Consumption Of Green Vegetables Research Articles

Antitumor Effect and Gut Microbiota Modulation by Quercetin, Luteolin, and Xanthohumol in a Rat Model for Colorectal Cancer Prevention.

Colorectal cancer stands as the third most prevalent form of cancer worldwide, with a notable increase in incidence in Western countries, mainly attributable to unhealthy dietary habits and other factors, such as smoking or reduced physical activity. Greater consumption of vegetables and fruits has been associated with a lower incidence of colorectal cancer, which is attributed to their high content of fiber and bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. In this study, we have tested the flavonoids quercetin, luteolin, and xanthohumol as potential antitumor agents in an animal model of colorectal cancer induced by azoxymethane and dodecyl sodium sulphate. Forty rats were divided into four cohorts: Cohort 1 (control cohort), Cohort 2 (quercetin cohort), Cohort 3 (luteolin cohort), and Cohort 4 (xanthohumol cohort). These flavonoids were administered intraperitoneally to evaluate their antitumor potential as pharmaceutical agents. At the end of the experiment, after euthanasia, different physical parameters and the intestinal microbiota populations were analyzed. Luteolin was effective in significantly reducing the number of tumors compared to the control cohort. Furthermore, the main significant differences at the microbiota level were observed between the control cohort and the cohort treated with luteolin, which experienced a significant reduction in the abundance of genera associated with disease or inflammatory conditions, such as Clostridia UCG-014 or Turicibacter. On the other hand, genera associated with a healthy state, such as Muribaculum, showed a significant increase in the luteolin cohort. These results underline the anti-colorectal cancer potential of luteolin, manifested through a modulation of the intestinal microbiota and a reduction in the number of tumors.

A cross sectional study to assess anemia & its determinants among pregnant women in a rural area of Maharashtra

Background: In India, anaemia prevalence is more than 40% so it is a severe public health problem. National Family Health Survey V indicates that prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women in Maharashtra’s rural areas is 46.5%. As the pregnant women have high prevalence of anaemia, it highlights the need to conduct research to find out the determinants and its preventive measures. Aim: To determine prevalence of anaemia and to assess its determinants amongst pregnant women in a rural area Methods: Three eighty-four pregnant women in a rural area of Thane district were selected for a community based descriptive cross-sectional study. Association between anaemia and variables in the study was established using Pearson‘s Chi- square test. For studying association between anaemia as dependent variable and various determinants as independent variables, binary logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Prevalence of anaemia was found to be 62.5%. 29.2% participants were mildly anaemic, 33.0% were moderately anaemic, 0.3% were severely anaemic and 37.5% were non-anaemic. Occurrence of anaemia was significantly associated with age, religion, gravida status, trimester, gestational age at first ANC visit, no consumption of IFA tablets, no consumption of dark green leafy vegetables and dietary habits. Conclusions: High prevalence of anaemia amongst pregnant women reflects poor utilization of health care services, lack of awareness about adequate dietary patterns and poor nutritional status. Anaemia is still a severe public health issue amongst pregnant women of rural areas.

Risk factors for stroke in the African populace: need for action

The burden of stroke cannot be overemphasized especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). More than two-thirds of stroke deaths arise from these countries as well as nearly 90% of stroke-related morbidities. Unfortunately, it has been suggested that there might be up to a three-fold increase in stroke incidence and a higher prevalence in Africa in the year 2021. The known risk factors for stroke are similar to those in developed countries: age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, and central obesity. These risk factors have often been overlooked in patients who present with stroke in Africa. Other important risk factors for stroke include high salt intake and red meat consumption, low consumption of green leafy vegetables, air pollution, undernutrition in infancy and genetic factors. Possibly the most efficient way of curbing the impact of stroke in Africa is to address the risk factors. The aim of this article is to shine some light on these risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa and proffer some solutions to address the menace of stroke

Food consumption behavior and lifestyle changes among rural older adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in northern India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Due to COVID-19, the lockdown was imposed throughout the nation on 24 march 2020 and COVID-19 is not over yet, cases are still coming. Food insecurity was already a problem but it became even more challenging during the pandemic. Especially rural older adult people have had to deal with the problem of food and health-related issues due to the pandemic. This study aimed to assess food consumption behavior and lifestyle changes among rural older adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study has been conducted in rural areas of the Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh through personal interviews; a multistage random sampling technique was used to select the participants. 450 participants were taken aged 60 and above for final analysis. The McNemar and Wilcoxon sign rank tests were used to examine differences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, adopting the statistical significance of p<0.05. Results: 66.0% of people faced a shortage of food. 40.9% of people reported that they had reduced their food intake. 27.6% of participants reported a reduction in body weight. There was a significant percentage decrease in consumption of milk products, pulse, and green vegetables (p<0.001), a percentage decrease in initiating and maintaining sleep (p<0.001), and worse health conditions (p<0.001). Conclusions: Food consumption behavior and lifestyles have changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic among rural older adults.

Increasing green leafy vegetable consumption through street food dishes in Lagos, Nigeria

PurposeDespite its health benefits, vegetable consumption is low in urban Nigeria. Interventions have been successful in increasing urban Nigerians' vegetable intake in the home environment, but interventions doing so for popular out-of-home consumption are lacking. This study aimed to design, implement and assess an intervention to increase the vegetable intake of urban Nigerians through street foods.Design/methodology/approachA quasi-experimental design was applied in Lagos, Nigeria. During the intervention, 12 trained street food vendors (SFVs) actively promoted the health benefits of vegetables to their customers (using marketing statements and posters) and provided the option to buy an additional green leafy vegetables (GLVs) side dish to their meal. Purchases were observed, and a survey was conducted before and during the intervention to measure perceived meal quality and satisfaction. Six to eight weeks after the intervention, a mystery shopper visited the vendor to assess if they were still selling additional GLVs.FindingsAlmost half (46%) of the 1,506 observed customers bought additional GLVs during the intervention. Both at baseline (N = 452) and during intervention (N = 564), meal satisfaction was high. Users were on average more educated and older than non-users. Most vendors did not perceive the sale of additional GLVs as additional work. Six to eight weeks after the intervention, nine vendors (75%) were still selling additional GLVs.Originality/valueThis study showed that SFVs informing consumers on the potential health benefits of vegetables and offering these vegetables in street food dishes at a commercially viable price is an interesting option to increase vegetable intake.

Diabetes risk among US adults with different socioeconomic status and behavioral lifestyles: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Diabetes disproportionately affects minorities and those with low socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States, and differences in behavioral lifestyles are largely responsible for the unequal distribution of diabetes among different groups. With data of 9,969 participants collected in the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study examined several mediators and their mediating effects in the connection between SES and the risk of diabetes. The SES is assessed by the income-to-poverty ratio (IPR), education level, and employment status. For the mediation analysis, we used health-related behaviors as mediators (smoking, alcohol use, consumption of green vegetables and fruits, physical activity and sedentary time, health insurance, and healthcare). In this study, the structural equation model was utilized to evaluate the mediating effects of behavioral lifestyle as a mediator in the relationship between SES and diabetes. A total of 9,969 participants were included in this study. We found a negative nonlinear association between IPR and diabetes risk (Poverall < 0.001; Pnon-linear = 0.46), which was independent of the majority of known or suspected risk factors and confounding variables (gender, age, race). Participants with lower SES had higher risk of diabetes compared with those with higher SES. In mediating analysis, we found alcohol intake (OR = 0.996), physical activity (OR = 0.993), health insurance (OR = 0.998), and healthcare (OR = 1.002) mediated the IPR-diabetes association. But in the relationship between education status and diabetes, the mediation effect of alcohol intake (OR = 0.995), physical activity (OR = 0.991), and health care (OR = 1.008) were obvious. Likewise, alcohol intake (OR = 0.996), fruit intake (OR = 0.998), and health care (OR = 0.975) were important mediators in the association between employment status and diabetes. This study provides critical insights on the link between SES and diabetes. Our results highlight that poor health-related behaviors and limited access to healthcare are important pathways for increased diabetes risk related to those with low SES, particularly among Mexican Americans and males. They should be top priorities for agencies and healthcare providers to develop behavior-related interventions to reduce inequalities in diabetes risk.

Associations of Fruit and Vegetable Intake with Metabolic Health Status in Overweight and Obese Youth

Introduction: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with metabolic health status among overweight and obese Iranian youth. Methods: In total, 203 obese and overweight youth including 101 boys and 102 girls, 12–18 years, were randomly recruited through a multistage cluster sampling approach in this study. A validated Persian format of food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate participants’ usual food intake. Adolescents were categorized in accordance with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria as well as IDF plus insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) definition into metabolically healthy obese and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Results: Based on IDF criteria, youth in the third tertile of vegetable and the combination of fruit and vegetable intake had 66% (odds ratio = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12–0.95) and 73% (odds ratio = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09–0.81) lower odds of MUO compared to those in the first tertile, in the fully-adjusted model. According to IDF plus HOMA-IR definition, inverse associations were also found between vegetable (odds ratio = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.12–1.02) and the combination of fruit and vegetable (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08–0.79) intake with MUO phenotype. Stratified analysis indicated inverse associations between intake of vegetables and the combination of fruits and vegetables with MUO phenotype (based on IDF definition) in overweight, but not obese subjects. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that greater consumption of vegetables as well as the combination of fruits and vegetables was related to a lower risk of MUO phenotype, particularly in overweight youth.

Association between subjective chewing conditions and dietary habits in Japanese workers

Previous studies on the elderly have reported that they avoid fiber-rich and hard foods in favor of softer foods as chewing ability declines. However, evidence of worker chewing conditions and dietary habits is scarce. This study aimed to clarify the association between chewing conditions and dietary habits in workers. The subjects included 6,703 workers (45.6 ± 10.2 years, range 18-64 years) who underwent medical and dental check-ups from April 2018 to March 2019 with no missing data. We classified workers into two groups, those with good chewing conditions (GCC) and those with poor chewing conditions (PCC) according to their responses to the chewing condition item in our questionnaire. We performed logistic regression analysis using the questionnaire dietary habits item response as the objective variable and chewing conditions as the explanatory variable and adjusting for sex, age, number of present teeth, periodontal pocket depth, oral hygiene status, Body Mass Index, smoking habits, alcohol intake, exercise habits, history of present illness, and stages of transtheoretical model. Additionally, we performed subgroup analysis using a similar framework stratified by sex and age groups (under 40 or older). We found significant negative associations with PCC for the following dietary habits (p < .05): Awareness of balanced diet; Regular consumption of dark green and deep yellow vegetables; Eating slowly and chewing well; Frequent consumption of seaweed and small fish; Having three meals at almost at the same time every day; Having breakfast almost every day; Eating protein dishes with every meal; Frequently consuming dairy products; Finishing eating at least two hours before bedtime. Furthermore, we found significant positive associations with PCC for the following items (p < .05): Having on average two or more bottles/cans of juice or coffee a day; Frequently eating heavy meat dishes; Frequently eating deep-fried foods such as fried dishes and pork cutlets; Frequently having instant or processed foods; Eating two or more kinds of Western or Japanese confectioneries or snacks on average a day; Frequently eating salty food; Regularly having snacks or late-night meals. Additionally, similar trends were also observed following subgroup analysis, regardless of sex or age. This study suggests that workers with PCC may retain undesirable dietary habits, regardless of sex and age. Therefore, it is necessary to expand dental check-ups in the workplace and to promote dental health guidance that targets all workers.

Green consumption behavior prediction based on fan-shaped search mechanism fruit fly algorithm optimized neural network

Predicting consumption behavior is very important for adjusting supplier production plans and enterprise marketing activities. Conventional statistical methods are unable to accurately predict green consumption behavior because it is characterized by multivariate nonlinear interactions. The paper proposes an optimized fruit fly algorithm (FOA) and extreme learning machine (ELM) model for consumption behavior prediction. First, to address the problem of uneven search direction of FOA leading to insufficient search ability and low efficiency, the paper proposes a sector search mechanism instead of a random search mechanism to improve the global search ability and convergence speed of FOA. Second, to address the issue that the initial weights and hidden layer bias values of the ELM are randomly generated, which affects the learning efficiency and generalization of the ELM, the paper uses an improved FOA to optimize the weights and bias values of ELM for improving the prediction accuracy. Taking the green vegetable consumption behavior of Beijing residents as an example, the results show the optimization of the initial weight and threshold of ELM by the GA, PSO, FOA, and SFOA, the prediction accuracy of the GA-ELM, PSO-ELM, FOA-ELM, and SFOA-ELM models all surpass those of ELM. Compared with BPNN, GRNN, ELM, GA-ELM, PSO-ELM, and FOA-ELM models, the RMSE value of SFOA-ELM was decreased by 9.45%, 8.40%, 11.89%, 5.84%, 2.22%, and 2.69%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the SFOA-ELM model in green consumption behavior prediction and provide new ideas for the accurate prediction of consumption behaviors of other green products with similar characteristics.

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among pregnant women attending general and teaching hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria

BackgroundSugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have become a global health concern because of their adverse health effects and their association with the obesity pandemic. It has not received much attention in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, especially among pregnant women. The pattern, frequency and factors associated with SSBs among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria, were investigated.DesignData were from the Ibadan Pregnancy Cohort Study - a prospective cohort study investigating 1745 pregnant women from four comprehensive obstetric facilities in Ibadan. A qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess the pregnant women’s intake of food and drinks over the previous months. Sugar-sweetened beverage variable and scores were also generated using the principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Factors associated with high SSB scores were examined using multivariate logistics regression analyses at a 5% significance level.ResultsThe most commonly consumed SSBs were cocoa-sweetened beverages, soft drinks, malt drinks, and fruit juice. A quarter of the women (75th percentile) consumed SSB more than once weekly. The factors associated with high SSB on multivariate analysis were; being employed (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.02–2.26), maternal obesity (AOR: 0.065, 95% CI 0.47–0.89), high fruit intake (AOR:3.62, 95% CI 2.62–4.99), high green vegetable consumption (AOR:1.99, 95% CI 1.06–3.74), high milk intake (AOR: 2.13, 95% CI 1.65– 2.74), frequent fast food outlet visit (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI 1.53–1.70), all of these remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables.ConclusionSSBs were common among our study population. Factors associated with high SSBs intake are crucial for implementing locally relevant public health interventions.

Diet in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia: Is There An Association?A Hospital Based Matched Case Control Study

Introduction: Preeclampsia has been rated amongst leading causes of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality but its etiology still remains not very clear.&#x0D; Aims &amp; Objectives: To study the association of intake of certain food items with preeclampsia.&#x0D; Place and duration of study: This was a matched case-control study, carried out in tertiary care hospitals of Lahore during February 2019 to March 2020.&#x0D; Material &amp; Methods: One hunded and thirty-two subjects were recruited based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Matching was done for age, gestational period, parity, education status, and income status. Information on consumption of various food items was recorded on food frequency questionnaire and results were analyzed to determine risk of developing preeclampsia by computing Odds Ratio. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20., p value ? 0.05 was taken as significant.&#x0D; Results: Milk, meat and fruits consumption in study group did not show statistically significant association with preeclampsia (OR 0.51, 0.69, 1.75 and p-value=0.194, 0.211, 0.114 respectively), while consumption of green leafy vegetables shows statistically significant difference between Cases and Control. Higher risk of developing preeclampsia was seen in Cases with deficient intake of green leafy vegetables than in Controls with regular intake (Odds ratio=3.51 and p-value=0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Deficient consumption of green leafy vegetables is associated with higher risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women.

Dietary Components and Nutritional Strategies for Dementia Prevention in the Elderly.

For decades, evidence from observational studies and randomized controlled trials has converged to suggest associations of dietary components, foods, and dietary patterns with dementia. With population aging and a projected exponential expansion of people living with dementia, formulating nutritional strategies for dementia prevention has become a research hotspot. This review aimed to summarize available data on the roles of specific dietary components, food groups, and dietary patterns in dementia prevention among the elderly. Database search was carried out using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Medline. Polyphenols, folate, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and β-carotene might decrease the risk of dementia. Consumption of green leafy vegetables, green tea, fish, and fruits is recommended. However, saturated fat, a diet rich in both dietary copper and saturated fat, aluminum from drinking water, and heavy drinking might increase dementia risk. Healthy dietary patterns, especially the Mediterranean diet, were proven to bring more cognitive benefits than single dietary components. We discussed and summarized the evidence on the roles of dietary components and patterns in dementia prevention among the elderly and found that some factors were closely associated with dementia risk in elderly. This may pave the way for the identification of dietary components and patterns as new therapeutic targets for dementia prevention in the elderly population.

Assessment of dietary habits among Polish women with Hashimoto's disease

Introduction. Selected dietary components are crucial for a properly functioning thyroid gland. Therefore a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for treating patients with Hashimoto's disease. Aim. This study aims to evaluate the dietary habits of women suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis. Material and methods. A questionnaire study was conducted in a group of 58 women with Hashimoto's disease and among 42 women without autoimmune thyroiditis using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ-6). To assess compliance with the normal distribution, we used the Shapiro-Wilk test. The comparative assessment was made using the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test. The Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between the response and the group. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results. The study showed no significant differences in dietary habits between the two groups. Only 29% (n=15) of women with HT declared daily consumption of fruits vs 31% (n=12) in the control group (p=0.3800), and only 2% (n=1) declared consuming berries daily vs. 5% (n=2), (p=0.5270). The consumption of the recommended several portions of vegetables per day was declared by only 22% (n=11) of women with HT vs 28% (n=11) in the control group (p=0.3983). 42% (n=24) of women with HT vs 38.5% (n=16) of controls reported eating cruciferous vegetables several times a week (p=0.8241). 14% (n=8) of women with HT vs 19% (n=8) of women in the control group declared daily consumption of green leafy vegetables (p=0.3653). Most people in the study group consume nuts and seeds several times a month, and those in the control group several times a week. Most HT respondents also declare not to consume the recommended amount of fish. Conclusions. The diet of patients with Hashimoto's disease does not differ significantly from that of non-Hashimoto's disease patients. Considering the study results and current scientific knowledge, it seems necessary to undertake educational activities for patients with Hashimoto's disease to increase patient awareness of the impact of diet on the course of the disease.

Socioeconomic inequalities in food purchasing practices and expenditure patterns: Results from a cross-sectional household survey in western Kenya.

Socioeconomic inequalities contribute to poor health. Inequitable access to diverse and healthy foods can be a risk factor for non-communicable diseases, especially in individuals of low socioeconomic status. We examined the extent of socioeconomic inequalities in food purchasing practices, expenditure, and consumption in a resource-poor setting in Kenya. We conducted a secondary analysis of baseline cross-sectional data from a natural experimental study with a sample size of 512 individuals from 376 households in western Kenya. Data were collected on household food sources, expenditure and food consumption. Household socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed using the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) model. Concentration indices (Ci) and multivariable linear regression models were used to establish socioeconomic inequalities. About half (47.9%) of individuals achieved a minimum level of dietary diversity with the majority coming from wealthier households. The two most consumed food groups were grains and roots (97.5%, n = 499) and dark green leafy vegetables (73.8%, n = 378), but these did not vary by SES. The consumption of dark green leafy vegetables was similar across wealth quantiles (Ci = 0.014, p = 0.314). Overall, the wealthier households spent significantly more money on food purchases with a median of USD 50 (IQR = 60) in a month compared to the poorest who spent a median of USD 40 (IQR = 40). Of all the sources of food, the highest amount was spent at open-air markets median of USD 20 (IQR = 30) and the expenditure did not vary significantly by SES (Ci = 0.4, p = 0.684). The higher the socioeconomic status the higher the total amount spent on food purchases. In multivariable regression analysis, household SES was a significant determinant of food expenditure [Adjusted coefficient = 6.09 (95%confidence interval CI = 2.19, 9.99)]. Wealthier households spent more money on food compared to the poorest households, especially on buying food at supermarkets. Individuals from the poorest households were dominant in eating grains and roots and less likely to consume a variety of food groups, including pulses, dairy, eggs and fruits, and vegetables. Individuals from the poorest households were also less likely to achieve adequate dietary diversity. Deliberate policies on diet and nutrition are required to address socioeconomic inequalities in food purchasing practices.

A cross-sectional study on assessment of physical activity and dietary consumption pattern among geriatric population attending geriatric outpatient department of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata

Background: A lot of comorbid conditions and health problems result from unhealthy dietary habit and sedentary lifestyle in all age group, but more among geriatric population. Due to progressive fragility, weakness, and comorbidities, there is gradual decrease in overall physical activity in elderly which again leads to different health problems and this vicious cycle is going on. There was scarcity of evidences related to dietary pattern and physical activity of elderly population particularly in West Bengal. Aim and Objectives: The present study was conducted for estimating the physical activity level of the study participants and to determine its relationship with the sociodemographic profile and dietary consumption pattern. Materials and Methods: Observational descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Geriatric Outpatient Department of Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, from August 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022, among 124 participants aged 60 years and above attended OPD in first 2 months of study period. IPAQ-SF questionnaire was used for assessment of physical activity. Analysis was done in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 20) software. Results: Larger proportion (52.4%) participants belonged to HEPA active (Category 3) according to physical activity status. Age of the participant, place of residence and socioeconomic status and consumption of green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, flesh food and egg, milk and milk products, and sugar and jaggery were significantly associated with physical activity. Conclusion: In the present study, significant proportion (32.3%) was minimally active which should be dealt properly. Physical activity should be promoted to all elder persons as a part of healthy lifestyle.

Post-migration food habits of New Zealand South Asian migrants: Implications for health promotion practice

IntroductionSouth Asian migrants in western countries have a high risk for diet related diseases post-migration. Hence knowledge on food habits that change post-migration, which are detrimental to health, are critical for health promotion initiatives to reduce this disease burden. Objectiveto describe food consumption changes post-migration according to sex and duration of residence in New Zealand among South Asian migrants. MethodsA cross-sectional mail survey of 150 self-selected people of South Asian ethnicity aged 25–59 years in New Zealand. ResultsThe study achieved responses from 112 participants (75%) with a mean age of 36 (7.5) years. Consumption of green leafy vegetables reduced post-migration for females and in new migrants (P < 0.05). Fruit consumption increased in both genders and across duration of residence (P < 0.05). Only 15% of males and 36% of females met the 3 + a day recommendation for vegetable consumption. Consumption of traditional breads, breakfast items and rice (males) decreased whilst that of breakfast cereals increased (P < 0.05). Consumption of low-fat milk, cheese, ice-cream, butter (females) and margarine increased, whilst ghee decreased (P < 0.05). Consumption of fish, lentils, traditional sweets and savouries decreased, whilst meat, processed meat, chicken, potato chips, cakes and pastries (females) and alcohol (males) increased (P < 0.05), post-migration. Thirty-three percent of males and 24% of females consumed takeaways “weekly or more often”, with the majority (male: 51%; female: 36%) consuming European foods such as pizzas and pastas. Thirteen percent of males and 26% of females consumed festival foods “weekly or more often.” More than half the participants were obese with BMI increasing with duration of residence (P = 0.025). ConclusionsA food-based health promotion initiative focused on inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased consumption of dairy foods such as cheese and ice cream, and high fat European takeaway foods would be warranted particularly in new South Asian migrants.

Frequency of consumption of green leafy vegetables and prevalence of hyperglycaemia in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda

Frequency of consumption of green leafy vegetables and prevalence of hyperglycaemia in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda

Consumption Pattern Score in Cancer Survivor with Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting and Non-Cancer at Shelter Houses

Background: One of the most common effects of chemotherapy in cancer survivors is nausea and vomiting. This can affect the diversity of food consumed. Family support and assistance need to be done to increase food intake with one food provision.Objectives: This study aimed to find out the difference in the consumption pattern score among cancer survivors and non-cancers in shelter houses.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study with a retrospective approach. The criteria of the case subject were undergoing chemotherapy, while the control subject criteria were included in one food supply. The total subject was 66 cancer survivors, with 33 subjects each. This research was conducted from August 2021 until October 2021 at Shelter Houses. The data included the subjects characteristic data, vomit nausea degree data using the Rhodes Index nausea vomiting and retching (RINVR), family support data, food intake data using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) questionnaires. Data collection is done by interviews in person and online. The data collected was analyzed using Chi-Square and bivariate test using Mann Whitney test.Results: The majority of cancer subjects were aged 40-59 years whereas non-cancer subjects were 20-39 years old. The subjects have special characteristics which are in low financial ability. Consumption of starchy foods (p&lt;0.001) and green vegetables (p&lt;0.006) in these two group subjects had significant differences. In addition, the consumption pattern score between cancer and non-cancer subjects made significant differences (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Average consumption pattern scores showed cancer subjects were lower compared to non-cancer subjects. Thus, consumption patterns in cancer subjects did not variaty compared to non-cancer subjects. It is necessary to conduct further research by analyzing the diversity of food of each subject using a 1x24 hour for 3 days, food access questionnaire and food security.

Managing culinary adversity with food literacy: Children’s encounter with whole fish and bitter greens

The global dietary transition is, among other things, marked by the prominence of softer, mechanically easy-to-eat foods and simple flavours. However, maintaining children’s tolerance to adverse dietary experiences, such as eating around bones, or consuming bitter vegetables, is an important contributor to nutritional balance and cultural preservation. Re-framing the capability to eat ‘difficult’ foods as an admirable, broadly useful, life skill would go a long way towards fighting against food neophobia or predilection for ultra-processed foods. In this article, I reflect on a sub-set of data gathered in 2018–20 from interactive food literacy benchmarking activities for 12–17-year-olds in Japan and Cambodia. Among the activities were measures of eating skill and tolerating adversity involving consumption of (A) bitter green vegetables and (B) whole fish. I find that social pressures lead children to derive social recognition from their food literacy and to make cognitive leaps about the utility of being able to face culinary adversity. This presents an alternative for casting adverse foods as personal, lifelong challenges rather than as momentary gustatory revulsion. It also presents an alternative approach to conventional food education, with the possibility for simultaneously measuring food literacy deficits and creating context for their resolution.

Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women attending reproductive and child health clinics in Mbeya region, Tanzania.

Anaemia is a global public health issue, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anaemia and to identify factors associated with the condition among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted with 420 pregnant women (<28 weeks of gestation) attending antenatal visits in the 7 districts of the Mbeya Region. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and eating habits using a 24hours dietary recall. A blood sample was collected and tested for hemoglobin content using the HemoCue 201+. Multivariate analysis was performed using standard logistic regression to explore the association between anaemia status with socio-demographic, reproductive and nutritional factors. Overall prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women was 25.5%. Out of 107 pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia and, sixty six had mild anaemia. In a multivariate logistical regression analysis anaemic women was associated with pregnant women coming from lower socio-economic status [adjusted OR = 2.40, 95%CI (1.05, 5.48)]. Moreover, anaemia was less associated with pregnant women who were living in Mbeya district council [adjusted OR = 0.28, 95%CI (0.11, 0.72)], consume at least once a day dark green leafy vegetables [adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.30, 0.94)], and vegetable liquid cooking oil [adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI (0.34, 0.98)]. The prevalence of anaemia among the pregnant women falls in the category of moderate public health problem according to the WHO classification. Low socio-economic status, consumption of green leafy vegetables and vegetable liquid cooking oil were significantly and independently associated with anaemia during pregnancy. Thus, special attention should be given to pregnant women who are in lower socio-economic status and those not consuming vegetables. Interventions that integrate health and nutrition education in reproductive and child health clinics are needed to combat anaemia.