a healthy diet in children and adolescents

El NutriScore recala en España / No disponible

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Diets for Health: Goals and Guidelines.

Diet is the single most significant risk factor for disability and premature death. Patients and physicians often have difficulty staying abreast of diet trends, many of which focus primarily on weight loss rather than nutrition and health. Recommending an eating style can help patients make positive change. Dietary patterns that support health include the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Healthy Eating Plate. These approaches have benefits that include prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. These dietary patterns are supported by strong evidence that promotes a primary focus on unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables, plant-based fats and proteins, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Added sugars should be limited to less than 5% to 10% of daily caloric intake. Vegetables (not including potatoes) and fruits should make up one-half of each meal. Carbohydrate sources should primarily include beans/legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. An emphasis on monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax, cold-water fish, and nuts, helps prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline. A focus on foods rather than macronutrients can assist patients in understanding a healthy diet. Addressing barriers to following a healthy diet and utilizing the entire health care team can assist patients in following these guidelines.

Unhealthy food marketing around New Zealand schools: a national study.

OBJECTIVES: This is the first nationwide analysis of food marketing around New Zealand (NZ) schools. METHODS: Zones (500-m network buffers) were created around a sample of 950 schools (37.5% of total) using ArcGIS. Foods advertised were classified according to the NZ Food and Beverage Classification System and the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe Nutrient Profile Model. Convenience, fast food and takeaway outlets were mapped. RESULTS: About 65% of foods were not permitted to be marketed to children by the WHO model. The median and maximum number of non-permitted foods was 16.2 per km2 and 805.9 per km2, and the median number of junk food advertisements was 10.6 per km2 for urban schools. The proportion of junk food advertisements was significantly higher around schools with the highest (50.7% vs. 37.4%, p < 0.001) compared to the lowest number of socio-economically deprived children. Sugar-sweetened beverages (N = 4584, 20.4%) and fast food (N = 4329, 19.2%) were most frequently marketed. The median and maximum number of unhealthy outlets around schools was 5 and 212, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: NZ schools are surrounded by unhealthy food marketing. Regulations to restrict such marketing need to be implemented.

Las declaraciones de propiedades saludables en los alimentos confunden al consumidor medio. Activia, Actimel y Puleva Omega 3 a la vista del Reglamento 1924/2006 / Health claims in foods confuse the average consumer. Activia, Actimel and Puleva Omega 3 according to Regulation 1924/2006 / Les declaracions de propietats saludables en els aliments confonen al consumidor mitjà. Activia, Actimel i Puleva Omega 3 a la vista del Reglament 1924/2006

Mediante el Reglamento 1924/2006 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 20 de diciembre de 2006, relativo a las declaraciones nutricionales y de propiedades saludables en los alimentos, se han regulado las declaraciones de propiedades saludables de la publicidad de los productos alimenticios para que no induzcan a error al consumidor. Muchas empresas alimentarias, con la entrada en vigor de dicho Reglamento, tuvieron que cambiar o anular las declaraciones de propiedades saludables alegadas en sus productos alimenticios. Hoy en día, una declaración de propiedades saludables posee evidencias científicas suficientes como para verificar que la relación entre un componente y una propiedad saludable existe

Through Regulation 1924/2006 of the European and Advice Parliament of December 20th, 2006, relative to the nutritional and health claims on food, health claims have been regulated in order that their advertising does not induce the consumer to be mistaken. Many food companies, with the entry into force of the mentioned Regulation, had to change or cancel the health claims provided in their food products. Nowadays, a health claim possesses sufficient scientific evidence as to verify that the relation between a component and a healthy property exists

Per mitjà del Reglament 1924/2006 del Parlament Europeu idel Consell, de 20 de desembre de 2006, relatiu a les declaracions nutricionals i de propietats saludables en els aliments, s'han regulat les declaracions de propietats saludables en la publicitat dels productes alimentaris a fi que no indueixin a error al consumidor. Des que aquest Reglament és vigent, nombroses empreses alimentàries han hagut de canviar o d'anul·lar les declaracions de propietats saludables que al·leguen en els seus productes alimentaris. Avui, una declaració de propietats saludables vol dir que hi ha evidències científiques suficients per verificar que existeix relació entre un component i una propietat saludable

Cruciferous and Allium Vegetable Intakes are Inversely Associated With 15-Year Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Deaths in Older Adult Women.

BACKGROUND: Higher vegetable intake is consistently associated with lower atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) events. However, the components responsible and mechanisms involved are uncertain. Nonnutritive phytochemicals may be involved. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of total vegetable intake and types of vegetables grouped according to phytochemical constituents with ASVD mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 1226 Australian women aged 70 years and older without clinical ASVD or diabetes mellitus at baseline (1998). Vegetable intakes were calculated per serving (75 g/d) and were also classified into prespecified types relating to phytochemical constituents. ASVD-related deaths were ascertained from linked mortality data. During 15 years (15 947 person-years) of follow-up, 238 ASVD-related deaths occurred. A 1-serving increment of vegetable intake was associated with a 20% lower hazard of ASVD-related death (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.94 [P=0.005]). In multivariable-adjusted models for vegetable types, cruciferous (per 10-g/d increase: hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.94 [P<0.001]) and allium (per 5-g/d increase: hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.94 [P=0.003]) vegetables were inversely associated with ASVD-related deaths. The inclusion of other vegetable types, as well as lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, did not alter these associations. Yellow/orange/red (P=0.463), leafy green (P=0.063), and legume (P=0.379) vegetables were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with current evidence, higher cruciferous and allium vegetable intakes were associated with a lower risk of ASVD mortality. In addition, cruciferous and allium vegetables are recognized to be a good source of several nonnutritive phytochemicals such as organosulfur compounds. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN12617000640303.

College Students' Health Behavior Clusters: Differences by Sex.

OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to identify clusters of weight-related behaviors by sex in a college student populations. METHODS: We conducted secondary data analysis from online surveys and physical assessments collected in Project Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) with a convenience sample of students on 13 college campuses in the United States. We performed 2-step cluster analysis by sex to identify subgroups with homogeneous characteristics and behaviors. We used 8 derivation variables: healthy eating; eating restraints; external cues; stress; fruit/vegetable intake; calories from fat; calories from sugar-sweetened beverages; and physical activity. Contribution of derivation variables to clusters was analyzed with a MANOVA test. RESULTS: Data from 1594 students were included. Cluster analysis revealed 2-clusters labeled "Healthful Behavior" and "At-risk" for males and females with an additional "Laid Back" cluster for males. "At-risk" clusters had the highest BMI, waist circumference, elevated health risk, and stress and least healthy dietary intake and physical activity. The "Laid Back" cluster had normal weights and the lowest restrained eating, external cues sensitivity, and stress. CONCLUSION: Identified differences in characteristics and attitudes towards weight-related behaviors between males and females can be used to tailor weight management programs.

Assessment of the Healthy Eating Index-2005 as a predictor of early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease resulting mainly from a time-specific interaction of micro-organisms with sugars on a tooth surface. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of dietary intake, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to ECC. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. METHODS: Sixty preschool children were equally divided into three groups according to their caries experience [Group 1: caries-free children, group 2: children with ECC, group 3: children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC)]. The decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated), missing (due to caries) and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs) score was determined through visual dental examination for each child. Questionnaires were collected recording the demographic characteristics of the families as well as 24-h food recall forms capturing the dietary intake of the children during the previous day. Accordingly, the HEI-2005 score was calculated for each child. RESULTS: The caries experience of the children in this study was significantly associated with their age. Caries-free children showed significantly higher 'Whole fruit', 'Milk', 'Sodium' and total HEI-2005 scores. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings illustrate the prominent protective role played by healthful dietary practices against dental caries in preschool children.

O uso do índice de alimentação saudável na alimentação infantil / The use of the healthy eating index in infant nutrition

The healthy eating index (HEI) was an instrument developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the purpose to evaluate the global quality of the population diet. This review aimed to assemble recent literature information about this index in the infant nutrition. Bibliographical references covering the period from 1995 to 2004 were accomplished by searching the following keywords in Medline, Scielo and Lilacs databases: infantile nutrition, healthy eating index and child. It was observed that in spite of being a recent aproach, it has been used broadly to evaluate the quality of the diet in children. It is concluded that HEI is an important instrument for epidemiological use, useful to map and to monitor the nutrition of the infantile population and to evaluate the carried-out interventions. Therefore, scientific researches in this area should be stimulateds o in order to develop public health strategies

El índice alimentación saludable es um instrumento que fue desarrollado por el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos de América con el propósito de evaluar la calidad global de la dieta de la población. El objetivo de esta revisión fue recopilar de la literatura las informaciones recientes de este índice en la población infantil. Levantamiento bibliográfico del período de 1995 a 2004, en las bases de datos Medline, Scielo y Lilas, utilizando como palabras clave: nutrición infantil, índice de alimentación saludable y niño. Se observó que, a pesar de ser un tema reciente, ha sido ampliamente utilizado para evaluar la calidad de la dieta infantil. Se concluy e del estudio que el IAS es un importante instrumento para uso epidemiológico, de utilidad en la evaluación y monitoreo de la alimentación de poblaciones infantiles Por lotanto, la investigación científica en este área deben ser estimuladas, para posibilitar el trazado de estrategias de salud pública

O índice de alimentação saudável (IAS) foi um instrumento desenvolvido pelo Departamento de Agricultura dos Estados Unidos da América, com a finalidade de avaliar a qualidade global da dieta da população. Esta revisão teve por objetivo reunir na literatura as informações recentes deste índice na alimentação infantil. Foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico do período de 1995 a 2004, tendo como base de dados: Medline, Scielo e Lilacs, utilizando as palavra-chaves alimentação infantil, índice de alimentação saudável e criança. Observou-se que apesar de ser um tema recente, tem sido largamente utilizado para avaliar a qualidade da dieta em crianças. Conclui-se que o IAS é um importante instrumento para o uso epidemiológico, sendo útil para o mapeamento e monitoramento da alimentação da população infantil e para avaliar as intervenções realizadas. Sendo assim, pesquisas científicas, nesta área, devem ser estimuladas para que seja possível traçar estratégias no âmbito da saúde pública