scholarly journals Changing the Irish dietary guidelines to incorporate the principles of the Mediterranean diet: proposing the MedÉire diet

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey C Tierney ◽  
Ioannis Zabetakis
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Low Fat Diet ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Food Pyramid ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractObjectiveIn Ireland, the major causes of death are CVD. The current Irish healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid primarily advocate a low-fat diet. However, there is overwhelming scientific evidence for the benefits of a Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) in the prevention and management of metabolic disease as well as improving overall health and well-being. In the current commentary, the rationale to incorporate the principles of the Med Diet into the Irish dietary guidelines is presented.DesignPerspectives of authors.SettingLocal and international.SubjectsPopulations in Europe, North America and Australia.ResultsAdopting components of the Med Diet presents a more evidence-based approach to updating the current Irish dietary guidelines. Experience and lessons from other non-Mediterranean countries show that it could be a feasible and effective solution to improving the dietary habits of the Irish population to prevent and mange chronic diseases.ConclusionsPolicies and programmes to address perceived barriers to the Med Diet’s implementation and uptake in non-Mediterranean countries should be promoted.

Is it possible to build an effective program to promote the health and well-being of employees in the workplace in the Russia?

2021 ◽  
pp. 46-56
Author(s):  
Ivan Aleksandrovich Rybakov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Comprehensive Health ◽  
Effective Program ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Health And Well Being

In 2019 The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation together with experts of the National Research Center of Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has developed programs to strengthen the health of employees, which include behavioral medicine practices aimed at changing lifestyle and correcting risk factors. Scientific evidence shows the effectiveness of such programs, and new components of programs aimed at improving the well-being of employees can increase the effectiveness of preventive measures. In this article, we will review the domestic and international experience of using comprehensive health and well-being promotion programs to improve the health of employees in Russia.

scholarly journals Sustainable dietetic models in Europe: the Mediterranean diet as case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Scazzina
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Adequate Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Cost

Abstract More than five years since the global commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 690 million people lack sufficient food and economic projections suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the ranks of the undernourished. Meanwhile, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally each year, utilizing 38% of total energy consumption in the global food system. Child and adult overweight and obesity are increasing in almost all countries, and on a global level the cost of a healthy diet is 60% higher than the cost of a nutrient adequate diet, and almost 5 times the cost of an energy sufficient diet. The Mediterranean Diet is one of the recognized models of healthy and sustainable diets. This model has proven to promote longevity and well-being, not only by considering specific food items and dietary patterns, but also taking into account the culture and the history of populations living in that region, as well as social aspects such as tradition and conviviality. Moreover, it is strongly tied to a gastronomic background that links health with enjoyment. This may be extremely important for the implementation of feasible programs for the prevention of chronic non communicable diseases. In fact, long lasting lifestyle changes are difficult to achieve and, although health motivations may lead to satisfactory dietary compliance in the short term, pleasure remains an important determinant of any dietary change that is intended to last. While keeping traditional dietary habits at European level, the main principles of the Mediterranean diet could be taken into account to identify key features that ensure both health benefits and sustainable impact on environment. Assessing the sustainability of these products can be an effective operational approach for preserving and promoting a Mediterranean-type dietary pattern in the European region.

scholarly journals Deregulation and the Assault on Science and the Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 347-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Samet ◽  
Thomas A. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research To Policy ◽  
Health And Well Being

The quality of the environment is a major determinant of the health and well-being of a population. The role of scientific evidence is central in the network of laws addressing environmental pollution in the United States and has been critical in addressing the myriad sources of environmental pollution and the burden of disease attributable to environmental factors. We address the shift away from reasoned action and science to a reliance on belief and document the efforts to separate regulation from science and to remove science-based regulations and policies intended to protect public health. We outline the general steps for moving from research to policy, show how each has been undermined, offer specific examples, and point to resources that document the enormity of the current efforts to set aside scientific evidence.

scholarly journals Effects of Mediterranean diet supplemented with lean pork on blood pressure and markers of cardiovascular risk: findings from the MedPork trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (8) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra T. Wade ◽  
Courtney R. Davis ◽  
Kathryn A. Dyer ◽  
Jonathan M. Hodgson ◽  
Richard J. Woodman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
High Adherence ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Lean Pork

AbstractThe Mediterranean diet offers a range of health benefits. However, previous studies indicate that the restricted consumption of red meat in the diet may affect long-term sustainability in non-Mediterranean countries. A 24-week randomised controlled parallel cross-over design compared a Mediterranean diet supplemented with 2–3 serves per week of fresh, lean pork (MedPork) with a low-fat control diet (LF). Thirty-three participants at risk of CVD followed each intervention for 8 weeks, with an 8-week washout period separating interventions. The primary outcome was home-measured systolic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included diastolic blood pressure, fasting lipids, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), body composition and dietary adherence. During the MedPork intervention, participants achieved high adherence to dietary guidelines. Compared with the MedPork intervention, the LF intervention led to greater reductions in weight (Δ = −0·65; 95 % CI −0·04, −1·25 kg, P = 0·04), BMI (Δ = −0·25; 95 % CI −0·03, −0·47 kg/m2, P = 0·01) and waist circumference (Δ = −1·40; 95 % CI −0·45, −2·34 cm, P < 0·01). No significant differences were observed for blood pressure, lipids, glucose, insulin or CRP. These findings indicate that Australians are capable of adhering to a Mediterranean diet with 2–3 weekly serves of fresh, lean pork. Larger intervention studies are now required to demonstrate clinical efficacy of the diet in populations with elevated blood pressure.

scholarly journals Home Gardening and the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila E. van Lier ◽  
Jennifer Utter ◽  
Simon Denny ◽  
Mathijs Lucassen ◽  
Ben Dyson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Students ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background. The current article explores the associations between home gardening and dietary behaviors, physical activity, mental health, and social relationships among secondary school students in New Zealand. Method. Data were drawn from a national youth health and well-being survey, conducted in 2012. In total, 8,500 randomly selected students from 91 randomly selected secondary schools completed the survey. Results. Two thirds of students had a vegetable garden at home and one quarter of all students participated in home gardening. Students participating in gardening were most likely to be male, of a Pacific Island ethnicity, of younger age, and living in a rural area. Gardening was positively associated with healthy dietary habits among students, such as greater fruit and vegetable consumption. Gardening was also positively associated with physical activity and improved mental health and well-being. Students who participate in gardening report slightly lower levels of depressive symptoms and enhanced emotional well-being and experience higher family connection than students who do not participate in gardening. Conclusions. Gardening may make a difference for health and nutrition behaviors and may contribute to adolescents’ health and well-being in a positive manner. Health promoters should be encouraged to include gardening in future interventions for young people.

Mediterranean Diet adherence in emerging adults in Izmir

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmut Genc ◽  
Seda Genc
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediterranean Countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the adherence and abandonment of the Turkish emerging adults in an Izmir University located at western Mediterranean coast of Turkey and to assess potential associations with anthropometric characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey (n=494, 18–27 years) carried out in 2017 among emerging adults in University. KIDMED Index was used to assess the degree of adherence Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). The associations of KIDMED scores with demographic, residency and anthropometric were separately reported. The data were collected through standardized questionnaires directly from participants. Findings The average KIDMED score was calculated 4.86±2.5. Optimum adherence to the MedDiet was found only in 13.0 percent of participants, whereas 32.6 percent had poor adherence levels. Considering self-reported anthropometric data, the BMI values of the population was calculated as 22.3±3.9 kg/m2. In population, 13.9 percent of the subjects were underweight, while 16.0 percent were overweight and 3.9 percent obese. A significant association was found between BMI and KIDMED scores both in genders and residency. Originality/value This is the first study reporting the level of adherence to the MedDiet among Turkish emerging adults in terms of residency during education and the first KIDMED study conducted in Izmir located at Aegean Sea. The results support previously proposed transition concept by several scholar from different Mediterranean countries: it was found that only 13 percent of young adults having desired dietary habits in an Aegean city with local traditional cuisine highly affected by Cretan cuisine. These results are significant for University managements and health authorities in order to take actions for returning this transition contrariwise beginning with these groups.

Health, lifestyle behaviours, and well-being of International Masters field hockey athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-26
Author(s):  
Karen Croteau ◽  
Nina B. Eduljee ◽  
Laurie Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Field Hockey ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviours ◽  
Health Lifestyle ◽  
Health And Well Being

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare health status, lifestyle behaviours, and well-being of athletes from three world regions competing in the 2018 Masters Field Hockey World Cup. A total of 465 athletes (180 men, 284 women, 1 other) from 21 countries, aged 35 to 76 years, completed the Health and Well-being of Masters Field Hockey Athletes survey. Most participants rated their health as “very good” or “excellent”, had no major health conditions nor medication use, had a healthy BMI, and experienced varying levels of stress. No significant differences between the regions were found in health status. Participants had healthy dietary habits overall, with significant differences between the regions in fruit, vegetable, and water consumption. Most participants reported ≥7 hours of sleep per night and varying amounts of restless sleep. Just under half of the participants reported sitting five or more hours per day, with no significant differences between the regions. While significant differences were found in exercise frequency, participants across all regions were physically active. Participants reported high levels of flourishing, with some significant differences found between the regions. While some regional differences were found, International Masters field hockey athletes in general practise healthy lifestyle behaviours and reported excellent overall health and well-being.

scholarly journals Acute Physiological and Psychological Effects of Qigong Exercise in Older Practitioners

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Yi Lin ◽  
Tze-Taur Wei ◽  
Chen-Chen Wang ◽  
Wan-Chen Chen ◽  
Yu-Min Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Form ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Electrical Conductance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Pericardium Meridian ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health And Well Being

Qigong is a gentle exercise that promotes health and well-being. This study evaluated the acute physiological and psychological effects of one session of qigong exercise in older practitioners. A total of 45 participants (mean age, 65.14 years) were recruited. Meridian electrical conductance, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), heart rate variability (HRV), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) were evaluated and compared before and after one session of qigong exercise. The results revealed that the electrical conductance of all meridians, except spleen and bladder meridians, increased significantly (p<0.05). Compared with baseline values, upper to lower body ratio and sympathetic/vagal index were significantly improved and closer to 1 (p=0.011 and p=0.007, resp.). STAI-S and STAI-T scores decreased significantly (p<0.001 and p=0.001, resp.). The RR interval of HRV decreased significantly (p=0.035), a significant positive correlation was observed between kidney meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 physical scores (r=0.74, p=0.018), and a positive correlation was observed between pericardium meridian electrical conductance and SF-36 mental scores (r=0.50, p=0.06). In conclusion, one session of qigong exercise increased meridian electrical conductance, reduced anxiety, and improved body and autonomic nervous system balance. These findings provide scientific evidence for acute physiological and psychological effects of qigong exercise in older practitioners.

scholarly journals An update of the KIDMED questionnaire, a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 2543-2547
Author(s):  
Cesare Altavilla ◽  
Pablo Caballero-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Fruit Juice ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Whole Grains ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Health Organizations

AbstractObjective:The KIDMED questionnaire was published in 2004 to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in children and adolescents. In the last 14 years, several respected official dietetics and health organizations have recommended appropriate dietary habits, including eating whole grains and consuming whole fruit rather than fruit juice. We propose an update of the KIDMED questionnaire.Design:Based on the scientific evidence, the present commentary suggests some changes to the KIDMED questionnaire.Results:We suggest deleting ‘or fruit juice’ from the first question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Takes a fruit every day’, and assigning a positive value of +1. We suggest adding ‘whole-grain’ to the eighth question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Consumes whole-grain pasta or whole-grain rice almost every day (5 or more times per week)’, and assigning a positive value of +1. Further, we propose to add ‘whole cereals or whole grains’ to the ninth question of the questionnaire, reword the question as ‘Has whole cereals or whole grains (whole-meal bread, etc.) for breakfast’, and assign a positive value of +1.Conclusions:The present commentary examines some signs of a paradigm shift about fruit juice and whole grains after the development of the KIDMED questionnaire. The changes are of paramount importance in order to make the questionnaire an updated tool to evaluate adherence to the MD.

scholarly journals The Revival of Yoga in Contemporary India

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Newcombe
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
New Meanings ◽  
Indian Nation ◽  
Ascetic Communities ◽  
Common Era ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Improve Health

The word yoga refers to a multifaceted array of beliefs and practices. Yoga is twinned with sāṃkhya as one of the six orthodox darshanas (worldviews) of Hindu philosophy, with Patañjali’s Yogaśāstra having been codified by around the 5th century of the Common Era. A distinct body of texts known as the haṭhayoga corpus appears around the 11th century and emphasizes physical practices most likely used by ascetic communities. The ultimate aim of yoga is described by various words (e.g., kaivalya, samādhi, mokṣa, etc.); it is often described as an experience of an individual soul’s uniting with the divine, and/or becoming liberated from the material world. These historical precedents have continuities with contemporary yoga practices, and for many Indians today, yoga is understood as the essence of Indian spirituality. Yoga, however, took on new meanings in the late colonial period, becoming a mental, physical, and ethical discipline to aid in the struggle for an independent Indian nation state; a scientific, evidence-based practice to improve health and well-being; and a template for the evolution of an individual as well as humanity as a whole. At the same time, yoga kept an association with liberation and the realization of the ultimate nature of reality. In the early 21st century, all these meanings remain current in the Indian context, where yoga is continuing to experience a revival. In India, yoga is understood as a unique and valuable cultural resource that has the potential to revitalize both an individual’s health and the Indian nation-state, being an exemplar of the unique insights that Indian traditions can give to the rest of the world. Despite a notable shift in what is understood by yoga in the modern period, yoga continues to be a multivalent and increasingly popular practice in contemporary India.

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