Adequate Vegetable Intake Research Articles

Daily Intake of a Commercially Available Vegetable Juice Has Beneficial Effects on Metabolic Syndrome-Related Biomarkers in Young, Healthy Japanese Adults

Adequate vegetable intake is important in reducing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases; however, intake amongst young Japanese adults is poor. This study aimed to assess the effect of daily intake of a commercially available vegetable juice on nutritional status and metabolic syndrome-related markers in healthy young adults. Fifty-one healthy adults (14 men, 37 women), age 20 - 22 years were recruited, and their food and nutritional intake was surveyed using an FFQ based on Food Groups. Subjects were divided into either a control group, who were not administered vegetable juice, or an intervention group, who consumed 200 mL vegetable juice daily for 2 months. Anthropometric data, serum carotenoid concentrations, blood and urinary parameters were measured at baseline and at 2 months. The average intake of vegetables in all subjects at baseline was approximately 140 g/day, less than half the dose recommended by the Japanese government. Total serum carotenoid concentration in the intervention group doubled from baseline after 2 months. In particular, serum concentrations of α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene were increased. In the intervention group, 24-hour urinary potassium excretion increased significantly, and 24-hour urinary sodium to potassium ratio decreased significantly. Waist circumference and systolic blood pressure also decreased significantly. Daily intake of a commercial vegetable juice for 2 months improved nutritional status in young adults with inadequate vegetable intake, shown by improved serum carotenoid and urine potassium levels. In addition, intake of vegetable juice may be beneficial in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome.

The dietary profile of socially vulnerable participants in health promotion programs in a brazilian metropolis.

To analyze the dietary profile of participants who used two health promotion services located in socially vulnerable areas in a Brazilian metropolis. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with participants (n = 370) aged ≥ 20 years who joined two services of the Academias da Cidade program in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study participants engaged in physical activity and nutritional education actions directed by the services from 2009 to 2010. The sociodemographic and economic conditions and health and nutrition profiles of each individual were assessed. Participants from a high social-risk who used the service did not demonstrate adequate intake of vegetables (54.6 versus 43.6%; p = 0.038), sweets (33.5 versus 23.2%; p = 0.030), soft drinks (28.5 versus 11.9%; p < 0.001), artificial juice (34.7 versus 22.6%; p = 0.011), and processed meat (48.8 versus 32.7; p = 0.002). However, in the other service, lower social vulnerability, a higher prevalence of abdominal adiposity (60.7 versus 43.0%; p = 0.004) and consumption of high-fat meat products (53.0 versus 36.5%; p = 0.002) was observed. Participants who used both services demonstrated inadequate food intake compatible with the development of chronic disease profiles. However, the participants in each service were distinct from each other. This suggests that promotion of healthy eating should to contemplate the territory and its interface with people health.

Cooking up better doctors as teachers globally: a novel integrated nutrition and cooking class curriculum for pediatric residents to boost their competencies and attitudes in patient counseling

The objective of the study was to identify competencies, attitudes, and health habits of pediatric residents, during the initial phase of a trial tracking the impact of a novel 21-h multi-disciplinary nutrition curriculum with hands-on cooking skills to improve patient education. We conducted a 44-question baseline survey of pediatric residents (n = 52) from 2012 to 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Univariate analyses using appropriate test statistics were performed with subsequent multivariate adjusted logistic regression. Residents reported a low perceived importance of providing nutrition education to patients and low competencies on validated education topics, as well as personal intake of fruits and vegetables below national dietary guidelines. In multivariate regression models controlling for nutritional attitudes, the significant relationship remained between inadequate daily fruit intake predicting decreased competencies for educating patients on identifying antioxidant-rich produce (OR = 0.13, 95 % CI = 0.0269–0.5833, p = 0.008), and between adequate vegetable intake and competency for daily hydration education (OR = 0.12, 95 % CI 0.0244–0.5873, p = 0.009). This survey details the barriers facing physician residents in providing effective nutrition-based preventative medicine education for patients. This study supports continued development of a longitudinal nationally scalable model of curriculum improvement from the premedical student stage of training to the attending physician stage.

The vocational education setting for health promotion: a survey of students’ health risk behaviours and preferences for help

Adolescence and young adulthood is a time of risky health behaviour initiation and experimentation. Smoking, risky drinking, poor nutrition and physical activity, and a lack of sun protection behaviour, often become established in early adulthood. Levels of health risk behaviours occurring amongst tertiary education and training students and their preferences for types of on-campus health promotion programs were examined. A cross-sectional pen-and-paper classroom survey was conducted at one Sydney-based TAFE New South Wales Institute campus in May 2010. The survey assessed demographics, smoking, alcohol use, sun protection, nutrition, physical activity and health promotion program preferences. Two hundred and twenty-four students participated (97% consent); the majority were aged 16-24 years (59%) and female (51%). Current smoking (35%), risky drinking (49%) and inadequate physical activity (88%) rates were high. Adequate vegetable intake (3.6%) and sun protection behaviours (5.4%) were low and 33% of students were overweight or obese. Popular health promotion programs included food and activity subsidies, practical skills classes and social outings. Participation in health risk behaviours among this sample was high. The setting of tertiary education and workplace training represents an opportunity for early intervention into risky health behaviours among young people. SO WHAT?: This study is the first to provide information on the prevalence of health risk behaviours and preferences for types of health promoting programs among students of an Australian community college. The results show that young adults regularly participate in multiple health risk behaviours, such as smoking, drinking, poor nutrition, physical activity and lack of sun protection.

Cumplimiento de la dieta mediterránea y nivel de actividad física de los usuarios de la web PAFES (Plan de Actividad Física, Deporte y Salud)

BackgroundThe Physical Activity Plan Sport and Health web site (www.pafes.cat) allows users to assess the level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and level of physical activity (PA) by two interactive questionnaires: the MD questionnaire adapted from the study Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (Predimed) and the abbreviated version of the International Physical Activity questionnaire (IPAQ). MethodsA descriptive analysis was performed on the results of both questionnaires during the period 2009 to 2010. ResultsOf the 1376 questionnaires analyzed on adherence to the MD, 12.5% of users have a high compliance, 67.2% moderate, and 20.3% low. Almost all (95.8%) used olive oil as the main added fat, 82.2% and 78.4% reported a low intake of butter and derivatives, and sugary drinks, respectively, and 70.9% referred to an adequate intake of vegetables. On the negative side, 82.3% reported a low intake of legumes, 71.6% a high intake of red meat, 67.6% and 25% lower intake of fruit and nuts, respectively. As regards PA, of the 1221 questionnaires analyzed, 79.4% of the population met the PA health recommendations, 36.5% at a high level, and 42.9% moderate. ConclusionsWeb questionnaires can be a useful tool in the promotion and dissemination of both habits. As a suggestion for improvement, we propose the inclusion of demographic variables to determine the profile of users who completed the questionnaires.

Association between Vegetable Intake and Dietary Quality in Japanese Adults: A Secondary Analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2003

To investigate dietary quality among Japanese adults with a high vegetable diet, to consider dietary recommendation for vegetable intake. In the cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2003, we conducted the secondary analyses. The food-weighing method in one-day assessed the dietary intake. From 11,630 subjects, 2,305 men and 2,312 non-pregnant/lactating women, aged 20-69 y, and with an energy intake between 1,500 and 3,712 kcal were selected. Associations between vegetable, nutrient-density, and food intake were analyzed according to tertile cutoff: low vegetable diet (LVD), medium vegetable diet (MVD), or high vegetable diet (HVD). Differences across subgroups were tested after age adjustment. Mean vegetable intakes were 309 g for men and 318 g for women. Only 35% of Japanese met the vegetable intake (VI) recommendation of > or =350 g/d. VI had a positive association with age. Men 20-29 y-old and women 30-39 y-old were the subjects with the lowest VI. HVD subjects had higher intake for most food groups, whereas wheat in men; and wheat, sweets, and alcohol in women were negatively associated with VI. Main sources of energy for men and women with HVD were rice, wheat, and meat. HVD also had higher micronutrient-density. These analyses demonstrated the beneficial effects of HVD on dietary quality in the population studied. We concluded recommendations for adequate vegetable intake are expected to improve diet quality among Japanese adults, especially for the group aged 20-39.