Intervención temprana educativa sobre hábitos alimentarios como estrategia de prevención en amas de casa / Educational intervention on eating habits as a prevention strategy in housemakers

Resumen Objetivo: Realizar una intervención temprana educativa, para fortalecer el conocimiento sobre hábitos alimentarios saludables en amas de casa de la Zona Centro de Nuevo Padilla, Tamaulipas, México. Materiales y Métodos: Para poder llegar a la intervención se requirió previamente de un diagnóstico de salud, en el cual se identificaron los factores determinantes, daños, servicios y recursos para la salud. Posteriormente, se propuso realizar una intervención temprana educativa mediante un programa dirigido a amas de casa, impartiendo 3 exposiciones con tópicos selectos de alimentación y nutrición, y 2 talleres prácticos donde participaron 50 amas de casa dentro de la zona de intervención, cuya duración fue de abril a junio 2021. El nivel de conocimiento adquirido previo y posterior de la intervención fue analizado a través una prueba no paramétrica Man-Whitney (P˂0.01), para el análisis de las variables de los conocimientos de hábitos alimentarios saludables del cuestionario, se utilizó un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) (P˂0.0318). Resultados: En el diagnóstico de salud, se identificaron 14 problemas de salud, siendo la dieta inadecuada uno de los principales problemas detectados. Durante la intervención temprana educativa se observó que en el total de las participantes el conocimiento adquirido sobre hábitos alimentarios saludables se incrementó en un 14%. Por su parte, en la aplicación del cuestionario sobre el conocimiento de hábitos alimentarios saludables aumentó principalmente sobre los siguientes puntos: la definición de dieta (72%), grupos de alimentos (14%), propiedades organolépticas (78%), ingesta correcta de agua (30%), la combinación de leguminosas con cereales (6%), consumo moderado de grasas (12%) y alimentos industrializados (26%). Conclusiones: Con la intervención temprana educativa aplicada a las amas de casa se logró aumentar el grado de conocimientos sobre hábitos alimentarios saludables, lo cual contribuirá a llevar un estilo de vida más saludable.

Abstract Objective: To carry out an early educational intervention to strengthen the knowledge about healthy eating habits in homemakers of the Central Zone of Nuevo Padilla, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Materials and Methods: A health diagnosis was required previously applied early educational intervention, in which the determining factors, damages, services and resources for health were identified. Subsequently, it was proposed to carry out an educational intervention through a program aimed at homemakers, giving three presentations with selected topics of food and nutrition and two practical workshops where 50 housewives participated within the intervention area, whose duration was from April to June 2021. The level of knowledge acquired before and after the intervention was analyzed using a Man-Whitney non-parametric test (P˂0.01) for the analysis of the variables of the healthy eating habits knowledge of the questionnaire, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P˂0.0318). Results: In the health diagnosis, 14 health problems were identified, being the inadequate diet one of the main problems detected. During the early educational intervention, it was observed that the knowledge acquired about healthy eating habits increased by 14% in all the participants. For its part, in the application of the questionnaire on the knowledge of healthy eating habits, it increased mainly on the following points: the definition of diet (72%), food groups (14%), organoleptic properties (78%), correct intake of water (30%), the combination of legumes with cereals (6%), moderate fat consumption (12%) and industrialized foods (26%). Conclusions: With the early educational intervention applied to homemakers, it was possible to increase the degree of knowledge about healthy eating habits, contributing to leading a healthier lifestyle.

Evaluación de la estabilidad de cápsulas de jugo de naranja obtenidas mediante gelificación iónica / Evaluation of the stability of orange juice capsules obtained by ionic gelation

Resumen El método de gelificación iónica, como técnica de encapsulación, se basa en las interacciones entre hidrocoloides, las cuales previenen la posibilidad de daño de compuestos bioactivos presentes en alimentos, tales como los jugos de cítricos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la estabilidad de las cápsulas de jugo de naranja, obtenidas mediante gelificación iónica, utilizando pectina y alginato de sodio como agentes encapsulantes. Se determinaron la pérdida de peso, atributos de color, diámetro, morfología macroscópica y densidad en cápsulas elaboradas. Se utilizó un diseño factorial, modificando la concentración de pectina de alto metoxilo (1.5 %, 2 % y 2.5 % p/v), pH (2.5, 3.5 y 4.5) y sólidos solubles totales (SST) a 5 ºBrix y 15 ºBrix, manteniendo constante la concentración de alginato de sodio al 0.5 % (p/v), y se almacenaron a temperatura ambiente (26 ºC) y refrigeración (4 ºC) durante 12 d. Las cápsulas presentaron principalmente forma esférica (> 45 %). Los atributos de color permanecieron estables durante 12 d de almacenamiento. Los SST iniciales y el pH influyeron en la estabilidad de las cápsulas. A una concentración de 15 ºBrix y pH 2.5 no se pudieron formar de manera adecuada las cápsulas, presentando mayor sinéresis y morfologías amorfas. Las cápsulas de jugo de naranja con concentración de pectina 2 % (p/v), alginato de sodio 0.5 % (p/v), SST 5 ºBrix y pH 2.5, se mantuvieron estables con parámetros de calidad apropiados al ser almacenadas a temperatura de refrigeración (4 ºC). El método de gelificación iónica mediante encapsulación ofrece una alternativa para prolongar la vida útil del jugo, y el desarrollo de nuevos productos elaborados a partir de este cítrico.

Abstract The ionic gelation method as an encapsulation technique is based on the interactions between hydrocolloids, which prevent the possibility of damage of bioactive compounds present in foods, such as citrus juice. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the stability of the orange juice capsules obtained by ionic gelation using pectin and sodium alginate as encapsulating agents. The effects of the gelling agents on the stability were determined by the measurement of weight loss, diameter, color attributes, diameter, macroscopic morphology, density in elaborate capsules. In addition, a factor analysis design was used by modifying the concentration of high methoxyl pectin (1.5 %, 2 % and 2.5 % w/v), pH (2.5, 3.5 and 4.5) and total soluble solids (TSS) at 5 ºBrix and 15 ºBrix, maintaining the concentration of sodium alginate constant at 0.5 % (w/v). The capsules were stored at room temperature (26 ºC) and refrigeration (4 ºC) for 12 d. They mainly presented a spherical shape (> 45 %). The color attributes remained stable even after 12 d of storage. The initial TSS and pH influenced the stability of the capsules. At a concentration of 15 ºBrix and pH 2.5, the capsules could not be adequately formed, capsules presenting greater syneresis and amorphous morphologies. However, the orange juice capsules remained stable for more than 2 weeks and with stable quality parameters when stored at refrigeration temperature (4 ºC), pectin concentration 2 % (w/v), sodium alginate 0.5 % (w/v), TTS 15 ºBrix and pH 2.5. The ionic gelation method through encapsulation offers an alternative to extend the shelf life of the juice and the development of new products made from this citrus.

Use of Vine-Trimming Wastes as Carrier for Amycolatopsis sp. to Produce Vanillin, Vanillyl Alcohol, and Vanillic Acid.

Raw vine-trimming wastes or the solid residues obtained after different fractionation treatments were evaluated for their suitability as Amycolatopsis sp. immobilization carriers during the bioconversion of ferulic acid into valuable phenolic compounds such as vanillin, vanillyl alcohol, and vanillic acid, the main flavor components of vanilla pods. Previously, physical-chemical characteristics of the materials were determined by quantitative acid hydrolysis and water absorption index (WAI), and microbiological characteristics by calculating the cell retention in the carrier (λ). Additionally, micrographics of carrier surface were obtained by field emission-scanning electron microscopy to study the influence of morphological changes during pretreatments in the adhesion of cells immobilized. The results point out that in spite of showing the lowest WAI and intermediate λ, raw material was the most appropriated substrate to conduct the bioconversion, achieving up to 262.9 mg/L phenolic compounds after 24 h, corresponding to 42.9 mg/L vanillin, 115.6 mg/L vanillyl alcohol, and 104.4 mg/L vanillic acid. The results showed the potential of this process to be applied for biotechnological production of vanillin from ferulic acid solutions; however, further studies must be carried out to increase vanillin yield. Additionally, the liquors obtained after treatment of vine-trimming wastes could be assayed to replace synthetic ferulic acid.

Resistance of Mexican fruit fly to quarantine treatments of high hydrostatic pressure combined with heat.

High-pressure processing (HPP) has been proposed as an alternative quarantine method against the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), which is one of the most important pests infesting mangoes, citrus, and other fruits in Mexico and other Latin-American countries. However, processing conditions used to destroy eggs and larvae also affect the shelf life of fruits. The objective of this study was to assess the biological viability of A. ludens eggs treated with HPP, establishing whether undestroyed eggs were able to develop larvae, pupae, and adults capable of reproduction. Eggs of 1, 2, 3, and 4 days old were pressurized at 50, 75, or 100 MPa for 0, 5, 10, or 20 min. The hatching ability of pressurized eggs; survivorship of third instars, pupae, and adults emerged; and their capability to produce viable eggs were examined. The results showed that the hatching capacity of eggs and the larval development were affected negatively by the treatment duration and level of pressure. Treatments with 100 MPa for 20 min inhibited the hatching capacity of eggs of 2, 3, or 4 days old by 100%, but the inhibition was of 99.8% for 1-day-old eggs. Most of the eggs that survived the treatments were able to produce adults that can reproduce. The percent of hatching of eggs of A. ludens oviposited for adults obtained from pressurized 1-day-old eggs treated with 100 MPa for 20 min was 64.81%. Thus, more efforts must be addressed to destroy eggs and larvae during HPP because surviving organisms can reach adult stage and reproduce.