Healthy Diet Research Articles

Are food taxes for healthy eating acceptable? A survey of public attitudes in the UK

IntroductionAppropriately designed food taxes can improve diet quality and health. Fiscal levers are used in several countries to combat the rise in obesity and diet-related diseases. This study aims to...

Does the heart eat along? A two years lifestyle intervention in shift workers.

The present study investigates whether it is possible to reduce heart rate by nutritional information and lifestyle modification. In this exploratory study 18 male rotating shift workers (39.7 ± 7.5 y) were randomly divided into two groups by using the urn model. At the beginning of the study, all subjects wore a heart rate sensor for 24 hours during a night shift. This recording was repeated after 1 year, when groups switched, and at the end of the study. Participants received nutritional information every other month for 1 year. The nutritional counseling was provided by a dietician/nutritionist and only contained information about healthy eating. By using the food diaries, nutritional errors were uncovered and could easily be corrected. Subjects were also encouraged to incorporate more endurance and resistance training into their daily routines. After the intervention, heart rate in group A decreased during the day from 75 ± 6.3 beats per minute (bpm) before to 73 ± 7.5 bpm afterward and during the night from 72 ± 9.8 bpm before to 70 ± 9.5 bpm afterward. In group B heart rate increased during the day from 72 ± 9.1 bpm before to 76 ± 7.2 bpm afterward and decreased at night from 69 ± 10.0 bpm before to 66 ± 11.2 bpm afterward. All values were highly significant (p < 0.001). Motivation to adopt a better lifestyle in terms of healthy eating and daily exercise could be a cost-effective contribution to heart health among rotating shift workers. However, the individually adapted interventions need to occur more frequently.

FTO rs9939609 polymorphism is associated with dietary quality in Korean females.

Variation in fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is a critical risk factor in the etiology of obesity. FTO is associated with preference and sensory perception of nutrients and dietary intake. However, the effect of genetic variation on overall dietary quality has not yet been fully elucidated. This study examined whether FTO rs9939609 (T > A) was associated with dietary quality in Koreans. Data of 46,928 individuals from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were analyzed according to FTO rs9939609 genotype, general characteristics, and diet quality based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), employing sex- and age-stratified approaches. The FTO genotype did not significantly influence overall diet quality; however, female carriers of the obesity risk allele A (TA + AA) showed significantly higher KHEI scores for balance of energy nutrient consumption, especially for carbohydrate ratio (2.00 ± 1.99 versus 1.90 ± 1.98, Padjusted <0.001) and fat ratio (2.87 ± 2.15 versus 2.76 ± 2.17, Padjusted <0.001) than A-allele non-carriers (TT). Furthermore, when the females were grouped based on their median age (51 years), such an association between the FTO genotype and energy nutrient ratio was only evident in the younger group. However, such an effect of the genetic variant on diet quality and energy nutrient consumption was not evident in males, and the interactive effect of FTO and sex and age was not statistically significant. The FTO rs9939609 (T > A) polymorphism is associated with dietary quality, particularly influencing the balance of energy nutrient intake in Korean females.

Green, Sustainable Nephrology: State of the Art Needs for Education and Implementation.

Green nephrology, also often called sustainable nephrology, has become a field of interest in our discipline in recent years. While several reviews have been published, comparatively few original papers have appeared, witnessing interest but also lack of original data. Greater awareness of the impact nephrology has on the planet, including, but not limited to its carbon footprint, is needed to promote education and research on these issues. Increasing awareness entails increasing knowledge at various levels and it is for this reason that we are presenting this review focusing on educational activities that have been and could further be undertaken to spread knowledge of these topics. We start from a description of the various approaches to green nephrology: technical, mainly focused on dialysis, clinical, encompassing medical and non-medical treatments in all chronic kidney disease (CKD) phases, and comprehensive, embedding kidney care in the society. We further summarize what is known and the fundamental needs and problems we presently face in reducing dialysis carbon-print, optimizing the pathways of care, avoiding futility in clinical work and research, implementing lifestyle interventions and education. We further acknowledge the lack of data on lifecycle of items and procedures, including commonly used drugs, and identify research needs at various levels. We finally discuss some examples of educational programs on green nephrology that are already available at various levels, from medical schools (an educational game), to medical meetings (healthy eating, reduction of plastic and paper waste), and daily clinical practice, in which teaching passes also through examples (personalizing dialysis, adapting schedules to each patient). Finally, we identify some barriers educational approaches may offers ways to overcome, to promote effective, targeted interventions that will make us advance on the road to reduce nephrology's carbon footprint.

Benefits of dietary transitions to aquatic foods for the environment and sustainable development goals: a case study in China under shared socioeconomic pathways.

Food consumption patterns are significant drivers of environmental burdens, prompting increasing interest in dietary transitions. The possibility of adjusting animal-based dietary patterns with different consumption compositions, and the consequent large environmental implications considering the evolution of society and ecosystems in different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), however, have rarely been quantified. Furthermore, their connections with sustainable development goals (SDGs) require clearer elucidation. Taking into account the various eating habits among different groups of people in different regions, we systematically quantified the future consumption of animal-based foods with and without a dietary transition to the healthy pattern and their environmental footprints in China under SSPs 1-5 in 2030 and 2060. Historically, meat consumption in China, dominated by pork, exceeded 66.48% of the recommendations for a healthy dietary pattern. The shift in dietary patterns would greatly increase the demand for aquatic products in the future, reaching a maximum of 1445.61 × 104 t in SSP3 by 2060 (87.36%). The animal-based dietary transition to recommendations would embody environmental benefits by reducing the footprints of carbon, water, land, and nitrogen (by 3.80-10.45%, 5.84-14.46%, 15.83-23.18%, and 0.75-9.49%, respectively) in SSPs in China. A dietary transition would also benefit achieving SDGs from natural and socioeconomic aspects, like SDGs 2 (Zero hunger), 3 (Good health and well-being), 13 (Climate action), and 15 (Life on land). Dietary transitions to more aquatic products offer a promising pathway to sustainably nourish the growing population while limiting damage to the planet's integrity. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Disparities in Diet Quality and Food Security Across Ethnic-Immigration Status and US Nativity.

This study examines separate relationships between ethnic-immigration status, length of residence (US nativity), dietary quality, and food security status among US adults. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2017 and 2020 were used. The study sample included 6933 adults aged 18 and above. Food security status was categorized as either food secure or food insecure. Dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) component scores. The ethnic-immigration status comprised US-born and immigrant groups, including Whites, Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and multi-racial group. The US nativity was categorized as native, less than 5years, 5-14years, 15-30years, and above 30years of residency. Associations between ethnic-immigration status, US nativity, and food security were analyzed using logistic regression. Their associations with dietary quality used linear regression. The results showed that US-born Hispanics, multi-racial group, and immigrant Hispanics had about twice the odds of being at a risk of food insecurity compared to their US-born White counterparts, while US-born Blacks had about one and half odds. Food insecurity was higher among respondents with less than 5years and over 30years of residency in the USA, with odds slightly less than two. Immigrants had better overall dietary quality than US-born Whites and natives (p-values < 0.001). The study highlights the importance of nutrition interventions that consistently promote equitable access to affordable and nutritious foods while fostering the exchange of valuable dietary practices among groups and encouraging cross-cultural learning to improve overall health.

Factors associated with a healthy diet and willingness to change dietary behavior in older adults at increased risk of dementia.

BackgroundHealthy dietary patterns have been linked to reduced risks for cardiovascular diseases and dementia, making nutrition an essential part of a comprehensive approach for dementia prevention. Knowledge about factors associated with a healthy diet in people with increased dementia risk is scarce.ObjectiveTo analyze dietary habits and associated factors in older adults with increased dementia risk in Germany.MethodsWe used baseline-data of the AgeWell.de-trial (n = 1001, %female = 52.2, Mage = 69.0, SD = 4.9). Nutrition was assessed using a composite score, comprising 11 components covered by national recommendations for a healthy diet (range = 0-11 points). Linear regressions assessed associations of sociodemographic, social, health-related and psychological factors with consumption of a healthy diet. Further, we assessed stages of change based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change.ResultsConsumption of a healthy diet was moderate (Median = 4, IQR = 2). Female sex (b = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.88), higher levels of motivation for healthy eating (b = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.34) and higher self-efficacy (b = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.46) were linked to a healthy diet. Regarding the stages of behavior change, the majority were in the maintenance stage (45.2%), followed by the contemplation (21.5%) and precontemplation (21.2%) stages.ConclusionsResults suggest room for improvement regarding a healthy diet in our sample. Lifestyle-based interventions in older adults should be tailored towards current levels of motivation and self-efficacy of participants. Including modules targeting motivation and self-efficacy might help maximize intervention effectiveness.

How to evaluate ultra-processed food intake in pediatrics? UPF score: an easy alternative

BackgroundThe rising intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) among the pediatric population poses challenges due to the lack of precise and easily accessible tools to quantify such intake. This complicates understanding its effects on dietary quality and hampers the design of interventions to prevent the negative impact of UPF consumption on health. Given these challenges, it is essential to establish reliable methods to assess UPF consumption and its effect on diet.ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the relationship between the UPF score and dietary characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 353 participants aged 3 to 17. The methods included (1) collection of a three-day food record; (2) an evaluation of intake across five food groups; (3) categorization of intake frequency (0, 1, 2, or up to 3 times weekly); and (4) scoring by cumulative intake. Principal component analysis and regression models were utilized to assess diet associations with UPF score.ResultsHigher cumulative UPF score groups were associated with increased intake of energy, fats, and sodium (p < 0.01); decreased fiber intake (p = 0.03), vegetables, fruits, and cereals (p < 0.05); higher sugar intake (p < 0.01); and reduced intake of vitamins A and C (p < 0.05). Four principal components, representing over 65% of sample variability, identified two healthy and two less healthy dietary patterns. Linear regression indicated higher fiber intake at lower UPF scores, declining with higher UPF scores.ConclusionsThe UPF score represents a useful tool for assessing UPF intake and dietary characteristics in pediatric populations.

Dietary Pattern and Depressive Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies.

Research suggests that dietary pattern plays an important role in mental health and constitutes a modifiable risk factor for depression. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and depressive outcomes in adolescents. Medline/PubMed, Lilacs, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES, gray literature up to March 2024 were searched; the reference lists were also verified. Observational studies in participants with a mean age ⩽19 years reporting associations between dietary patterns and clinical depression or depressive symptoms were searched. Overall, 21 studies were included in this systematic review. Data from eligible articles were extracted by 2 reviewers. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were determined under a random-effects model. The risk of bias assessment was conducted by 2 independent researchers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist tool. The qualitative results revealed that a higher unhealthy diet score was positively associated with depressive symptoms, while a healthy diet was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. In the study that included adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of depression, the relationship between inflammatory dietary pattern tertiles and depression was attenuated after all covariates were adjusted for. The meta-analysis to evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and a posteriori dietary patterns found that the "healthy" dietary pattern decreased depressive symptoms in adolescents (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.95). There was no statistically significant association between depressive symptoms and "unhealthy" and "snacks" patterns (OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 0.95, 1.46]; OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 0.70, 1.48]) dietary patterns. The results identified that a healthy dietary pattern decreased depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, considering the high heterogeneity and the low level of certainty of the evidence, these results should be interpreted with caution. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020159921.

Mediation of Systemic Inflammation Response Index in the Association of Healthy Eating Index-2020 in Patientis with Periodontitis.

To investigate the function of the Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) in the association of Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2020 in patients with periodontitis risk. This study utilised data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 to 2014, including participants's oral examination results, dietary records, and levels of inflammatory markers. The study employed HEI-2020 as the independent variable and periodontitis as the dependent variable, using weighted logistic regression analysis to examine the association between HEI-2020 and periodontitis. Additionally, restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to further explore the non-linear association between the two. Mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of SIRI in the association between HEI-2020 and periodontitis. 3829 (34.5%) of the 9569 patients were diagnosed with periodontitis. In the weighted logistics regression model, HEI-2020 and the risk of periodontitis showed a statistically significant negative association (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-1.00, p 0.001). The findings of the RCS curve showed a linear correlation (pnon-linear=0.684) between the risk of periodontitis and HEI-2020. With a mediation proportion of 9.82% (p 0.001), the findings of the mediation study indicated that SIRI partially mediated the relationship between HEI-2020 and periodontitis. HEI-2020 and periodontitis risk are statistically significantly negatively correlated, and SIRI is a major mediating factor in this relationship. The study results may help clinicians better understand how a healthy diet impacts the risk of periodontal disease and identify the mediating role of SIRI in this association. This knowledge can guide personalised dietary and inflammation management strategies, enhancing oral and overall health by preventing and managing periodontal issues effectively.

Patterns, socioeconomic inequalities and determinants of healthy eating in Kenya: results from a national cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveThe burden of non-communicable diseases is rising in low-and-middle-income countries, with diet being a key risk factor. This study aimed to assess the patterns, socioeconomic inequalities and determinants of eating...

Успехи ученых в селекции моркови столовой

In this review, we have tried to provide a holistic picture on the modern selection and innovation techniques for garden carrot, immunological diagnostics methods, genomic editing and sequencing invented by Russian and foreign scientists. Garden carrot is a good source of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. Together with the growing need in healthy eating, carrot becomes an increasingly popular product that is used not only as nourishment but also in cosmetology and for therapeutic purposes. In this view, advanced scientific studies in this area become highly important. Modern research largely applies the achievements of new technologies, which operate with germplasm, selection, immunity, tissue culture, and the results of molecular studies on carrot.

DETERMINING TYPES OF CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS WHO PREFER NUTRITION LABELING

One of the most important pillars of a healthy lifestyle is healthy nutritional value, in which FOP nutrition labels can support consumers in making the right decision. A healthy diet is essential for overall well-being and the prevention of many chronic diseases. Special attention must be paid to the use of FOP nutrition values in order to prevention and healthy decision-making. It is important that people can interpret the nutritional value of food as simply as possible, which FOP nutrition labels can help them with. The packaging has to provide realistic and accurate information about the product. This study describes four types of FOP nutrition labels used in the European Union: Nordic Keyhole, Nutri-Score, Traffic Lights, Nutrinform Battery. During the conducted focus group interviews, the participants got acquainted with these nutrition labels and created the personality types that they can imagine knowing and using the given FOP nutrition label.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ИНДИВИДУАЛИЗИРОВАННОЙ ДИЕТЫ У ЖЕНЩИН С ОЖИРЕНИЕМ И БОЛЕЗНЬЮ ГРЕЙВСА

Goal. To evaluate the effect of an individualized elimination and reduction diet on metabolic and immunological parameters in women with obesity and Graves' disease. Materials and methods. The study involved 20 women aged 18 to 60 years with a diagnosis of obesity and Graves' disease. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Group A, who received an individualized elimination diet, and group B, who followed a balanced reduction diet. The levels of TSH, fT3, fT4, antibodies to TPO and TG, as well as body mass index (BMI) were measured. Results. In group A, there was a significant decrease in TSH and TPO antibodies, as well as an increase in fT3 and fT4 levels compared with group B. There was also a more pronounced decrease in BMI in group A. Conclusions. An individualized elimination and reduction diet can lead to improved metabolic and immunological parameters in women with obesity and Graves' disease, emphasizing the effectiveness of a personalized approach in the treatment of such conditions.

Correction: The annual feasibility and affordability of a healthy diet for families with children in Israel by income quintile and geographic area of residency

Correction: The annual feasibility and affordability of a healthy diet for families with children in Israel by income quintile and geographic area of residency

Utilization Pattern of Milk and Milk Products by Different Consuming Units in Andhra Pradesh, India: A Comparative Analysis

Milk and dairy products are vital for a balanced diet and play important roles in the economy and culture. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of milk. A study was conducted on 80 farmers and 50 consumers to investigate the utilization patterns of milk and milk products in Andhra Pradesh. The focus was on how milk was retained, consumed, and transformed into various products. Findings indicate that small farmers consume 11.83% of their total milk production, while large farmers consume only 5.23%. Among the milk retained in households, the majority was utilized as liquid milk (61.72%), followed by curd (25.40%) and ghee (12. 88%).On average, daily liquid milk consumption is 1.24 liters, higher than that of milk products across both rural and urban areas. Rural areas consume slightly more liquid milk, while urban areas prefer curd. Ghee consumption is similar in both regions, with rural areas showing a marginally higher intake. Policies should focus on promoting milk preservation and value-added products like curd and ghee for small farmers. Strengthening urban-rural linkages can improve dairy distribution, while raising awareness on the nutritional value of all milk products will encourage balanced consumption. Financial support and education for efficient milk production can help boost the dairy sector.

Association Between Orthorexia and Plant-Based Diets—Is There a Vicious Cycle?

Nowadays, social media and rapidly changing dietary trends encourage people to constantly—often excessively—control their diet, which leads to an increased risk of developing eating disorders, including orthorexia nervosa (ON). At the same time, more and more people reduce or give up consumption of meat and other animal products, adopting different types of plant-based (vegetarian) diets. The following paper aimed to demonstrate the significant similarities between orthorexia and plant-based diets and to highlight the necessity of developing new or adapting existing diagnostic tools for orthorexia considering the lifestyle characteristics of vegetarians, especially vegans. It remains unclear whether vegetarianism increases the risk of developing ON or whether the development of ON increases the chances of switching to a plant-based diet. However, based on the available literature, a positive association can be shown between the two. On the one hand, a vegetarian diet may be a cover for ON, but on the other, vegetarians, as a group avoiding specific food products, may be wrongly perceived as disordered. Thus, it is important to distinguish ON from the so-called healthy orthorexia (HO), which is a non-pathological interest in healthy eating, to avoid overdiagnosis and stigmatization of people using healthy alternative diets, including plant-based diets, since the mere fact of following them does not constitute evidence of orthorexia.

Potential of siphonaxanthin, a green algal carotenoid, to prevent obesity and related diseases.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and its related diseases, including diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, has become a significant social problem. These diseases are believed to be preventable through healthy diet and exercise habits, and the investigation of food ingredients that are useful for prevention of these diseases is actively ongoing. Carotenoids are the major lipophilic pigments responsible for yellow-to-red colors in our diet, and the ingestion of certain carotenoids has been reported to prevent obesity. For example, β-carotene suppresses adipogenic differentiation of mouse preadipocyte line 3T3-L1 through its provitamin A activity. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid found in brown algae, also has the similar effect via a different mechanism and is used as an active ingredient in foods with functional claims in Japan. In contrast, siphonaxanthin, a carotenoid found in some green algae such as Caulerpa lentillifera (commonly known as sea grape), exhibited stronger biological activities than other carotenoids in cell-based studies; it significantly suppressed adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells even at low concentrations where β-carotene and fucoxanthin did not show inhibitory effects. However, its practical applications have not yet been realized. This review summarizes the studies on the anti-obesity effects of carotenoids and discusses the potential of siphonaxanthin as a novel functional food ingredient.

Food Environment Lens: Exploring Mothers’ Perspectives and the Dietary Landscape of (Agro)-Pastoral Children in Kenya’s Drylands

ABSTRACT This study compared the dietary diversity and food variety scores of children under 5 years of age from different ethnic groups in Marsabit County, Northern Kenya. Mothers’ explanations for their children’s food choices related to characteristics of their personal food environment, such as accessibility, affordability, convenience, healthiness and food acceptance. Their reasons for choosing or not choosing certain foods differed markedly between the Saku highlands and Laisamis lowlands. This highlights the importance of contextual factors in determining their practices. Such knowledge is essential when designing interventions to improve sustainable and healthy diets, so that they are truly applicable by the targeted communities.

Healthy Aging in a Religious Congregation: A Study About Lifestyles and Health Behaviors Among Consecrated Women in Poland and Other Countries

Background: The relationship between religiosity and health has been a topic of interest to researchers for many years, especially in the context of the potential positive impact of religion on individual health. A significant correlation between religious affiliation and well-being has been observed among individuals residing in religious communities. The shared lifestyle and values enable analysis of the impact of spirituality on health. Methods: The present study aimed to examine the lifestyle of consecrated persons in relation to variables such as nationality, country of ministry, age, and length of time in the community. Furthermore, it sought to ascertain the extent to which community members self-assess their well-being within the context of community life and identify potential areas that require support. Results: The survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, which was available in electronic (n = 443) and paper (n = 20) format, depending on the participants’ locations in Poland and abroad. A total of 463 religious women representing 22 different nationalities and serving in 34 countries participated in the survey. The respondents frequently said a balanced diet, rest, and activity are important for good health. On average, 57% of the participants (n = 264) said their lifestyle was healthy, with the most responses coming from women aged 65 and over (73%). This could be due to a positive attitude towards healthy behaviors, regular exercise, better stress coping, and lower depression symptoms. These differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Participants of non-Polish nationality who live outside Poland perceived their lifestyle as healthy significantly more often than Polish nationals and those living in Poland. The study shows that religiosity and spirituality may improve subjective health assessments, especially among the elderly, which could be the basis for research on wider populations.