Changes In Food Habits Research Articles

Importance Of Ideal Nidra(sleep) In Maintaining Good Health: An Ayurvedic Review

Introduction: . The disturbance in nidra might be related to the lifestyle, environment influences. mental tention changed food habits and day stress which ultimately disturb the psychoneuro-biological rhythm of sleep. It is important to review literature and its effect on health. Nidra (sleep) is an important and essential phenomenon of life which affects the body and mind equally in a favourable way when it is enjoyed in a right manner. Material and method: This article is an attempt, to observe the effect of Nidra in maintaining health. The main Ayurvedic texts used in this study are charaka Samhita, sushruta samhita, Ashtang Hridaya, Bhav prakash and Amarkosh and available commentaries on these. We have also referred to the modern texts books and searched various website to collect information on the related topic. Discussion: The aim of this article is, to observe the impact of Nidra & highlights, the concept of Nidra & its importance on humans’day to day life. Sleep is one of the natural instincts of the body just as food & water. The relationship between physical health and sleep is complicated by the fact that many people are diagnosed with more than one health condition. Our Aacharya recognized the natural constructive power of sleep. Charakacharya explained Nidra as one of the three pillars that support life.

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Shampoo

Abstract: The shampoo sector is probably the largest unit sale among the hair care products since shampoos are one of the cosmetic products used in daily life. Synthetic preservatives and detergents have sometimes been the cause of adverse effects among consumers. A more radical approach in reducing the synthetic ingredients is by incorporating natural extract whose functionality is comparable with their synthetic ingredients. A shampoo is a cleaning aid for the hair and is counted among the foremost beauty products. Today’s shampoo formulations are beyond the stage of pure cleaning of the hair. Additional benefits are expected, e.g., conditioning, smoothing of the hair surface, good health of hair, i.e., hair free of dandruff, dirt, grease and lice and, above all, its safety benefits are expected. As the scalp is one of the most absorbent part of the body, products applied to the scalp go directly to the blood, without being filtered in any way. In the scenario of changing food habits, stress level and dependent environment conditions, number of skin and hair disorders are encountered. This herbal shampoo was formulated using natural ingredient like Fenugreek seeds), Acacia concinna (shikakai), Sapindus mukorossi (reetha), Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), Aloe vera (aloe), Hibiscus rosa sinensis (china rose), Embelica officinalis (amla), Lawsonia inermis (henna),Citrus lemon (lemon), with proven efficacy of hair care preparation is prepared. The combination of several such ingredient of herbal origin has made it possible to secure highly effective dry powder shampoo. The formulation at laboratory scale was done and evaluated for number of parameters to ensure its safety and efficacy

Phytochemical Based Nano Design for Cancer: A Recent Update

Despite exponential advancements in medical research, various types of cancer are increasing day by day and becoming a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The worldwide cancer burden has increased to 19.3 million new cases and 10 million cancer deaths in 2020. Changes in food habits, lifestyle, different types of food additives, synthetic chemicals, environmental pollutants, different types of radiation, and limited physical activities have led to a severe increment in this disease. Healthy nutritive foods and phytochemicals play an essential role in supporting the immune system, which is beneficial in combating various types of cancer. Phytochemicals are natural bioactive non-nutrient compounds derived from various plant sources, reducing the risk of major chronic diseases. It can be easily classified and categorized into different groups based on its chemical nature and mode of biological action. These bioactive compounds are effective against various types of cancers. Recently the role of several novel phytochemicals and nanoformulations has been explored and extensively applied in cancer therapeutics. This review provides insight into various traditional phytochemicals and novel nanoformulations used in cancer management.

Changing Food Habits of Urban Middle-Class Youth in India: ‘Ordering In’

The liberalisation of the Indian economy facilitated significant changes in the eating habits of urban middle-class Indians since the 1990s. While there have been studies on food and Indian society before liberalisation, on ‘street food’ and the impact of restaurants and practices of eating out after liberalisation in India, the rising phenomenon of ‘ordering in’ has remained relatively under-researched. This article examines the impact of online food delivery service providers on the food habits of urban middle-class youth in India. It finds that the combined effects of demonetisation and the related push towards digitalisation strengthened online food delivery services in the market. Subsequently, ordering in has become a regular part of the eating culture of urban middle-class youth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study offers new insights into remarkable recent changes in the psycho-social and socio-economic structures of Indian society, affecting both consumers and service providers.

US Food and Nutrition Security During COVID-19 in Late 2021

ObjectivesTo assess current and altered food habits about two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsWe recruited a national sample of 1,878 adults balanced by age (18–34 years, 35–49, 50–64, 65+); sex (male, female); race/ethnicity (Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic/Latinx, Non-Hispanic Black/African-American, Asian/Other); and income (<25k/year, 25k-<50k, 50-<100k, >100k). In fall 2021, participants completed a 44-item survey asking about demographics, priorities for food businesses and products, and a 5-item section on food habit changes due to COVID-19.1420 participants added free-text to explain changes in food habits which were evaluated for themes. Results12% of respondents (n = 223) reported worsened food security, 49% (n = 914) reported about same, and 39% (n = 722) reported improved food security compared to pre-pandemic. 11% (n = 200) reported worsened, 42% (n = 784) reported the same, and 47% (n = 878) reported improved healthfulness of food choices. Changes in food security explained 27% of the variance in changes in healthfulness of food choice (p < 0.05). 20% of respondents (n = 370) reported having less ability to choose where they eat. Nearly twice as many (39%, n = 737) reported that it stayed the same or improved (40%, n = 747). 12% (n = 229) reported less ability to choose where to buy food, 48% reported the same (n = 904), and 39% (n = 731) reported improved ability. Changes did not differ dramatically by age, sex, race/ethnicity, or income. Six common themes of pandemic changes in food habits were reduced restaurant dining, increased food delivery, reduced soft drink consumption, more eating at home, taking the opportunity to eat healthy, and more bulk and discount shopping online. ConclusionsAs Americans adapt to the pandemic, these novel data identify perceived effects on food and nutrition security. These data illustrate relative resiliency in both food security and the healthfulness of food choices, and pandemic-related opportunities to increase healthfulness of dietary choices, in a diverse national sample. Funding SourcesVail Innovative Global Research & NIFA National Needs Fellowship.

Impact of Mass Media on Changes in Food Habits and Food Preferences among Adolescence during Covid – 19 pandemic

The emergence of COVID 19 pandemic has severely impacted individuals from all walks of life. The present aims to evaluate the mass media impact on food habits, food preference and quality of life during the COVID 19 among adolescence. An questionnaire was framed and converted as Google form. The developed Google form was sent to 200 adolescents belonging to AC &amp; RI and CSC &amp; RI, Madurai and the received 200 responses from the students. The data obtained was consolidated. From the results it was found that the consumption of cereals and millets reminded the same among 46 % of the participants. Around 55 % of the respondents increased their fruits and vegetable and green leafy vegetables intake during COVID 19. 38 % of the respondents have significantly decreased their consumption of unhealthy foods such as fast foods / junk foods. 36 % of the respondents falls under the category of significantly decreased of their consumption of sugar sweetened beverages during COVID 19. 32 % of the respondents have slightly increased their consumption of non vegetarian foods during COVID 19. 42.3 % of the respondents have slightly increased their immunity boosting foods followed by 30.8 % of the respondents have significantly increased their immunity boosting foods. 46.3 % of the respondents used television is a major source of information to get information regarding COVID 19. The platforms such as twitter, facebook, radio and local news station were some of the mass media lowest used for COVID 19 information. Key words: COVID 19, Mass media, Social media, Food habits, Food preference, WhatsApp, Television, YouTube.

Impact of COVID-19 post lockdown on eating habits and lifestyle changes among university students in Bangladesh: a web based cross sectional study

Background: Since the confinement of the lockdown, universities transferred their teaching and learning activities in online as an all-out intention to prevent the transmission of the infection. This study aimed to determine the significant changes in food habits, physical activity, sleeping hours, shopping habits, Internet use time and mental status of the students and investigate the associations between variables.Methods: The study participants were 307 Undergraduate students, between 18 and 25 years of age completed a structured questionnaire from January 3, 2022 to February 13, 2022. The questionnaire included demographic information of the students, questionnaire of dietary pattern, physical activity, sleep quality index, Shopping practice and Internet use time. Chi-square tests were used to associate the baseline information with lifestyle changes in post lockdown.Results: The study reveals that 21.5% of respondents gained weight, 23.8% lost their weight and 41.7% controlled their weight. Eating of homemade food decreased after lockdown 76.5% and eating of restaurant food increased after lockdown 23.5%. A number of major meals 3-4 meals per day decreased after lockdown 61.9%. Physical exercise significantly increased after lockdown (p=0.001). Sleeping hours per day significantly decreased after lockdown (p=0.001), sleep quality was almost the same and energy level increased more in post lockdown. Respondents felt mentally tired after lockdown 60.9%. Respondents spending time on the Internet in chat rooms was 88.3%.Conclusions: This study represents the significant impact on food habits, mental health, and daily routine of students after lockdown, suggesting that we should maintain a balanced diet, physical exercise to improve sleep quality and mental health.

A poor diet quality is associated with more gas-related symptoms and a decreased quality of life in French adults.

This study evaluated the association between dietary patterns, Gas-Related Symptoms (GRS) and their impact on quality of life (QoL) in a representative sample (n=936) of the French adult population. During the 2018-2019 "Comportements et Consommations Alimentaires en France" (CCAF) survey (Behaviors and Food Consumption in France), online evaluation of GRS in adult participants was performed using the validated Intestinal Gas Questionnaire (IGQ), which captures the perception of GRS and their impact on QoL via 6 symptom dimensions scores (range 0-100; 100=worse) and a global score (mean of the sum of the 6 symptom dimensions scores). Socio-demographics, lifestyle parameters and dietary habits (7-day e-food diary) were also collected online. Quality of diet was determined using the NRF9.3 score (range 0-900; 900=best). Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were applied to identify factors associated with IGQ global score. K-means was used to identify clusters of subjects based on their dietary records. Data from 936 adults who completed both the IGQ and the food diary showed a mean (SD) IGQ global score of 11.9 (11.2). Younger age and female gender were associated with a higher IGQ global score. Only 7% of subjects reported no symptom at all and nearly 30% of study participants reported a high impact of GRS on their QoL. Two dietary clusters were identified: cluster1, characterized by a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, lower sugars intake and higher NRF9.3 score and cluster 2, characterized by higher intake of sugars, lower intake in dietary fibers and lower NRF9.3 score. The IGQ global score was lower in cluster1 and higher in cluster2 vs. the total sample average (p<0.001). Prevalence of GRS in the French adult population is high and is associated with impaired QoL and dietary patterns. A change in food habits towards healthier patterns could help reducing the burden of GRS.

Dietary or Nutritional Supplements Associated Adverse Effects and Toxicity

In recent decades, physical inactivity, work pressure and stress as well as change in food habits have led to the deterioration of public health.

Mental health status of adolescents in-home quarantine: a multi-region, cross-sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

BackgroundThe population's mental and physical health worldwide are currently at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic. We evaluated the mental health status of the adolescents trapped indoors because of the precautionary restrictions and prolonged closure of the educational institutions.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescents from multiple urban and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh from 22 January to 3 February 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire containing questions regarding sociodemographic factors, home quarantine-related factors and mental health symptoms was distributed to collect data. Descriptive analysis, bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to measure the association of the variables. Cronbach's alpha was estimated to present the internal consistency of the scales.ResultsA total of 322 adolescents (aged 12–19) with a mean age of 16.00 years (SD = 1.84) responded to the invitation. 54.97% (n = 177) of them were male, and the participants were predominantly urban residents (87.27%, n = 281). We observed varying degrees of depression in 67.08%, anxiety in 49.38% and stress in 40.68% of the participants according to DASS-21. Age, sex, education, mother's occupation, total monthly income, playing sports, doing household chores, going out of home, watching television, using the internet, attending online classes, changing food habits, and communicating with friends had a positive significant association with mental health burdens.ConclusionHome quarantine has a noticeable adverse impact on the mental health of teenagers. Psychological evaluations and counselling via online and offline programs are essential to improve adolescents' declining mental health conditions.

Assessment of Knowledge and Lifestyle Pattern during COVID-19 Pandemic in Al-Qunfudhah’s Locality: In Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant challenges to nations. The Saudi Arabia government aimed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through different health strategies and policies that impact the population's health and lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of the adult Saudi Arabian people and residents on the Coronavirus pandemic and examine their association with dietary habits. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Qunfudhah’s locality - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 13 September to 15 October. Data collection was performed using a direct interview using a questionnaire, which was divided, into four sections: the first section was directed at the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants; the second was dedicated to assessing the individual's knowledge about COVID-19; the third section was designed to assess the lifestyle pattern of COVID-19. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). According to the results of data analysis, 400 respondents were included in this study. Knowledge about COVID-19 was high (94 %) among the participants, primarily obtained from the traditional media platforms and social media (71.20%.). 91% of the respondents have complied with regular usage of precautionary tools, (8%) sometimes, 56.5 % of the respondents experienced a change in food habit during the period of confinement. Food items which presented a higher consumption were: fish on the top of the groups (83.25 %), followed by anion and orange (47%) for both , lemon drink (42.75 %), potatoes and garlic almost achieved similar percentages (38.25% &amp; 38.75) respectively, while milk and milk product came on the bottom of the list (37.75). Medium intake illustrated lettuce, green pepper and carrots were taken by nearly almost one-third of the participants 34% 34% &amp;32%, respectively, followed by meat (31.75%). Lower intake was noticed for eggs (29.25%) and lentils (33.5%). Vegetables including pumpkin, broccoli and cauliflower represented low intake by half of the participants (50%) , physical activity and exposure to sunlight were practiced regularly during the lockdown, by (43%), (49.8 %.) respectively. These findings include the Saudis and residential population who have adopted healthier dietary behaviors during the COVID-19 confinement through a closer approach towards the Med Diet-style eating patterns.&#x0D; The knowledge of eating habits and the practice of physical activity should guide the authorities and educational agencies to propose strategies that could encourage a balanced and healthy diet (MD) and physical activity practice.

Dual-Layer Deep Ensemble Techniques for Classifying Heart Disease

The prevalence of heart disease is increasing at a rapid rate due to changes in food habits and lifestyle of peopleall over the world. Early prediction and diagnosis of this fatal disease is a highly excruciating task. Nowadays, theensemble learning approaches are preferred owing to their effectiveness in performance when compared to theperformance of a single classification algorithm. In this work, a Dual-Layer Stacking Ensemble (DLSE) techniqueand a Deep Heterogeneous Ensemble (DHE) technique to classify heart disease are proposed. The DLSE uses several heterogeneous classifiers to form an ensemble that is efficient as well as diverse. The proposed frameworkconsists of two layers with the first layer consisting of three different base learning algorithms Naïve Bayes (NB),Decision Tree (DT), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The second layer comprises of three different classifiers, Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT), Ada Boost Classifier (ABC) and Random Forest (RF). The second layerutilizes the results from the first layer to provide a diverse input for the three classifiers. Finally, the outcomesare fed to the meta-classifier Gradient Boosted Trees (GBT) to generate the final prediction. The DHE uses threedeep learning models Convolutional Neural Networks with Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (CNN BiLSTM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) with RF, ERT and GBT as themeta-learners. The performance of the proposed methods is compared with traditional state-of-the-art classifiersas well as existing ensemble learning and deep learning methods. The experimental outcomes show that the proposed DLSE and DHE methods perform exceptionally in terms of accuracy, precision and recall measures.

Abnormal Kidney Function in Anorexia Nervosa

Source: Gurevich E, Steiling S, Landau D. Incidence of impaired kidney function among adolescent patients hospitalized with anorexia nervosa. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(11):e2134908. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.34908Investigators from Schneider’s Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel, conducted a retrospective study to assess kidney function in children and adolescents hospitalized with anorexia nervosa (AN) and identify predictors of impaired kidney function (IKF) in these patients. For the study, discharge diagnoses were used to identify youths, 9-18 years old, hospitalized at Schneider’s Children’s Medical Center of Israel for AN between 2010 and 2019. Only youths with a first-time hospitalization for AN were included in the study. Patients with AN were age- and sex-matched to a random sample of control children with normal serum creatinine (SCr) levels, hospitalized for other reasons during the same period. The medical records of study participants were reviewed and data on demographics, BMI, and SCr abstracted. In patients with AN, data on free triiodothyronine (FT3) level and minimal heart rate (HR) also were collected. Kidney function was assessed in study participants using maximal SCr levels, minimal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and SCr/BMI ratio during the hospitalizations. These parameters were compared in AN patients and controls using chi-square or Fisher exact tests. AN patients were classified as having IKF if their minimal eGFR during the hospitalization was <90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Stepwise regression was used to identify predictors of IKF in AN patients.A total of 395 youths with AN and 495 controls were included in the analyses. The mean age of AN patients was 14.6 ± 2.2 years, and 298 (81.6%) were female. The median BMI percentile in those with AN was 12.3, compared to 49 in controls (P <0.001). Parameters of kidney function were significantly different between AN patients and controls including maximal SCr (mean values, 0.68 ± 0.15 mg/dL and 0.54 ± 0.14 mg/dL, respectively; P <0.001), SCr/BMI (mean values, 4% ± 1.2% and 2.8% ± 1.1%, respectively; P <0.001), and minimal eGFR (mean values, 99.8 ± 22.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 124 ± 26.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; P <0.001). Among those with AN, 146 (37%) met criteria for IKF compared to 0 control patients. In the group of AN patients, those with IKF had a significantly lower minimal HR than those without IKF (mean, 44 vs 56 beats per minute; P = 0.001) and lower FT3 levels (mean, 3.5 vs 4.1 pmol/L; P = 0.001); there was no significant difference between groups for mean BMI. Independent predictors of IKF in AN patients included SCr/BMI ratio, minimal HR, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.The authors conclude that IKF is common in youths hospitalized with AN.Dr Sanchez-Kazi has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.AN has a prevalence rate between 0.1% and 2.2%.1 As previously reported, IKF is a known complication of AN with multifactorial etiologies including chronic dehydration, electrolyte derangements, and abuse of certain medications.2 Chronic hypokalemia has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease.2 Other electrolyte abnormalities reported with AN and during refeeding include hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and hyponatremia. (See AAP Grand Rounds. 2021;45(2):16.)2,3 Kidney biopsy has shown interstitial fibrosis, evidence of ischemic injury, and hypokalemic nephropathy.2The biggest limitation of the current study, and all studies of AN, is the inability to accurately determine eGFR. Using creatinine and correction of eGFR per body surface is likely inaccurate due to low muscle mass. The prevalence of IKF in AN may increase or decline depending on the accuracy of eGFR. Using nuclear GFR may be more precise, although cumbersome, or perhaps measurement of serum cystatin C.4,5 Cystatin C, a low molecular weight protein secreted by all nucleated cells, is independent of muscle mass.4,5 BMI was used to correct for low muscle mass in the current study, although this method has not been verified. It is interesting to note that admission BMI did not correlate with eGFR, but minimal heart rate did. Does this suggest that cardiac abnormalities may contribute to reduction in kidney perfusion in AN?Although the current study was performed in Israel, AN is universal. AKI has been associated with longer hospitalization and increased morbidity not only in AN but also in other non-AN conditions.6In adolescent patients hospitalized with recently diagnosed AN, kidney function often is impaired and needs to be followed closely.The global pandemic of COVID-19 has been associated with a marked increase incidence of eating disorders.7 Social distancing, changes in food access and habits, and social pressure exerted through the internet appear to be contributory. Recent AAP guidelines outline the pediatrician’s role in detection and management of children and adolescents with disordered eating.8

Effects of orthodontic treatment on body mass index, food habits and self-esteem of patients: A prospective single-arm cohort study

ObjectivesDuring orthodontic treatment, patients are often apprehensive about reduced food intake and loss of body weight. Body mass index (BMI) assessment is an inexpensive, easy method for screening and studying changes in weight categories. This research aimed to determine whether long-term changes in BMI, self-esteem, and food habits occur in patients during the first year of orthodontic treatment. MethodsBMI was calculated for 120 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Data were collected at baseline, and after the end of the first, second, third, sixth, and twelfth months. Rosenberg's self-esteem scale was used for scoring self-esteem. The Food Habit Assessment Scale was used to study changes in eating habits. Statistical analysis was performed with repeated measures ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD post-hoc test for BMI scores and Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison post-hoc tests for the Rosenberg scale and food habits questionnaire. ResultsAt the end of 12 months, 43.4% of patients had a decrease in BMI, 45.8% had a mild to moderate increase in BMI, and 10.8% of patients maintained their BMI levels. The changes were not statistically significant. Self-esteem changes were statistically significant for both genders. Changes in food habits were also significant. ConclusionBMI decreased for the first 3 months and gradually recovered by the end of the first year of treatment. Self-esteem scores showed a significant improvement in both genders. Patients reverted to pre-treatment food habits by the end of the year.

Drivers of changing crops and cropping patterns in the different elevation zones of middle mountain, Nepal

Studies on rural livelihood, agriculture patterns from different parts of Nepal have mentioned the introduction of new crops from different pocket areas of the country primarily resulted due to climate change and market development. However, thesestudies have lacked scholarship on how the changes occur in rural areas and how rural households have adopted the changes are least focused. Based on the field surveys using questionnaires, interviews, FGD, analysis of climate data, and map data, thispaper aims to fulfill the aforementioned gap based on the study from three elevation zones. It shows a wider adoption of different new crops and vegetables which are varied by elevation zones and by the cultural groups living there. The detailed analysis ofvarious events and underlying processes concludes that out-migration and off-farm employment, infrastructure development and increasing connectivity, climate change, access to market, and changing food habits are the major drivers of the changes. Thesedrivers began to play their roles at different times, and different scales in different zones, and finally their complex interplay resulted changes in the rural agricultural landscape.

Feeding Ecology and Seasonal Changes in Food Habits of African Civet In Aridtsy (Civettictis civetta, Schreber, 1776) Forest, Western Ethiopia

The feeding ecology of the African Civet was investigated in the Aridstey forest Awi zone, Amhara region of Ethiopia during August 2017January 2018. Food items were identified by the naked eye and unidentifiable food items of plants and animal matters were identified by using microscope. During the present investigation, 17 food items were identified from the fresh droppings of the African Civets. Out of these, the main animal feed items identified were insects, millipedes/centipedes. , sp. and were main plant items Cordia Africana Ficus Zea maysrecorded. Feeding habits of civets change with season and on the availability of food. During the dry season, African Civets eat Cordia Africana and sp., in high proportion. During the wet season, millipedes/centipedes and insects largely contributed for food. During both this Ficus seasons, insects, rodents and grasses were commonly observed as food items of civets. The scent markings were the height of 32-39 cm above the ground and the civets scent marked mostly on ., and .

Taste Alterations Do Not Affect Change in Food Habits and Body Weight in Breast Cancer Patients.

Chemotherapy-induced taste alterations (TAs) affect approximately 53-84% of breast cancer patients with significant consequences on flavor perception, possibly leading to food aversion and changes in daily dietary habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TAs and changes in food habits and body weight among early breast cancer (EBC) patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. TAs were prospectively evaluated in 182 EBC patients from April 2014 to June 2018. TAs, dietary habits, and body weight were collected by a trained dietician. TAs were classified into different subtypes according to the following basic taste perception: metallic, sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami taste. During adjuvant chemotherapy, a significant reduction in the consumption of bread, breadsticks, red meat, fat salami, snacks, added sugar, milk, and alcoholic beverages was observed, regardless of TAs onset. No correlation between these dietary changes and different TAs subtypes was found. Body weight remained stable in most EBC patients (71.4%) and was not influenced by TAs onset and by different TAs subtypes. EBC patients change their dietary habits during adjuvant chemotherapy, mostly following the World Cancer Research Fund recommendations, irrespective of TAs onset and without affecting body weight.

Food Faddism Complicating Jaundice in Gilbert’s Syndrome PatientsA Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Food faddism is a term that refers to a particular food or food group that is overemphasised in the regular diet or omitted to cure a specific condition. It affects an individual's health by complicating the health status of already infected individuals, which harms their nutritional status in particular, causing macro and micronutrient deficiencies. In the present study, authors have analysed the effect of food faddism in Gilbert’s syndrome patients. The state of vitamin B12 deficiency (Megaloblastic anaemia) is observed because of dietary restrictions due to food myths causing ineffective erythropoiesis prolonging hyperbilirubinemia in Gilbert's syndrome patients. Aim: To study the effect of food faddism on haematological parameters in recently diagnosed Gilbert’s syndrome patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care centre of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, India, from June 2019 to June 2021. A total of 125 consecutive patients, who are newly-diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome, were enrolled. A constant rise in the indirect bilirubin levels between 2-5 mg/dL with normal serum liver transaminases was considered for diagnosing Gilbert’s syndrome. On monthly follow-up for six months, 21 patients presented with extreme fatigue and limb paresthesia. Every month during the follow-up, thorough history about any recent changes in food habits was noted. Blood investigations like complete blood pictures and Vitamin B12 levels were done at the time of diagnosis, after six-month follow-up, and after treatment with co-methyl (Cyanocobalamin) B12 injections. Comparison of study variables at the time of diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome, before and after the treatment with co-methyl (Cyanocobalamin) B12 injections was done using paired t-test based on nature of distribution, and p-value was calculated. Results: Out of 125 Gilbert’s syndrome patients with a mean age distribution of 36.15±11.82 in (109) males and 36.06±11.93 in (16) females, 21 patients presented with symptoms after six months of follow-up, a habit of practicing a fad diet was noted, along with depression of cell lines showing pancytopenia. There was a significant decrease in the mean values of Haemoglobin (Hb) % (12.68 to 7.95), Total Count (TC) (8219.05 to 3819 cells/ cu.mm), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) (33.30 to 32.17) and Vitamin B12 (391.63 to 125.68) and increase in mean value of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) (91.33 to 101.18), at the time of diagnosis and after six months of follow-up. On treatment of the patients with co-methyl (Cyanocobalamin) B12 injections a significant improvement in the mean values of Hb % (7.95 to 13.28), TC (3819 to 8652 cells/cu.mm), MCHC (32.17 to 33.43) and Vitamin B 12 (125.68 to 311.81) along with decrease in the mean value of MCV (101.18 to 90.0) was noted. Conclusion: The most common fad diet followed by Gilbert’s syndrome patients is the restriction of high protein diet (mainly non vegetarian) and bland diet consumption leading to Vitamin B12 deficiency and worsening jaundice. By taking thorough dietary history, considering cultural practices, one can tailor the therapy accordingly. A simple measure like dietary education and busting the myths can improve quality of life by accelerating recovery

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on food habits, appetite and body weight in Tunisian adults

Abstract Tunisia recorded the highest rate of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths in Africa but no studies assessed the impact of the pandemic on eating patterns as in the case of several countries. The objective of the present study was to investigate the perception of changes in food habits, appetite and body weight in Tunisian adults of both genders aged 20–74 years old. A cross-sectional study has been carried out with a non-probabilistic sampling method based on an online self-administered survey. Of overall 1082 adults included in the study, 57⋅8 % reported a change in their eating habits: 21⋅2 % an increase in their consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, pasta and bread, while 36⋅6 % an increase of homemade cakes and biscuits, sweets, processed meat, sugary drinks and alcoholic drinks. In addition, tea, coffee and herbal tea have been reported as excessively consumed during the lockdown period. More than half experienced appetite variations (34⋅6 % increased appetite and 23⋅0 % appetite loss). Inequality detrimental to women was reported regarding eating habit changes (women consumed more unhealthier foods than men). Elderly subjects (over 60 years) were less likely to negatively change food habits in comparison with young adults (20–25 years), while ungraduated respondents were more prone to negatively change their food habits. Almost half reported weight gain. As the negative influence of the lockdown period on eating habits with the increase of obesity risk has been detected, health policy may be advised to focus on using mass media campaigns to promote healthy eating habits, in particular for illiterate and young people.

Organic food consumption in emerging markets after COVID-19: value-attitude-behaviour model

This study aims to analyse the factors responsible to change the attitudes, intentions, and actual purchasing behaviour of customers toward organic food products in Indian and Nepalese consumers. In the current situation of COVID-19, we are more conscious about our food consumption. Organic food has become very famous at this time because of its use of natural and non-harmful factors of production. This study focuses on changing food habits and consumption patterns of consumers toward more healthy organic food. The sample size of this study is 600. Smart PLS and Mann-Whitney test are used to analyse the data. Safety, awareness and attributes have a positive impact on trust formation towards green organic food. Results of the study shows that perceived health, hedonic and social value positively influence consumers' attitudes, which leads to positive intention, which finally leads to green purchase behaviour of consumers.