CHANGES IN NUTRITION IN A FEW YEARS

[maria angelica sassone]

reduce fat intake and enhance intake of five meals a dayWith the firm intention to meet the ObesityThe disease of the new century. Without abandoning support for these measures, the aspiration to promote healthy habits joined in the second decade of the commitment to reduce salt intake , increasing fruit and vegetable consumption , physical inactivity and fire . It is intended that citizens are healthier , less obese and stronger hearts .

Reduce salt intake

- Image : Steve Woods -

The memory of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition ( AESAN ) leaves no doubt: the European institutions and others that make reference agencies are committed to and supports campaigns to ensure that the maximum intake of salt is reduced. too much is consumed . The average diet contains 9.7 grams per person per day , significantly higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization ( WHO), 5 milligrams per day. There are many medical reasons that lead to this need , such as prevention of cardiac ischemia , but above all it seeks to implement a scientific evidence : reducing salt intake prevents effectively and directly hypertension.

It is critical that the palate gets used to less salty flavors

To achieve the purpose , the agency and experts have proposed to work with all social sectors simultaneously : communication, health agencies , food industry and training plans. Furthermore, while will pay special attention on products with high sodium chloride content in the most popular, not obvious that the overall diet determines the sources of sodium intake .

Part of the evidence that is key to the palate of consumers are accustomed to less salty flavors . It is known that in setting targets to reduce salt is more effective a voluntary approach , the consumer himself from the average for each food category, as has already been achieved with low salt bread. We study recognize and advertise products with a logo that will reduce the content of this mineral, below the level determined to be compliant target.

Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables

- Image : Bruce Tuten -

Although consumption of fruits and vegetables is present in all the literature about proper nutrition and good nutrition , this time , it reflects on how to introduce them into the regular diet without subterfuge or equivocation . Therefore, once a technical work carried out in the AESAN , according to health criteria , there was a proposal of products eligible for Plan Fruit in schools. There is a commitment to arrange the transfer of European funds to distribute for free fresh fruit and vegetables in schools among children aged between 6 and 10 years.

There is a commitment to organize the delivery of European funding to distribute free fresh fruit and vegetables in schools

The chapter fruit juice merited a separate discussion . Tolerated , if not abused. Special attention is to define the fruit juice , a concept that refers only product capable of fermentation, but not fermented , obtained from healthy and ripe fruit , fresh or preserved by chilling, of one or more species that have color, aroma and flavor of fruit juice from which it comes . It specifies that "may reinstate the aroma juice , pulp and cells that have lost with the extraction , but not supported based fruit juice concentrates , fruit juice concentrates and fruit nectars .

In this case , also repeats add to fresh or minimally processed the fourth range. That is, are considered optimal in the diet of fresh vegetables , clean, sanitized , cut or not packaged or modified atmosphere and ready for direct consumption or after cooking .

Increase physical activity

No one disputes the need to promote physical activity in a society that promotes a sedentary lifestyle . However, it also has been shown that diet and exercise is a binomial recognized but little practiced. Efforts are focused on enhancing the opportunities for exercise , discover the fun side of physical activity in leisure clear confrontation with the screen and reward initiatives to lead and encourage the family to enter the sport in their habits .

This third leg of the purposes for the next few years is in line with the previous two : reducing salt and increasing healthy food. It aims to facilitate and welcome the conviction that responds to exercise will and creates a satisfying, remember to limit salt helps protect the heart and consume fruits and vegetables improves diet. In short, they give clues to help citizens take care of your health.

A permanent reference center study

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition ( AESAN ) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Social Policy was created in 2001. It was the institutionalized response to the crisis mad cow and in 2006 added to its functions of promoting health in the field of nutrition and , in particular in the prevention of obesity. He received the mission to ensure the highest level of food security as a fundamental aspect of public health , and promote the health of citizens, and that these have full confidence in the food they eat and have adequate information to be capable of choice. The consumer is at the center of their decisions , above all other interests. To achieve its objectives, is committed to creating and maintaining a reputation for expertise and organizational excellence in food safety and introducing a risk assessment policy to ensure the credibility , independence and transparency of the proceedings.

The AESAN is the institution responsible for coordinating the activities related directly or indirectly to the food safety

[Ana Antaka]

Right on! I eat a vegetarian diet and walk almost 2 miles a day. And I feel wonderful. But I started on this kind of path after having had a massive stroke at age 46. I'm now almost 70.