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Although cow's milk is known to provide numerous nutritional benefits, there has been a recent upsurge in the popularity of plant-based milk alternatives. Plant-based milk alternatives are gaining popularity among those who avoid animal products for ethical, environmental, animal welfare, or health reasons. While plant-based alternatives offer a range of health advantages, such as dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant substances, they may not be as nutritionally complete as cow's milk. Plant-based alternatives are complex systems that contain solid particles, proteins, fat globules, and starch granules. The production process involves pre-treatment, grinding, filtration, addition of additives, homogenization, and pasteurization, and the nutritional composition and stability of the final product are influenced by the raw materials, processing conditions, and storage. This review summarizes the findings of previous research on the nutritional composition and production processes of plant-based dairy alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angka prevalensi stunting di Kabupaten Kampar mengalami penurunan dari tahun 2017 sebesar 23% dari jumlah balita di Kampar hingga tahun 2019, mampu diturunkan menjadi 11,88% yang melebihi target nasional sebesar 14%, namun tren penurunan tersebut harus tetap dipantau. Desa Rimbo Panjang memiliki kader pemberdayaan manusia (KPM) yang sudah terbentuk kurang lebih 1 tahun dan merupakan bagian dari kader desa yang memiliki tugas khusus terkait program konvergensi pencegahan stunting. Pola kerja KPM belum dilaksanakan secara optimal terutama dalam hal target dan monitoring pelayanan kesehatan dan gizi. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk mengoptimalkan peran KPM dalam pencegahan stunting di Desa Rimbo Panjang. Kegiatan dilaksanakan pada bulan April-Mei 2021 yang diikuti oleh 14 orang kader. Kegiatan ini dibagi menjadi beberapa tahap, yaitu (1) persiapan, (2) pelaksanaan, dan (3) evaluasi. Metode pelaksanaannya dilakukan melalui penyuluhan, pelatihan atau praktik, dan simulasi. Hasil kegiatan PKM ini adalah terjadinya transfer ilmu pengetahuan melalui berbagai metode yang disajikan. Diharapkan kedepannya dengan meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan kader dapat diimplementasikan dalam kegiatan posyandu balita sehingga dapat berpartisipasi dalam pencegahan stunting. Kegiatan ini dapat dilanjutkan mengenai pelatihan aplikasi e-ppgbm yang merupakan pencatatan dan pelaporan gizi masyarakat berbasis elektronik.

Abstract Background In Nepal, Health Mother’s Groups (HMG) are women’s group-based programmes for improving maternal and child health. However, they remain underutilised with only 27% of reproductive-aged women participating in an HMG meeting in 2016. This study aimed to understand the facilitators and barriers to HMG meeting participation. Methods We conducted a convergent mixed-methods study using cross-sectional quantitative data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey and primary data collected via 35 in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions with 1000-day women and their family members, female community health volunteers (FCHVs) and health facility staff in two geographies of Nepal, Kaligandaki and Chapakot. Quantitative data were analysed using logistic regression and qualitative data using deductive coding. The results were triangulated and thematically organised according to the socio-ecological model (SEM). Results Facilitators and barriers emerged across individual, interpersonal and community levels of the SEM. In the survey, women with more children under five years of age, living in a male-headed household, or in rural areas had increased odds of HMG participation (p

Milpa is a traditional polyculture production system mainly composed of corn, beans and pumpkin, together with other edible plants. It represents an important food and nutrients supply, but also bioactive compounds source, such as phenols, anthocyanins, phytosterols, phytates, resistant starch, peptides, among others compounds that confer multiple health benefits. Therefore, the aim of this work was to gather the scientific evidence on the health effects of the bioactive compounds found in the plants that belong to the milpa. Although there are few studies that report the interaction between different biomolecules and crops in combination, as in meant to be at regular eating; evidence, here summarized, suggests that consumption of milpa vegetables has an active effect of biomolecules from these crops was found active, mainly on chronic non-communicable diseases. Thus, the main objective of this study was to summarize the scientific evidence on bioactive compounds found in the plants grown as part of the milpa and their health-related benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation was traditionally used all over the world, having the preservation of plant and animal foods as a primary role. Owing to the rise of dairy and meat alternatives, fermentation is booming as an effective technology to improve the sensory, nutritional, and functional profiles of the new generation of plant-based products. This article intends to review the market landscape of fermented plant-based products with a focus on dairy and meat alternatives. Fermentation contributes to improving the organoleptic properties and nutritional profile of dairy and meat alternatives. Precision fermentation provides more opportunities for plant-based meat and dairy manufacturers to deliver a meat/dairy-like experience. Seizing the opportunities that the progress of digitalization is offering would boost the production of high-value ingredients such as enzymes, fats, proteins, and vitamins. Innovative technologies such as 3D printing could be an effective post-processing solution following fermentation in order to mimic the structure and texture of conventional products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Nepal, Health Mother's Groups (HMG) are women's group-based programmes for improving maternal and child health. However, they remain underutilised with only 27% of reproductive-aged women participating in an HMG meeting in 2016. This study aimed to understand the facilitators and barriers to HMG meeting participation.Methods: We conducted a convergent mixed-methods study using cross-sectional quantitative data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey and primary data collected via 35 in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions with 1000-day women and their family members, female community health volunteers (FCHVs) and health facility staff in two geographies of Nepal, Kaligandaki and Chapakot. Quantitative data were analysed using logistic regression and qualitative data using deductive coding. The results were triangulated and thematically organised according to the socio-ecological model (SEM).Results: Facilitators and barriers emerged across individual, interpersonal and community levels of the SEM. In the survey, women with more children under five years of age, living in a male-headed household, or in rural areas had increased odds of HMG participation (p < 0.05) while belonging to the Janajati caste was associated with lower odds of participation (p < 0.05). Qualitative data helped to explain the findings. For instance, the quantitative analysis found women's education level associated with HMG participation (p < 0.05) while the qualitative analysis showed different ways women's education level could facilitate or hinder participation. Qualitative interviews further revealed that participation was facilitated by women's interest in acquiring new knowledge, having advanced awareness of the meeting schedule and venue, and engagement with health workers or non-government organisation staff. Participation was hindered by the lack of meeting structure and work obligations during the agricultural season.Conclusions: To improve women's participation in HMGs in Nepal, it is necessary to address factors at the SEM's individual, interpersonal, and community levels, such as enhancing FCHV literacy, providing advance notice of the meeting schedule, upgrading the meeting venues and reducing women's workload through family support, particularly during agricultural season. These improvements are essential for strengthening effective implementation of HMG meetings and similar women's group-based platforms, and for ultimately improving maternal and child health in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainstream media play a central role in shaping the ways diet and nutrition are discussed in the public sphere, yet few studies have explored its depictions of the meat-health nexus. Focusing on eight of the most popular news online sites consumed by lower-income groups in the UK—the demographic most likely to eat meat, according to a survey conducted for this study—we carried out content analysis of 128 articles. We found, first, a multiplicity of pro- and anti-meat narratives across all news outlets; second, that the dominant recommendation, found in 40% of our sample, was to eat less or no red meat; and third, that a balanced or neutral sentiment was present in over half of our sample, with a ratio of 3:2 (anti-versus pro-meat) in remaining articles. We found that the editorial leaning of a news outlet was not closely correlated with its overall sentiment towards meat consumption; all were neutral or slightly anti-meat, with the exception of LAD Bible, the only clearly pro-meat outlet. Qualitative analysis uncovered three key themes: the risk of red meat on colorectal cancer, uncertainty around plant-based options, and individual dietary choice. We use case studies guided by these themes to highlight some of the shortcomings of health communication and provide recommendations, with a focus on improved dialogue between journalists and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation was traditionally used all over the world, having the preservation of plant and animal foods as a primary role. Owing to the rise of dairy and meat alternatives, fermentation is booming as an effective technology to improve the sensory, nutritional, and functional profiles of the new generation of plant-based products. This article intends to review the market landscape of fermented plant-based products with a focus on dairy and meat alternatives. Fermentation contributes to improving the organoleptic properties and nutritional profile of dairy and meat alternatives. Precision fermentation provides more opportunities for plant-based meat and dairy manufacturers to deliver a meat/dairy-like experience. Seizing the opportunities that the progress of digitalization is offering would boost the production of high-value ingredients such as enzymes, fats, proteins, and vitamins. Innovative technologies such as 3D printing could be an effective post-processing solution following fermentation in order to mimic the structure and texture of conventional products.

Consumers' demands are changing how foods are produced, processed, and delivered. In this respect, the term rational food design (RFD) appears in an increasing number of scientific articles without much explanation of its precise meaning. Attempting a definition of the concept supported by several examples would facilitate and encourage its applications in food research and product development. The aims of this review are to (i) discuss advances in the rational design of foods resulting in improved product properties; (ii) address the role of food microstructure and the food matrix in achieving specific functional targets in several food products; and (iii) comment on the most active areas of food microstructure research, use of imaging techniques and the interfaces with other scientific disciplines. The article proposes that RFD is expressing the desirable sensorial, emotional, nutrition, and health properties of foods as functional multiscale microstructures and matrices following an integrated knowledge-based process that utilizes a versatile multidisciplinary toolbox. RFD is used advantageously in the development of delivery systems for nutraceuticals, redesigned/reformulated traditional products, gastronomic creations, personalized foods, applications for novel food sources, innovative plant-based foods and meat analogs, and matrices to feed a healthy microbiota. RFD implies working at interfaces with various disciplines outside the direct realm of food science and technology, thus nurturing from their knowledge and tools. • Food microstructure determines some of the most important properties of foods • Rational food design (RFD) meets target properties through functional microstructures • RFD uses a knowledge-based, versatile, and multidisciplinary toolbox • Structuring technologies for food design are available at multiple scales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper advances a multi-dimensional composite measure to map rural food and nutrition security (FNS). The proposed measure was applied to the rural areas of the thirteen drought-prone Bundelkhand districts of India for validation. We adopted a theory based holistic approach, used district level secondary data, and utlized the FAO framework to develop a composite index, the food and nutrition security index (FNSI) which comprises forty seven different indicators under relevant themes. The studied districts were thematically mapped using QGIS software, and ranked based on their index values. The analysis indicates to a distinct disparity as prevailing among the studied districts in terms of food availability, accessibility, utilization, and overall FNS. In light of the index, the findings further imply that the Bundelkhand districts Hamirpur, Sagar, and Mahoba require larger attention in terms of FNS interventions whereas, the districts Datia, Lalitpur, and Chitrakoot are perhaps in the safest position in comparison to the other districts in the region. The proposed method of FNS estimation can be readily adopted with several advantages for the rural areas across the country as a tool for prioritizing and targeting FNS interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Indian spices are recognised all over the world for their extensive physiological and pharmacological properties. Biomedical efforts are focused to provide evidence for the traditional uses. Indian traditional medical system used the authentic spices for wound healing, rheumatic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, rhinitis and cosmetics. The anti-inflammatory property, anti-oxidant potential, anti carcinogenic properties contribute to the immune-modulatory effect. Recent studies show therapeutic and immune enhancing properties of traditional Indian spices. Spices come with a host of health benefits, including enhancing your immunity and protecting from infections such as bacteria, virus etc. Research says that herbs and spices fight inflammation and reduce damage to the body's cells," because each one is rich in phytochemicals, which are healthful plant chemicals. Certain spices that come with immunity boosting properties can prove to be beneficial during this flu season. Spices are to be consumed in moderation to derive health benefits, but an overdose of any spice can lead to indigestion or even ulcers. This review focuses on the dietary sources of spices, its potential health benefits, chemopreventive role, role in maintaining gut health and emphasise on the role of spices in enhancing immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes and animals have a symbiotic relationship that greatly influences nutrient uptake and animal health. This relationship can be studied using selections of microbes termed synthetic communities, or SynComs. SynComs are used in many different animal hosts, including agricultural animals, to investigate microbial interactions with nutrients and how these affect animal health. The most common host focuses for SynComs are currently mouse and human, from basic mechanistic research through to translational disease models and live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) as treatments. We discuss SynComs used in basic research models and findings that relate to human and animal health and nutrition. Translational use cases of SynComs are discussed, followed by LBPs, especially within the context of agriculture. SynComs still face challenges, such as standardization for reproducibility and contamination risks. However, the future of SynComs is hopeful, especially in the areas of genome-guided SynCom design and custom SynCom-based treatments.

Biofortification aims to increase the concentration of bioavailable elements in crops, to increase their nutritional quality. Selenium is a trace element of great impact on the antioxidant metabolism of plants and its accumulation is poor in species such as Solanum lycopersicon, so adding it is part of biofortification programs. The present work analyzes the capacity of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) to increase the concentration of Selenium in tomatoes plants and fruits. For this, three treatments were applied (0, 2, and 5 mg L−1 of sodium selenite) using irrigation water as a vehicle. 40 days after transplanting, the accumulation of selenium and macronutrients in leaves, stems, and fruits was quantified, as well as their impact on tomato plant productivity. Agronomic variables such as height (cm), diameter (mm) of stems, number and weight (g) of fruits produced were determined. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and later, a Tukey mean comparison test was performed. An increase in the accumulation of Se was observed, being up to 53% in the fruits under the 5 mg L −1 treatment compared to the control. However, this increase did not have a noticeable impact on macronutrient content and tomato yield, but rather, contributed to the improvement of the nutritional quality of the tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are multifaceted photosynthetic microorganisms with emerging business potential. They are present ubiquitously in terrestrial and aquatic environments with rich species diversity and are capable of producing significant biomass. Traditionally, microalgal biomass is being used as food and feed in many countries around the globe. The production of microalgal-based bioactive compounds at an industrial scale through biotechnological interventions is gaining interest more recently. The present review provides a detailed overview of the key algal metabolites, which plays a crucial role in nutraceutical, functional foods, and animal/aquaculture feed industries. Bioactive compounds of microalgae known to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects were comprehensively reviewed. The potential microalgal species and biological extracts against human pathogens were also discussed. Further, current technologies involved in upstream and downstream bioprocessing including cultivation, harvesting, and cell disruption were documented. Establishing microalgae as an alternative supplement would complement the sustainable and environmental requirements in the framework of human health and well-being.

The mother's role in stimulating the child's intelligence is pivotal since she carries the pregnancy and the child spends more time with her than with the father in the first few years of life. The early years are crucial because it is the time for the child's rapid brain development. This paper examines the mother's role of care giving on children with intellectual disability in the early years. Qualitative focus group discussions were employed to collect data. Four focus group interviews. Two groups consisted of six participants and another two consisted of seven participants in each interviews. The findings revealed that not leading a healthy life may lead to children being born with intellectual disability. The mothers from a low socio-economic context thought that the child with intellectual disability was an excessive burden and craved that the child would die rather than live. They were not willing to consider treatment options unless the child would become completely normal. This paper recommends that the mothers as the only participants in this study limit the findings but provided first hand experiences connected to caregiving and children with intellectual disability. In addition, there is an implication that mothers of children with intellectual disabilities are at an obviously bigger risk of suffering from social disorder and dispossession as well as emotional suffering which can progress to severe depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-objective formulation of the Menu Planning Problem, which is termed the Multi-objective Menu Planning Problem, is presented herein. Menu planning is of great interest in the health field due to the importance of proper nutrition in today’s society, and particularly, in school canteens. In addition to considering the cost of the meal plan as the classic objective to be minimized, we also introduce a second objective aimed at minimizing the degree of repetition of courses and food groups that a particular meal plan consists of. The motivation behind this particular multi-objective formulation is to offer a meal plan that is not only affordable but also varied and balanced from a nutritional standpoint. The plan is designed for a given number of days and ensures that the specific nutritional requirements of school-age children are satisfied. The main goal of the current work is to demonstrate the multi-objective nature of the said formulation, through a comprehensive experimental assessment carried out over a set of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms applied to different instances. At the same time, we are also interested in validating the multi-objective formulation by performing quantitative and qualitative analyses of the solutions attained when solving it. Computational results show the multi-objective nature of the said formulation, as well as that it allows suitable meal plans to be obtained.

Biofortification aims to increase the concentration of bioavailable elements in crops, to increase their nutritional quality. Selenium is a trace element of great impact on the antioxidant metabolism of plants and its accumulation is poor in species such as Solanum lycopersicon, so adding it is part of biofortification programs. The present work analyzes the capacity of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) to increase the concentration of Selenium in tomatoes plants and fruits. For this, three treatments were applied (0, 2, and 5 mg L−1 of sodium selenite) using irrigation water as a vehicle. 40 days after transplanting, the accumulation of selenium and macronutrients in leaves, stems, and fruits was quantified, as well as their impact on tomato plant productivity. Agronomic variables such as height (cm), diameter (mm) of stems, number and weight (g) of fruits produced were determined. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and later, a Tukey mean comparison test was performed. An increase in the accumulation of Se was observed, being up to 53% in the fruits under the 5 mg L−1 treatment compared to the control. However, this increase did not have a noticeable impact on macronutrient content and tomato yield, but rather, contributed to the improvement of the nutritional quality of the tomato.

Protein−polysaccharide composites have been known to show a wide range of applications in biomedical and green chemical fields. These composites have been fabricated into a variety of forms, such as films, fibers, particles, and gels, dependent upon their specific applications. Post treatments of these composites, such as enhancing chemical and physical changes, have been shown to favorably alter their structure and properties, allowing for specificity of medical treatments. Protein−polysaccharide composite materials introduce many opportunities to improve biological functions and contemporary technological functions. Current applications involving the replication of artificial tissues in tissue regeneration, wound therapy, effective drug delivery systems, and food colloids have benefited from protein−polysaccharide composite materials. Although there is limited research on the development of protein−polysaccharide composites, studies have proven their effectiveness and advantages amongst multiple fields. This review aims to provide insight on the elements of protein−polysaccharide complexes, how they are formed, and how they can be applied in modern material science and engineering.

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Along with food manufacturers, retailers contribute directly to the national diet. While efforts to reformulate private-label products have been assessed, little research considers other voluntary initiatives to impact public health. We explore efforts targeting children’s health and nutrition. Making use of the corporate social responsibility reports of the seven leading retailers from 2006 to 2011, we examine the types of actions, by which retail chains and when. Before 2008, most retailers reported on initiatives promoting children’s nutrition education and physical activity in schools. Since 2009, references to such programs have decreased, with a shift toward child wellness. We find that retailers differ in approaches and commitment. Those with larger market shares mention initiatives more frequently. Most activities are related to nutrition education, developing cooking skills, and promotion of physical activity and not product reformulation. Our research suggests these efforts are not coordinated, might be misplaced, and do not persist over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an individual-level dataset drawn from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2009, this paper investigated whether the parental labour migration is associated with deficiencies in the nutrition intakes of children left at home in the rural area. The results show that the parental migration increases the probability of deficiency in the energy and protein intake of children left at home. Although several studies have pointed out that the parental remittances can increase the economic well-being of their children at home, this study points to an undesired cost of the parental migration. Governments should establish effective policies to promote the benefits of migration while minimizing the potential costs. In particular, specific social welfare programs targeting on children in the rural area can be designed to insecure the nutritional health of children left at home in the rural area.

Economic exploitation is one means to offset the cost of controlling invasive species, such as the introduced Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) on the French Atlantic coast. Total lipid and phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FAs) and sterols were examined in an invasive population of C. gigas in Bourgneuf Bay, France, over four successive seasons, with a view to identify possible sources of exploitable substances. The total lipid level (% dry weight) varied from 7.1% (winter) to 8.6% (spring). Of this, PLs accounted for 28.1% (spring) to 50.4% (winter). Phosphatidylcholine was the dominant PL throughout the year (up to 74% of total PLs in winter). Plasmalogens were identified throughout the year as a series of eleven dimethylacetals (DMAs) with chain lengths between C16 and C20 (up to 14.5% of PL FAs + DMAs in winter). Thirty-seven FAs were identified in the PL FAs. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3 EPA/7.53% to 14.5%) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3 DHA/5.51% to 9.5%) were the dominant polyunsaturated FAs in all seasons. Two non-methylene-interrupted dienoic (NMID) FAs were identified in all seasons: 7,13-docosadienoic and 7,15-docosadienoic acids, the latter being present at relatively high levels (up to 9.6% in winter). Twenty free sterols were identified, including cholesterol at 29.9% of the sterol mixture and about 33% of phytosterols. C. gigas tissues thus contained exploitable lipids for health benefits or as a potential source of high-quality commercial lecithin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]