Adequate Consumption Of Vegetables Research Articles

Mediterranean diet as tool to manage obesity in menopause: A narrative review.

Menopause is a physiological event in a woman's life characterized by the cessation of spontaneous menstrual cycles caused by a reduction in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and a consequent increase of gonadotropins, which occurs when the stocks of ovarian follicles end. Weight gain is a common phenomenon in menopause and age of onset is influenced by several factors. Among modifiable risk factors are sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy nutritional patterns, which often result in obesity that in turn contributes to an increase in cardiovascular risk in menopause, mostly through low-grade inflammation. The Mediterranean diet (MedD) is a healthy dietary pattern characterized by an adequate consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes with a reduction of saturated animal fats in favor of unsaturated vegetable fats and a high intake of bioactive compounds including polyphenols and ω-3 fatty acids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency. Because of its palatability and long-term sustainability, the MedD, especially if hypocaloric, combined with physical activity, has shown promising results in terms of weight loss in individuals with obesity, as well as similar beneficial effects in menopause-related obesity. It has been observed that greater adherence to the MedD in menopause is associated with reduced risk for becoming overweight/obese, better cardiometabolic profile, and an improvement in menopausal symptoms. Although it is necessary to confirm these data with future large intervention trials, the MedD can be considered a safe and healthy approach in the management of menopause-related obesity and its cardiometabolic complications.

Alternate Healthy Eating Index is Positively Associated with Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Hispanics/Latinos in the HCHS/SOL

Diet quality may be an important area of focus for promoting cognitive health; however, the association between diet quality and cognitive function among Hispanics/Latinos remains largely unexamined. We hypothesized that a healthier diet quality will be associated with better cognitive function in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos. The objective of this study was to examine associations between the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010), a measure of diet quality, and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos. Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Visit 1 (2008-2011) were used (n=8461; ages 45-74 y). Cognitive function was assessed with tests of verbal learning and memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed; a global cognition score was derived by summing the z scores of individual tests. Dietary intake was assessed via two 24-h recalls. Total AHEI-2010 score was categorized into quintiles (higher quintiles indicating healthier diet). Linear regression models were used to examine associations between AHEI-2010 quintiles and cognitive function adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, daily energy intake, type 2 diabetes, smoking, and depressive symptoms. Compared with the lowest quintile, in the second to fourth AHEI-2010 quintiles, global cognition scores were significantly higher by 0.28, 0.52, and 0.48 units (P-trend=0.042). In the second to fifth AHEI-2010 quintiles, verbal learning scores were significantly higher by 0.60, 0.62, 0.92, and 0.88 units, and verbal memory scores were higher by 0.33, 0.40, 0.52, and 0.46 units (P-trend=0.020 and 0.007, respectively). No associations were observed between the AHEI-2010 and verbal fluency or processing speed (P-trend=0.49 and 0.84, respectively). Among AHEI-2010 components, adequate consumption of vegetables, alcohol, and whole fruits were each associated with better cognitive function. An overall healthier diet quality was associated with better global cognition, verbal learning, and verbal memory in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

A Relationship between Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Balanced Nutrition Guidelines and Metabolic Syndrome among Central Obese Teachers in Makassar

Metabolic Syndrome prevalence increase included in the Asia Pacific. This study aimed to assess a relationship between knowledge, attitude, and practices about balanced nutrition guidelines and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in high school teacher with central obese. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in twelve high schools in Makassar city. Subjects were 129 teachers (28 men and 101 women) diagnosed with central obese. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) assessed by a validated questionnaire. Mets was defined by measuring blood glucose, blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides, and waist circumference. Those fulfilled three parameters or above were stated as Mets group, and others were stated as Risk group. KAP was categorized according to score and divided into low (Q1), moderate (Q2), and high (Q3). Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship. Subjects were mostly women (78, 3%), Buginese ethnic (66, 7%), and married (96, 1%). KAP was distributed evenly to three categories for each variable. The relationship between Knowledge and Mets was borderline significant (p=0.093). There were not significantly different between attitude and Mets (p=0.406). However, there were significantly different between practice and Mets (p=0.016). These adequate knowledge and practice were higher in Mets group compared to Risk group. This study also showed some practices of balanced nutrition guidelines were very low whereas adequate consumption of vegetables and fruits (0.8%), adequate consumption of protein (25.6%), less consume a variety of staple foods (6.2%), less consumption of sweet, salty and fatty foods (2, 3%), reading labels on food packaging (32, 8%), and perform adequate physical activity and maintain a normal weight (28, 2%). We conclude that the teacher in Mets group showed better knowledge and practice of balanced nutrition guidelines compared to Risk group.

Cardiovascular Health Benefits of Specific Vegetable Types: A Narrative Review.

Adequate vegetable consumption is one of the cornerstones of a healthy diet. The recommendation to increase vegetable intake is part of most dietary guidelines. Despite widespread and long-running public health messages to increase vegetable intake, similar to other countries worldwide, less than 1 in 10 adult Australians manage to meet target advice. Dietary guidelines are predominantly based on studies linking diets high in vegetables with lower risk of chronic diseases. Identifying vegetables with the strongest health benefits and incorporating these into dietary recommendations may enhance public health initiatives around vegetable intake. These enhanced public health initiatives would be targeted at reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Specific vegetable types contain high levels of particular nutrients and phytochemicals linked with cardiovascular health benefits. However, it is not clear if increasing intake of these specific vegetable types will result in larger benefits on risk of chronic diseases. This review presents an overview of the evidence for the relationships of specific types of vegetables, including leafy green, cruciferous, allium, yellow-orange-red and legumes, with subclinical and clinical CVD outcomes in observational epidemiological studies.

Old people - should they be eating generously, frugally or what?

The ageing of populations, associated with diminishing family size and increasing longevity, is evoking far-reaching effects on health and other services. especially in Western countries. Influencing factors in ageing include not only diet but factors such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. There is evidence that a large proportion of morbidity in ageing is due to life-style factors. As far as diet is concerned. the question, should old people be encouraged to eat more. eat frugally, or what, largely depends on the population concerned. In prosperous countries, old people largely have enough to eat. It has been urged that their nutritional status could be improved, not so much by specific supplementation but rather by an increase in vegetable and fruit intake, with a concurrent decrease in the amount of fat consumed. The same recommendation would apply to non-Westernized elderly populations. However an adequate consumption of vegetables and fruit is often limited by cost. Databases on the minimum ranges of nutrient requirements that are consistent with good health in older populations in South Africa are required.