Health Food Research Articles

What Makes ‘Healthful Food’ vs. A ‘Food Healthful’: Using AI to Coach People to Ask Good Questions

What Makes ‘Healthful Food’ vs. A ‘Food Healthful’: Using AI to Coach People to Ask Good Questions

Polysaccharide-coated quercetin-loaded nanoliposomes mitigate bitterness: A comparison of carrageenan, pectin, and trehalose

The intense bitterness of quercetin poses a challenge to its utilization in the food industry. To address this issue, three anionic polysaccharides (carrageenan, pectin, and trehalose) were individually incorporated to fabricate polysaccharide-coated liposome nanocarriers. Electronic tongue analysis revealed a significant decreasing bitterness value (10.34 ± 0.07 mV, sensory score 1.8 ± 0.2, taste weak bitter) in quercetin-loaded nanoliposomes, compared with the bitterness value of quercetin aqueous solution (14 ± 0.01 mV, sensory score 7.3 ± 0.3, taste strong bitter). Furthermore, the polysaccharide-coated nanoliposomes exhibited an even greater capacity to mask the bitterness of quercetin, with carrageenan coated nanoliposomes demonstrating the most pronounced effect. The superior bitter masking ability of carrageenan coated nanoliposomes can be attributed to its high charge and viscosity. In sensory evaluations, gummy incorporated with carrageenan-coated nanoliposomes received the highest ratings, exhibiting enhanced overall palatability and antioxidant activity. This study offers insights into expanding the use of bitter nutrients in food applications and paves the way for more appealing and healthful food products.

How alginate lyase produces quasi-monodisperse oligosaccharides: A normal-mode-based docking and molecular dynamics simulation study

Oligosaccharide degradation products of alginate (AOS) hold significant potential in diverse fields, including pharmaceuticals, health foods, textiles, and agricultural production. Enzymatic alginate degradation is appealing due to its mild conditions, predictable activity, high yields, and controllability. However, the alginate degradation often results in a complex mixture of oligosaccharides, necessitating costly purification to isolate highly active oligosaccharides with a specific degree of polymerization (DP). Addressing this, our study centers on the alginate lyase AlyB from Vibrio Splendidus OU02, which uniquely breaks down alginate into mono-distributed trisaccharides. This enzyme features a polysaccharide lyase family 7 domain (PL-7) and a CBM32 carbohydrate-binding module connected by a helical structure. Through normal-mode-based docking and all-atom molecular simulations, we demonstrate that AlyB's substrate and product specificities are influenced by the spatial conformation of the catalytic pocket and the flexibility of its structure. The helically attached CBM is pivotal in releasing trisaccharides, which is crucial for avoiding further degradation. This study sheds light on AlyB's specificity and efficiency and contributes to the evolving field of enzyme design for producing targeted oligosaccharides, with significant implications for various bioindustries.

Automatic Food Recognition Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks with Self-attention Mechanism

The significance of food in human health and well-being cannot be overemphasized. Nowadays, in our dynamic life, people are increasingly concerned about their health due to increased nutritional ailments. For this reason, mobile food-tracking applications that require a reliable and robust food classification system are gaining popularity. To address this, we propose a robust food recognition model using deep convolutional neural networks with a self-attention mechanism (FRCNNSAM). By training multiple FRCNNSAM structures with varying parameters, we combine their predictions through averaging. To prevent over-fitting and under-fitting data augmentation to generate extra training data, regularization to avoid excessive model complexity was used. The FRCNNSAM model is tested on two novel datasets: Food-101 and MA Food-121. The model achieved an impressive accuracy of 96.40% on the Food-101 dataset and 95.11% on MA Food-121. Compared to baseline transfer learning models, the FRCNNSAM model surpasses performance by 8.12%. Furthermore, the evaluation on random internet images demonstrates the model's strong generalization ability, rendering it suitable for food image recognition and classification tasks.

Hydroxylated Tetramethoxyflavone Affects Intestinal Cell Permeability and Inhibits Cytochrome P450 Enzymes.

Tetramethoxyflavones (TMFs) found in the Citrus genus have garnered considerable interest from food scientists and the health food industry because of their promising biological properties. Nonetheless, there are currently limited data available regarding the effectiveness and bioavailability of "hydroxylated TMFs", which are flavones known for their potential in disease prevention through dietary means. This study aims to provide insights into the chemical and biological properties of hydroxylated TMF and evaluates its effects on intestinal cell permeability and cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and microsomes analyze the TMFs and hydroxylated TMFs, elucidating cell penetration and metabolic inhibition potential. 3H7-TMF shows the fastest (1-h) transport efficiency in intestinal cells. The Caco-2 cell model exhibits significant transport and absorption efficiency. Dissolved hydroxyl-TMF with hydrophilicity possibly permeates the gut. 3H7-TMF has higher transport efficiency (46%) 3H6-TMF (39%). IC50 values of TMFs (78-TMF, 57-TMF, 3H7-TMF, 3H6-TMF) against CYP enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4) range from 0.15 to 108 μM, indicating potent inhibition. Hydroxyl groups enhance TMF hydrophilicity and membrane permeability. TMFs display varied inhibitory effects due to hydroxyl and methoxy hindrance. This study underscores the strong CYP inhibitory capabilities in these TMFs, implying potential food-drug interactions if used in medicines or supplements. These findings can also help with food nutrition improvement and pharma food developments through innovative approaches for Citrus waste valorization.

True Elements: leveraging opportunities for growth

Research methodology The research methodology used for this case study follows a comprehensive approach, combining both primary and secondary sources to ensure a well-rounded understanding of the subject. Primary sources include in-depth interviews with the founders of the company, providing valuable firsthand insights into their experiences and decision-making processes. Multiple company visits were also conducted, enabling a closer examination of the operational aspects and allowing for a more holistic perspective on the case. Complementing these primary sources, secondary sources were used, consisting of a diverse array of articles from leading journals, newspapers, magazines and other reputable sources. These secondary sources offer a broader context and perspective, enriching the case study’s content and ensuring a robust foundation for classroom discussion and analysis. Case overview/synopsis True Elements was a clean health food brand that emerged from the vision of Mr Sreejith Moolayil and co-founder, Mr Puru Gupta, who recognized the potential of promoting healthy foods in India inspired by the health-conscious lifestyle that they observed during their work tenure in China. The co-founders began their entrepreneurial journey in 2011 with “Healthy World” kiosks inside IT company campuses in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. However, early challenges surfaced as the target market narrowed. Undeterred, the founders sought innovative solutions to expand their reach and created “True Elements” – a brand that resonated with health-conscious consumers given its positioning as a clean and minimally processed food brand devoid of chemicals, preservatives and added sugars. True Elements excelled in the online market and catered to a few offline markets. To sustain and augment their success, the entrepreneurs sought a strategic partnership and succeeded with Marico Ltd. However, challenges remained on the horizon. One was the need to appeal to a new target group: the 25–45 age group with a lower monthly income of INR 30,000. Another pressing question was exploring the entry into the modern trade sector. Complexity academic level This case can be taught in undergraduate and post-graduate business management programs for marketing, strategy and innovation and entrepreneurship related courses. Apart from that, this case can also be discussed in incubator programs as cases highlighting entrepreneurship can facilitate discussions among early-stage founders, providing practical insights and lessons for their ventures. This case also can be discussed very effectively in management classes for working executives.

Quality Analysis and Elemental Presence of Heavy Metals in Honey

Honey is a naturally occurring material made by honeybees from the sweet, savory nectar of flowers. Humans have consumed honey for a very long time, making it the oldest sweetener and health food. Honey was mentioned in Egyptian, Indian, and Chinese texts as early as 5500 BC. It is renowned for its therapeutic and nutritional properties brought on by beneficial elements that are strongly connected to its flower origin. Although the basic variation in honey composition is due to the floral source, other elements such as the season, the environment, and the processing conditions also have a role. The sensory, chemical, physical, and microbiological properties of honey are mostly linked to its quality. Honey should indicate the minimum quality standards to be marketed as honey or employed as an ingredient in products for human consumption. Physico-chemical characteristics including pH, water content, ash content, HMF and EC parameters were analyzed which showed that Pakistani honey is under the limits. Additionally, the limited presence of heavy metals was also seen within the range. Pakistani honey is one of the best honeys to be used for raw consumption as well as raw material for any value-added products.

Risk factors associated with the use and management of pesticides in the production of nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill)

Objective: To verify the risk factors associated with the use of agrochemicals, through the degree of compliancewith Mexican regulations on the Good Use and Management of Pesticides (BUMP).Design/Methodology/Approach: One-hundred producers, selected from a group of 300 producers who make up the register of the Sistema Producto Nopal in Morelos, Mexico, answered the questionnaire. The questionnaire included plot information, market data, and open questions about the compliance with the checklist for the recognition of areas where Good Use and Management of Pesticides (BUMP) standards are applied in the primary production of vegetables of the National Service of Health, Food Safety and Agro Food Quality (SENASICA)Results: Out of all the one-hundred producers surveyed, 57 were recognized in BUMP and 43 were not. Whether producers complied or not with these regulations and could have access to the export market depended on the crop area and the economic income it represents. The greatest non-compliance was caused by the non-authorized use of pesticides in the production of nopal, which represents a contamination risk for the worker, the environment, and the consumers.Study Limitations/Implications: Studies should be carried out about the impact on the health of farm workers and the environment resulting from the inappropriate use of pesticides.Findings/Conclusions: Although the implementation of BUMP in the nopal cultivation minimized the risks of contamination or poisoning, the non-authorized use of synthetic pesticides for its cultivation poses contamination risks to the worker, consumer, and environment. Therefore, strategies must be generated in the domestic market to guarantee the same food safety than in the international market.

D-limonene nanoemulsion as skin permeation enhancer for curcumin prepared by ultrasonic emulsification

d-limonene nanoemulsion (NE) previously showed satisfactory potential for storage stability and might be a safety carrier for transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs). Curcumin has been widely studied for health promotion, food safety, and functions. This study evaluated the application of d-limonene NE carrier for curcumin embedding and the transdermal absorption effect. Results revealed that the droplet size of curcumin NE affected the cumulative concentration of transdermal absorption following the descending order of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) 11 > 8 > 5 > 3 > microemulsion (p < 0.05). The droplet size was also correlated with the steady-state flux of transdermal absorption by permeability and was twice as high for HLB value 11 (84.3 nm) and HLB value 3 (384.7 nm). In addition, the cumulative concentration of HLB 11 (57.13 %) was nearly double higher than that of HLB 3 (26.29 %) (p < 0.05). The developed d-limonene-encapsulated curcumin NE has a macroscopic bioactivity, which can be retarded release by encapsulating the bioactive source, enabling it to be biomimetic simply. Therefore, the study has important implications for forming and designing encapsulated bioactive TDDS. All these findings suggested that d-limonene NE could function as a carrier for TDDS in food/cosmetic products.

Exploring Acute Liver Damage: Slimming Health Foods and CYP3A4 Induction.

Patients taking multiple drugs and various health foods often develop acute hepatitis. We hypothesized that the interaction between health foods and drug metabolism was the cause of severe liver injury in these patients. Therefore, we studied changes in the activity of the drug-metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 (CYP), using slimming health food extracts and elucidated the molecular mechanism of liver injury onset through hepatotoxicity evaluation. For cytotoxicity testing, health food extract samples were added to HepG2 cells derived from hepatic parenchymal cells and culture medium, and cell viability was calculated 48 h after culture. To evaluate CYP3A4 induction, 3-1-10 cells constructed with a reporter linked to CYP3A4 gene were used, and reporter activity was measured 48 h after culture. In the chronological order of the slimming health food intake history of the patient, niacinamide and Gymnema sylvestre extracts strongly inhibited HepG2 cell viability. In contrast, dietary supplements A and Coleus forskohlii extract strongly induced CYP3A4 reporter activity. Coleus forskohlii extract showed the strongest transcriptional activation of CYP3A4 gene. In a mouse model of human-type drug metabolism, forskolin induced CYP3A4 transcription. Thus, we concluded that CYP3A4 induction by Coleus forskohlii is one of the causes of crucial hepatocellular injury, which is a type of liver injury caused by the active metabolite of acetaminophen produced by CYP3A4.

Increasing Children’s Dental Health Knowledge with Educational Games

Oral diseases can profoundly affect a person’s overall well-being, resulting in persistent pain, discomfort, and challenges with basic functions such as eating, speaking, and carrying out daily tasks. The acquisition of healthy behaviours is a complex process that can be facilitated by health education. Utilizing gaming media presents an effective method for delivering dental health education. This study aims to increase knowledge about dental health. 52 children were presented with 8 questions about dental health and 10 about healthy foods for dental health. A pretest-posttest design was used to measure the effectiveness of increasing the children’s knowledge in this area. The study results stated a significance value of less than 0.05 (0,001) for dental health and foods for dental health. The results show an increase in knowledge about dental health and good food for dental health. Video Game is an innovative way to improve children’s understanding of dental and oral care practices.

Knockdown of Thitarodes host genes influences dimorphic transition of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the host hemolymph.

The Chinese cordyceps, a unique parasitic complex of Thitarodes/Hepialus ghost moths and Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus in the Tibetan Plateau, is a highly valuable biological resource for medicine and health foods in Asian countries. Efficient system for artificial cultivation of Chinese cordyceps relies on understanding the gene functions involved in the induction of growing blastospores into hyphae in the larval hemolymph of insect host, during O. sinensis infection. Transcriptome analysis and ribonucleic acid interference (RNA interference) method were employed to identify the key differentially expressed genes and to demonstrate their functions in Thitarodes xiaojinensis. Key larval genes critical for O. sinensis blastospore development or filamentation were identified. Nine of the 20 top upregulated genes encoded cuticles proteins, indicating that these proteins highly activated when the larval hemolymph was full of blastospores. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of five larval genes such as Flightin, larval cuticle protein LCP-30, 26-hydroxylase (CYP18A1), cuticle protein 18.6, isoform B, and probable chitinase 3 significantly stimulated the dimorphic transition from blastospores to prehyphae in O. sinensis in the larval hemolymph after 120 h after injection. The expressions of these genes determined by quantitative real-time PCR were suppressed in various levels from 38.64% to 91.54%, compared to the controls. These results demonstrated that injection of the siRNAs of key upregulated genes into the larval hemolymph containing high load of blastospores caused the gene silence in T. xiaojinensis larvae and induced the fungal transition from blastospores to prehyphae, providing novel knowledge on the regulation of O. sinensis fungal dimorphism by Thitarodes host and cues for further study of Thitarodes biology and commercial cultivation of Chinese cordyceps.

Monascus-fermented quinoa alleviates hyperlipidemia in mice by regulating the amino acid metabolism pathway.

Monascus has the ability to produce secondary metabolites, such as monacolin K (MK), known for its physiological functions, including lipid-lowering effects. Widely utilized in industries such as health food and medicine, MK is a significant compound derived from Monascus. Quinoa, recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "the only plant food that can meet human basic nutritional needs by itself", possesses dual advantages of high nutritional value and medicinal food homology. This study employed animal experiments to investigate the hypolipidemic activity of Monascus-fermented quinoa (MFQ) and explored the molecular mechanism underlying the lipid-lowering effect of MFQ on hyperlipidemic mice through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. The results demonstrated that high-dose MFQ intervention (1600 mg kg-1 d-1) effectively decreased weight gain in hyperlipidemic mice without significant changes in cardiac index, renal index, or spleen index. Moreover, hepatic steatosis in mice was significantly improved. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly reduced, demonstrating that the lipid-lowering effect of MFQ was comparable to the drug control lovastatin. Conversely, both low-dose MFQ (400 mg kg-1 d-1) and unfermented quinoa exhibited no significant lipid-lowering effect. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome suggested that MFQ may regulate amino acid levels in hyperlipidemic mice by influencing metabolic pathways such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism. This regulation alleviates hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet, resulting in a significant reduction in blood lipid levels in mice.

Aquaponics Revolution: Reinforcing performance by means of Apache Spark and Apache Kafka

Many studies provide ways to monitor and manage the aquaponics system, a closed-loop ecosystem that combines hydroponics—growing plants without soil—and aquaculture—raising fish—using cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart sensing technologies. A system operating at peak efficiency yields organic, healthful food with little water and no chemical fertilizer usage, therefore contributing to food security and sustainability. In order to develop our proposed aquaponic system based on Internet of Things technologies, this paper will centralize our endeavor to integrate big data tools, namely Apache Spark and Kafka, into the previous architecture for data collection and processing, as well as for the prediction of any anomalies in the system.

Sphingolipid-Enriched Porcine Placental Extract Promotes the Expression of Structural Genes and Desquamation Enzyme Genes in Cultured Human Keratinocytes.

Porcine placental extract (PPE) is commonly used in various health foods and cosmetics. PPE use in cosmetics predominantly consist of the water-soluble fraction derived from the entire placenta. In this report, we examined the effect of the hydrophobic constituents of the PPE, specifically the sphingolipid-enriched fraction designated as the sphingolipid-enriched porcine placental extract (SLPPE), on the expression of genes associated with skin function in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Using quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, we found that SLPPE concentrations ranging from 25 to 100 µg/mL upregulated the gene expression of key components associated with the cornified envelope structure (filaggrin (FLG), involucrin (IVL) and loricrin (LOR)), cornification enzymes (transglutaminase 1 (TGM1) and TGM5) and the desquamation enzymes (kallikrein 5 (KLK5) and KLK7). Additionally, KLK5p and FLG protein (FLGp) were detected in the culture supernatants of keratinocytes treated with SLPPE at these concentrations. These findings suggest that SLPPE is possible to promote the cornification and desquamation in epidermal keratinocytes, and it may offer potential benefits in cosmetics.

A Review of Research on Factors Influencing Chinese Consumers' Healthy Food Purchases

The public's health awareness has increased substantially with the progress of society, food safety incidents are frequent, and the Chinese government has introduced a number of health-related policies, so it is necessary to study the influencing factors on consumers' purchasing of healthy food. This paper investigates the influencing factors on consumers’ purchase of healthy food through literature analysis and finds that consumers’ perception of healthy food significantly influences their purchase of healthy food through different dimensions. Perceptions are correlated with education, however, when consumers perceive that the health food market in China is not sufficiently safe and secure the higher their level of concern the lower their purchase rate. Purchasing habits and preferences, income level, type of occupation, and personal and family health conditions all have an impact on the purchase of healthy foods. Among product factors high prices are a major barrier to healthy food purchases. Government regulation of the food industry and consumer protection all have a strong effect on consumer purchases of healthy food. Characteristics such as the environment, convenience, trustworthiness and price level of the place of consumption also have an impact on the purchase of health food.

Ultra işlenmiş besinlerin bazı hastalıklar ile ilişkisi

Ultra-processed foods are defined as multi-component industrial formulations that include chemical food additives in food production where sugar, salt, oils and fats are the main products. General production purposes of ultra-processed foods are to obtain low-cost and mass production, long shelf-life and branded products. NOVA Group 4 classification is used to express ultra-processed foods. Packaged snacks (chips, cake, crackers, candy, etc.), frozen products, meat and chicken extract products (bouillon, powder mixtures), processed meat products (hot dog, nugget star), fizzy drinks, beverages, packaged milk and cocoa drinks, etc. constitute ultra-processed foods. Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially those containing free sugar, causes the intake of empty calories and causes insufficient intake of some essential nutrients. Also, ultra-processed foods increase the energy density, sugar, saturated fat and trans fatty acid levels of the daily diet. A high-energy-density diet causes an increase in people's body weight. In addition to these results, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, kidney diseases, and colon, rectal and breast cancer may occur due to insufficient fibre intake and obesity. Therefore, in response to the development of the global food industry, countries should develop their own national policies and work to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods for public health.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NCU-04 relieves constipation and the depressive-like behaviors induced by loperamide in mice through the microbiome-gut-brain axis

Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition that significantly affects patients' physical and mental well-being, yet current treatments often lack safety and efficacy. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MBGA) in managing constipation, paving the way for probiotics as an adjuvant treatment to improve constipation symptoms. In this study, we isolated a gut probiotic strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NCU-04, and investigated its improvement effects on loperamide-induced constipation in mice. We demonstrated that L. paracasei NCU-04 exhibited excellent probiotic properties, including robust growth, strong antibacterial and antioxidant capacities, and a lack of hemolytic activity in vitro. The administration of L. paracasei NCU-04 effectively improved the defecation-related indicators such as the fecal water content, time to the first black stool defecation, and intestine transit rate, suggesting enhanced gut immobility in constipated mice. Additionally, L. paracasei NCU-04 significantly reduced colon inflammation induced by loperamide. Further, L. paracasei NCU-04 increased levels of colonic motilin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and c-kit, while decreased that of aquaporin 3, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and peptide YY. Notably, L. paracasei NCU-04 effectively upregulated the expression of 5-HT and its receptor (i.e., 5-HT4R) in the brains of constipated mice. High-throughput sequencing revealed that L. paracasei NCU-04 restored the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota disturbed by loperamide, and significantly increased the relative abundance of Prevotella and Lactobacillus genera in the stool, while decreased that of Odoribacter, Rikenella, and Parabacteroides. Importantly, L. paracasei NCU-04 also effectively improved the depression-like behaviors associated with constipation, possibly through 5-HT mediated MGBA. These results suggest that L. paracasei NCU-04 may offer a promising approach for treating constipation and its related depressive symptoms, supporting its potential as a functional food or adjuvant therapy for human health.

Mental Health and Other Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Intention toward Children of Military Parents in Lambayeque, Peru.

There is evidence that vaccine acceptability is strongly associated with mental health. However, no studies assessing intention to vaccinate (ITV) intention toward children of military parents have been documented. The current research aimed to establish the prevalence and factors of ITV children against COVID-19 in military parents in Lambayeque-Peru, 2021. Analysis was conducted with the dependent variable ITV children reported by military parents. The independent variables were history of mental health, searching for mental health support, food insecurity, resilience, anxiety, depression, burnout, posttraumatic stress, and suicidal risk. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Of 201 military personnel evaluated, 92.5% were male, 82.5% were of the Catholic faith, and the median age was 40.9% of respondents reported seeking mental health help during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported anxiety (20.3%), depression (6.5%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (6.5%). Most reported ITV in children against COVID-19 (93%). In the multiple models, we found that Catholics had a 23% higher prevalence of ITV in the children where PR = prevalence ratios and CI = confidence intervals (PR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.50). Likewise, seeking mental health support increased the prevalence of ITV by 8% (PR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00-1.15). Seeking mental health support and belonging to the Catholic faith had a higher ITV of children of Peruvian military personnel. Finding mental health support, experiencing burnout syndrome, having a relative who suffers from mental health problems, and being part of the Catholic religion were associated with a higher willingness to immunize the children of Peruvian military members.

Identifying the risk factors associated with food insecurity in the UK veteran population: a nationwide survey.

There has been limited focus placed on exploring food insecurity within the UK-ex-Armed Forces population. The present study aims to build on initial work by investigating the prevalence and associated factors of food insecurity within UK veterans and their families and their current health status. 881 veterans (or a family member) who previously served in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Army and the Royal Air Force completed an online survey to explore health status, food insecurity and receipt of benefits. In total, 16.9% of survey respondents were part of food-insecure households, with 12% of these also experiencing some element of hunger. Working age, non-officer rank at the time of service discharge, not being married, living in rented accommodation, having at least one medical condition and in receipt of other benefits were significant risk factors associated with food insecurity. Understanding the specific risk factors associated with food insecurity is vital to develop personalised interventions and policies, such as income support programmes and affordable housing initiatives. However, more work is needed to further explore the factors associated with food insecurity, particularly in the long term.