Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals

The recent growing interest towards the nutraceutical and antioxidant value of fruit and vegetables has arisen from their content of phytochemicals, which provide desirable health benefits, beyond basic nutrition, to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases [...]

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The addition of raspberries and blueberries to a starch-based food does not alter the glycaemic response

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114511001450 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 106 (3) ◽

pp. 335-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Miriam E. Clegg ◽

Megan Pratt ◽

Ciara M. Meade ◽

C. Jeya K. Henry

Keyword(s):

Blood Glucose ◽

Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Postprandial Hyperglycaemia ◽

Glycaemic Response ◽

Postprandial Glycaemia ◽

Starchy Food ◽

Reduce Blood Glucose

It is now known that health benefits associated with diets rich in fruit and vegetables may be partly derived from intake of polyphenols. Berry polyphenols may influence carbohydrate metabolism and absorption and hence postprandial glycaemia. To date, studies related to polyphenol effects on the glycaemic response have been completed only in liquids using either monosaccharides or disaccharides. It remains to be determined whether berries known to be rich in polyphenols can reduce the glycaemic response (GR) to a solid polysaccharide meal. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether berries alter postprandial hyperglycaemia and consequently the GR to a starchy food. Blood glucose was tested on seven occasions, on three occasions using a reference food and on four occasions using pancakes supplemented with either raspberries or blueberries or control pancakes containing similar amounts of fructose and glucose. Results showed that there were no differences in GR (blueberry 51·3 (sem5·7); raspberry 54·7 (sem5·6); blueberry control 43·9 (sem4·2); raspberry control 41·8 (sem6·4)), GR area under the curve or satiety index between any of the tests. The present study indicates that the ability of berries to reduce blood glucose from starch-based foods is unsubstantiated.

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Reactions to an Online Demonstration of the Effect of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Appearance: Survey

10.1101/19004523 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Cairns ◽

Gozde Ozakinci ◽

David Ian Perrett

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Skin Colour ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Orange Pigment ◽

The Impact ◽

Colour Appearance

AbstractBackgroundInadequate fruit and vegetable consumption causes a considerable disease burden and premature mortality. Despite considerable public health promotion of a healthy diet the average consumption is still below recommended levels. Fruit and vegetable consumption influences human skin colour, increasing red/yellow/orange pigment in the skin. Given that this colour is deemed attractive and healthy-looking, the appearance benefit may provide motivation to eat more fruit and vegetables. Such appearance motivation could be particularly effective in young individuals who currently eat least fruit and vegetables.ObjectivesTo assess how widely the impact of diet on skin colour is known within the UK. To compare the strength of motivation to eat fruit and vegetables based on health and appearance benefits and to compare the effect of different UK demographics on motivation.MethodsFour groups of UK residents (N = 200 each group) were recruited through the Prolific online platform. Groups comprised younger (aged 18-24) and older adults (aged 40-60) of low and high self-reported socioeconomic status (1-5 and 6-10 on a 10-point rating scale). Facial images simulating the skin colour associated with low and high fruit and vegetable diets were shown to participants. Questionnaires were used to assess (1) background knowledge of the health and skin colour effects of dietary fruit and vegetables; (2) the specific motivational impact of the skin colour illustration and (3) the relative importance of motivation to consume fruit and vegetables arising from health and skin colour appearance benefits.Results(1) 61% of all participants were unaware of the dietary–skin colour association. (2) 57% of participants found the simple demonstration of the dietary impact on skin colour positively motivating to eat more fruit and vegetables. The visual demonstration was equally motivating for participants of high and low self-reported socioeconomic status (P = .63) and different ethnic backgrounds (White N = 453, Black N = 182, Asian N = 87, P = .22). Health benefits from a diet high in fruit and vegetables were regarded as more motivating than skin colour appearance benefits. The appearance benefits of a high fruit and vegetable diet (compared to the health benefits) were relatively more important for the younger participants (Mann-Whitney U = 96,263, P < .001) and for women (N = 489) than for men (N = 310, U = 83,763, P = .01).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that promotion of the skin colour effects of diets high in fruit and vegetables could provide additional motivation for a healthier diet. Our study indicates the wide appeal of appearance benefits from dietary fruit and vegetable (across ethnicity and socioeconomic status) and particularly amongst young adults where inadequate diet is most prevalent.

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The health benefits of selective taxation as an economic instrument in relation to IHD and nutrition-related cancers

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980013000153 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 2124-2131 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Astrid L Holm ◽

Mai-Britt Laursen ◽

Maria Koch ◽

Jørgen D Jensen ◽

Finn Diderichsen

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Burden Of Disease ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Value Added ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Danish Population ◽

Potential Health ◽

Life Years ◽

Potential Impact

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to estimate the health benefits of selective taxation of healthy and unhealthy food commodities in relation to CVD and nutrition-related cancers.DesignThe potential health effects of a selective taxation scenario were estimated as changes in the burden of disease, measured by disability-adjusted life years, from health outcomes affected by the changes in food intake. The change in burden of a disease was calculated as the change in incidence of the disease due to a modified exposure level, using the potential impact fraction. Estimates of relative risk for the associations between various foods and relevant diseases were found through a literature search and used in the calculation of potential impact fractions.SettingThe study was based in Denmark, estimating the health effects of a Danish selective taxation scenario.SubjectsThe potential health effects of selective taxation were modelled for the adult Danish population.ResultsHalving the rate of value-added tax on fruit and vegetables and increasing the tax on fats would result in moderate reductions in the burden of disease from IHD, ischaemic stroke, and colorectal, lung and breast cancer (0·4–2·4 % change). The largest effect could be obtained through increased intake of fruit and vegetables (0·9–2·4 %).ConclusionsApplying selective taxation to healthy and unhealthy foods can moderately reduce the burden of disease in the Danish population.

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Reactions to an Online Demonstration of the Effect of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Appearance: Survey Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/15726 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. e15726

Author(s):

Patrick Cairns ◽

Gozde Ozakinci ◽

David Ian Perrett

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Skin Color ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Color Appearance ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Orange Pigment ◽

The Impact

Background Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption causes a considerable disease burden and premature mortality. Despite public health promotion of a healthy diet, the average consumption is still below recommended levels. Fruit and vegetable consumption influences human skin color, increasing red/yellow/orange pigment in the skin. Given that this color is deemed attractive and healthy-looking, the appearance benefit may motivate to eat more fruit and vegetables. Such appearance motivation could be particularly useful in young individuals who currently eat the least fruit and vegetables. Objective Our objectives were to assess how widely the impact of diet on skin color is known within the UK and to compare the strength of motivation to eat fruit and vegetables based on health and appearance benefits among different demographic groups. Methods Four groups of UK residents (N=200 per group) were recruited through the Prolific online platform. Groups comprised younger (aged 18-24) and older adults (aged 40-60) of low and high self-reported socioeconomic status (1-5 and 6-10 on a 10-point rating scale). Facial images simulating the skin color associated with low and high fruit and vegetable diets were shown to participants. Questionnaires were used to assess (1) background knowledge of the health and skin color effects of dietary fruit and vegetables, (2) the specific motivational impact of the skin color illustration, and (3) the relative importance of motivation to consume fruit and vegetables arising from health and skin color appearance benefits. Results We found that 61% (n=487) of all participants were unaware of the dietary–skin color association. We also found that 57% (n=457) of participants found the simple demonstration of the dietary impact on skin color positively motivating to eat more fruit and vegetables. The visual demonstration was equally motivating for participants of high and low self-reported socioeconomic status (P=.63) and different ethnic backgrounds (White N=453, Black N=182, Asian N=87, P=.22). Health benefits from a diet high in fruit and vegetables were regarded as more motivating than skin color appearance benefits. The appearance-changing benefits of a high fruit and vegetable diet (compared to the health benefits) were relatively more important for the younger participants (Mann-Whitney U=96,263, P<.001) and for women (N=489) than for men (N=310, U=83,763, P=.01). Conclusions These findings indicate that the promotion of the skin color effects of diets high in fruit and vegetables could provide additional motivation for a healthier diet. Our study indicates the broad appeal of appearance benefits from dietary fruit and vegetable (across ethnicity and socioeconomic status) and particularly amongst young adults where an inadequate diet is most prevalent.

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Review on Health Benefits of Fruit and Vegetables Consumption: Preventive Implications for Non-communicable Diseases in Ethiopia

10.7176/jmpb/70-03 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Health Benefits ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Non Communicable Diseases

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Reactions to an Online Demonstration of the Effect of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Appearance: Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.15726 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Cairns ◽

Gozde Ozakinci ◽

David Ian Perrett

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Skin Color ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Color Appearance ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Orange Pigment ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption causes a considerable disease burden and premature mortality. Despite public health promotion of a healthy diet, the average consumption is still below recommended levels. Fruit and vegetable consumption influences human skin color, increasing red/yellow/orange pigment in the skin. Given that this color is deemed attractive and healthy-looking, the appearance benefit may motivate to eat more fruit and vegetables. Such appearance motivation could be particularly useful in young individuals who currently eat the least fruit and vegetables. OBJECTIVE Our objectives were to assess how widely the impact of diet on skin color is known within the UK and to compare the strength of motivation to eat fruit and vegetables based on health and appearance benefits among different demographic groups. METHODS Four groups of UK residents (N=200 per group) were recruited through the Prolific online platform. Groups comprised younger (aged 18-24) and older adults (aged 40-60) of low and high self-reported socioeconomic status (1-5 and 6-10 on a 10-point rating scale). Facial images simulating the skin color associated with low and high fruit and vegetable diets were shown to participants. Questionnaires were used to assess (1) background knowledge of the health and skin color effects of dietary fruit and vegetables, (2) the specific motivational impact of the skin color illustration, and (3) the relative importance of motivation to consume fruit and vegetables arising from health and skin color appearance benefits. RESULTS We found that 61% (n=487) of all participants were unaware of the dietary–skin color association. We also found that 57% (n=457) of participants found the simple demonstration of the dietary impact on skin color positively motivating to eat more fruit and vegetables. The visual demonstration was equally motivating for participants of high and low self-reported socioeconomic status (P=.63) and different ethnic backgrounds (White N=453, Black N=182, Asian N=87, P=.22). Health benefits from a diet high in fruit and vegetables were regarded as more motivating than skin color appearance benefits. The appearance-changing benefits of a high fruit and vegetable diet (compared to the health benefits) were relatively more important for the younger participants (Mann-Whitney U=96,263, P<.001) and for women (N=489) than for men (N=310, U=83,763, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the promotion of the skin color effects of diets high in fruit and vegetables could provide additional motivation for a healthier diet. Our study indicates the broad appeal of appearance benefits from dietary fruit and vegetable (across ethnicity and socioeconomic status) and particularly amongst young adults where an inadequate diet is most prevalent.

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