Abstract
This review focuses at highlighting the importance of Food Exchange List in cultural perspective, as an effective dietary tool to help individuals’ manage their dietary modifications in relation to non communicable diseases whilst specifying measures that can help improve the quality of Food Exchange Lists for combating various non communicable diseases and addressing adherence related issues to specialized diets. A search was done using PubMed & Google Scholar till June 2016. Search terms used were food exchange list AND disease, diet AND non-communicable diseases. We included only studies that discussed Food Exchange List (FEL) in relation to non-communicable diseases; in addition to factors like cultural relevance and adherence.Out of the 837 papers accessed 57 were identified as relevant to the Food Exchange List, out of which 39 papers were focused to the concept and development of the Food Exchange List. Only 18 discussed FEL in relation to non communicable diseases and were thus included in the review.Food exchange list is a user friendly tool for dietary modification due to disease. This tool may help to customize meals for people as it provides information regarding various food items in different groups. This tool is helpful in reducing blood & plasma glucose levels, maintaining lipid profile & effectively combating other diet related diseases & those ailments in which diet plays a significant role in maintenance & prevention from reoccurrences. However, better management and adherence to modified diets for non communicable diseases can be ensured by keeping cultural relevance under consideration before using Food Exchange Lists for such diseases.
Highlights
Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life; their role as determinants of chronic non communicable diseases is well established and they occupy a prominent position in preventive medicine.[1]
The percentage of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is projected to double by 2020, accounting for 75% of all deaths worldwide, out of which 71% of deaths will be due to ischemic heart disease (IHD), while stroke will be responsible for 75% and 70% of the deaths will result from diabetes in developing
A total of 137 papers were found related to dietary management of non communicable disease; after title and abstract screening 57 papers were related to Food Exchange List (FEL) while only 14 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study which are presented as Table-I
Summary
Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life; their role as determinants of chronic non communicable diseases is well established and they occupy a prominent position in preventive medicine.[1] According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2015)[2 38] million people die each year from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The treatment and management of these non communicable diseases seems easy and approachable i.e. through dietary modification but literature review on dietary patterns in relation to nutrient adequacy, demographic variables and health outcome[5] reveal that this task is not as uncomplicated as it seems. Having a meal planning tool that considers all previously mentioned factors is a must in promoting better nutrition both at an individual and community level.[7]
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