Novel Natural Products for Healthy Ageing from the Mediterranean Diet and Food Plants of Other Global Sources-The MediHealth Project.

There is a rapid increase in the percentage of elderly people in Europe. Consequently, the prevalence of age-related diseases will also significantly increase. Therefore, the main goal of MediHealth, an international research project, is to introduce a novel approach for the discovery of active agents of food plants from the Mediterranean diet and other global sources that promote healthy ageing. To achieve this goal, a series of plants from the Mediterranean diet and food plants from other origins are carefully selected and subjected to in silico, cell-based, in vivo (fly and mouse models), and metabolism analyses. Advanced analytical techniques complement the bio-evaluation process for the efficient isolation and identification of the bioactive plant constituents. Furthermore, pharmacological profiling of bioactive natural products, as well as the identification and synthesis of their metabolites, is carried out. Finally, optimization studies are performed in order to proceed to the development of innovative nutraceuticals, dietary supplements or herbal medicinal products. The project is based on an exchange of researchers between nine universities and four companies from European and non-European countries, exploiting the existing complementary multidisciplinary expertise. Herein, the unique and novel approach of this interdisciplinary project is presented.

Could the 3D Printing Technology be a Useful Strategy to Obtain Customized Nutrition?

Within the concept of personalized nutrition we want to introduce the terms of "customized food formula" which refers to the preparation (at home) or the production (at industrial level) of new food formulations having nutrients and functional compounds necessary to prevent diseases or to reduce the risk for each subject (or subjects category) who exhibit a susceptibility to diseases. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a group of technologies of growing interest able to produce, slice by slice, materials with any desired shape, dimension, and structure properties. The application of 3D printing in food science, as called "3D food printing," is a pioneering technology that could allow to build personalized foods by depositing nutrients and functional compounds or soft-materials obtained by their mixture. Also by 3D food printing it is expected to obtain personalized food formula having desired shape, dimension, and microstructure. This would be useful for people having swallowing problems. In this paper we analyzed the first examples of 3D food printing available in literature as well as we reported our results focused on the production of 3D printed wheat-based snacks enriched with insect powder (Tenebrio molitor) with the aim to improve the quality and the content of proteins.

Descriptive Normative Nutrition Messages to Maximize Effect in a Videogame: Narrative Review.

Messages containing descriptive norms have been manipulated and tested for effects on dietary intake in a number of studies. The effects have been mostly small or nonexistent. This narrative review analyzed the structural elements of the nutrition messages most likely related to effectiveness. Elements examined included the following: source, similarity of source to the participant, reference group, identification with or evaluative significance of the reference group, delivery, salience, background, tailoring, gain-loss framing, and whether an assessment of the group norm was conducted before designing the descriptive norm message. Most studies incorporated few of the reviewed structural elements, and message manipulations appeared weak. Controlled, systematic studies are needed to examine the effect of the structural elements, singly and in combination, on behavior and its mediators. Videogames are designed to be delivered in the same way to players; therefore, they offer a controlled environment for extensively and systematically manipulating structural elements of messages and examining the resulting behavioral effects. How this might be accomplished was described. Experimental research was identified as being necessary to delineate the individual and combined element effects, thereby contributing to the body of literature on videogame design and effectiveness.

Contaminantes em alimentos e orientação nutricional: reflexão teórica / Contaminants in food and nutritional guidance: theoretical reflection / Contaminantes en alimentos y orientación nutricional: reflexión teórica

RESUMO Estudo de reflexão sobre as orientações nutricionais que são realizadas a população e que, na maior parte do mundo, enfatiza o consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes em maior quantidade em relação a alimentos industrializados, que por conterem maior quantidade de açúcar, sódio, e calorias aumentam o ganho de peso. No entanto, quando se lê a respeito das formas de cultivo dos alimentos in natura e sobre a qualidade dos alimentos cárneos e pescados, que são orientados para o consumo da população, surge à dúvida se há coerência entre a orientação e o consumo, uma vez que há relatos da contaminação desses alimentos por resíduos de agrotóxicos, contaminação do solo, da água e que não tem tido o devido destaque pelos órgãos estatais. Qual deveria ser a conduta perante a realidade que se apresenta? Uma perspectiva viável é a conscientização da população, que deve exigir melhores condições dos alimentos consumidos, além de resgatar práticas mais saudáveis como o cultivo de hortas orgânicas caseiras e adquirir o mínimo possível, alimentos industrializados. Longe de polemizar, esta reflexão visa incentivar uma visão crítica aos profissionais de saúde sobre seu papel na prevenção de doenças, e exigir alimentos mais saudáveis para o consumo humano.(AU)

ABSTRACT Reflection study on the nutritional guidelines given to the population, which, in most parts of the world, emphasize on the consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes over industrialized foods, which contain more sugar, sodium and calories, and increase body weight. However, when one reads about the ways of cultivating fresh food and about the quality of meat and fish products destined for consumption, the question arises as to whether there is coherence between said guidance and consumption, given that there are reports of contamination of these foods by pesticide residues, as well as soil and water contamination, a topic scarcely addressed by state entities. What should be done to face this reality? A viable perspective is to raise awareness in the population, which should demand better quality foods, in addition to returning to healthier practices such as the cultivation of home-grown organic gardens and acquiring as few industrialized foods as possible. Far from causing controversy, this reflection aims to encourage a critical view in health professionals on their role in disease prevention and the demand for healthier foods for human consumption.(AU)

RESUMEN Estudio de reflexión sobre las orientaciones nutricionales que se dan a la población y que, en la mayor parte del mundo, enfatizan el consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres antes que los alimentos industrializados, que por contener mayor cantidad de azúcar, sodio y calorías, aumentan peso corporal. Sin embargo, cuando se lee acerca de las formas de cultivo de los alimentos frescos y sobre la calidad de los alimentos cárnicos y pescados, destinados al consumo de la población, surge la duda de si hay coherencia entre la orientación y el consumo, dado que hay relatos de contaminación de esos alimentos por residuos de pesticidas, contaminación del suelo, del agua, poco atendido por los órganos estatales. ¿Cuál debería ser la conducta ante la realidad que se presenta? Una perspectiva viable es la concientización de la población, que debe exigir mejores condiciones de los alimentos consumidos, además de rescatar prácticas más saludables como el cultivo de huertos orgánicos caseros y adquirir el mínimo posible, de alimentos industrializados. Lejos de polemizar, esta reflexión pretende incentivar una visión crítica a de los profesionales de la salud sobre su papel en la prevención de enfermedades, y exigir alimentos más saludables para el consumo humano.(AU)

Ciência SP: mantenha o coronavírus longe dos alimentos

A equipe do Centro de Pesquisa em Alimentos (FoRC) da USP esclarece o papel dos alimentos na transmissão do patógeno causador da COVID-19.