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Diet is a factor driving the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota, and macronutrients have a great impact on microbiota. Dietary non-digestible carbohydrate can produce marked changes in the gut microbiota, dietary fibers are major drivers of gut microbiota composition and function, stimulating the dominance of bacteria able to utilize these substrates as energy source, but these effects depend on both the type of fiber and the initial composition of an individual’s gut microbiota. Protein metabolism by gut microbiota results in additional products, some of which are potentially harmful to host health. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria are the three major phyla that inhabit the human large intestine. The genera Bacteroides is associated with meat-based diets, the families Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae are associated with diets rich in complex plant polysaccharides, and the genera Prevotella is associated with diets high in sugar but low in fat and protein. Diet can be used to modulate the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota. One dietary strategy for modulating the microbiota is consumption of dietary fiber and prebiotics. This review aims at describing knowledge about gut microbiota, oriented towards a use of diet to provide benefits to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the public’s growing preoccupation with healthy eating, both inside and outside the home; an increase in people eating out; and the importance that olive oil has acquired in the markets due to its health benefits, the aim of this study is to find out whether health is also a relevant criterion for chefs in their olive oil purchase decisions. To this end, a survey was conducted of 400 chefs in Spain belonging to the international chefs’ association Euro-Toques. The results show that only 2% of the sample consider health to be a relevant criterion in the purchase of olive oils and that the attribute of “health” is not used by restaurants as an element of differentiation by which to position themselves in the market. These results lead us to conclude that the consumer demand for healthy foods (in this case, olive oils) is not being met by the restaurant sector. Moreover, this raises the question as to whether chefs actually make good opinion leaders, with all that this social role implies.

Background: Inadequate access to healthy foods is among the most important factors contributing to obesity and chronic illnesses due to over-crowdedness of junk foods and bakery shops. Objective: To address an innovative operational model to mitigate the healthy foods inequity in Thailand. Methods: In 2013, the network of health/allied-health professionals from Chulalongkorn University, domestic sciences experts, food professionals and chronic diseases patients from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) were formed. Healthy foods availability, channel of accessibility and consumer behavior were three main strategies deployed. Ready-to-eat healthy foods (RTEHF) were created to match with simple criteria considering calories per portion, fiber, sugar, fat and salt in accordance with recommended daily intake. Four-squared meter area at outpatient building of the KCMH was provided for operation. The kiosk operated in the morning from Mondays to Fridays during September 2014-May 2015. Consumer survey was done to assess satisfaction and adoption. Results: Sixty-two RTEHF menus were created and >50,000 portions were delivered. Monthly surveys were done with high satisfaction rate. Disease-specific healthy menu book was published and disseminated to the public with >10,000 copies downloaded since December 2016. Large public hospitals expressed their interest to adopt this model. Small/medium foods enterprises voluntarily co-created more healthy foods menus to scale up to all public hospitals. Mass media regarded this as a new way for hospital social responsibility. The KCMH administrators offered permanent healthy-foods-area to serve more patients with integrated on-site health education in 2017. Conclusion: Healthy eating in health care system can be successfully achieved by multi-disciplinary and inter-professional collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, much attention has been paid to physiological functions of foods due to increasing concerns for human health. Accordingly, several meat-based bioactive compounds have been studied as potential health-promoting substances. Among these emphasizing activities, one possible approach is deploying microorganisms for improving health image of meat and meat-based products with special reference to meat sausages. The uses of functional starter cultures with an industrially or nutritionally important functionality are being explored for enhancing the functionality and nutritional value of meat sausages. This article mainly focuses on the role and possibilities of using microorganisms for development of functional meat sausages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) are usually accompanied by an image for dissemination and implementation. Objective: to design and validate an image to represent the variety and proportions of the new Chilean dietary guidelines, include foods high in critical nutrients that should be avoided and physical activity guidelines. Method: a panel of experts tested seven graphics and selected three that were validated with 12 focus groups of people aged 10-14 and 20-40 years, of both sexes, from different socioeconomic groups and from both rural and urban areas. We analyzed the perception of variety and proportions of the food groups for daily intake and motivation for action in diet and physical activity. We utilized the METAPLAN method used previously in the validation of FBDG. Results and discussion: the final image was a circle that showed the variety and proportions of each food group for daily consumption (in pictures), included physical activity guidelines in a strip around the middle of the circle and a rectangle towards of bottom of the image with examples of foods high in critical nutrients in black and white. The chosen picture was modified using input from participants and validated with three additional focus groups, improving its understanding and acceptance. Conclusion: most participants understood that the image represented the relationship between healthy eating and daily physical activity, correctly identifying the food groups for which increased intake was suggested and those groups in which intake should be reduced or avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the public's growing preoccupation with healthy eating, both inside and outside the home; an increase in people eating out; and the importance that olive oil has acquired in the markets due to its health benefits, the aim of this study is to find out whether health is also a relevant criterion for chefs in their olive oil purchase decisions. To this end, a survey was conducted of 400 chefs in Spain belonging to the international chefs' association Euro-Toques. The results show that only 2% of the sample consider health to be a relevant criterion in the purchase of olive oils and that the attribute of "health" is not used by restaurants as an element of differentiation by which to position themselves in the market. These results lead us to conclude that the consumer demand for healthy foods (in this case, olive oils) is not being met by the restaurant sector. Moreover, this raises the question as to whether chefs actually make good opinion leaders, with all that this social role implies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]