Fruit and vegetable consumption. The 'glass half full' approach

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Fruit and vegetable consumption The ‘glass half full’ approach Text and adaptation by Dr. Miguel Merino-Pacheco, based on the presentation at the “Amsterdam Produce Show”, November 2016 by Herman Peppelenbos, Programme Manager Customised Food.

Wageningen University & Research

Miguel Merino-Pacheco mittelmeer@gmail.com

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Fruit and vegetable consumption

Fruit and vegetable consumption: the ‘glass half full’ approach Text and adaptation by Dr. Miguel Merino-Pacheco, based on the presentation at the “Amsterdam Produce Show”, November 2016 by Herman Peppelenbos, Programme Manager Customised Food. Wageningen University & Research

Index ▪

Introduction ………………………… 3

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Overwhelming evidence

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Miguel Merino-Pacheco Dr. Agronomist

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Changes in nutrient contents

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Is consumption enough?

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mittelmeer@gmail.com

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Increasing consumption

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Literature Cited

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Mention us

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Doktor agr.sc. Independent consultant in agro-food markets and specialized communication. Since 2012 based in the R.F of Germany.

ISBN - - - DOI - - - - -

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Fruit and vegetable consumption

Introduction Life expectations have grown steadily in The Netherlands between 1950 and 2012.

Men live now, in average, nine years more (79 years vs 70 years then) and women, ten years (73 to 83) longer. A rather long time period, but the difference is clear.

Herman Peppelenbos durante su presentaciรณn sobre el consumo de frutas y hortalizas

Presently, among the causes of death in that country, low consumption of fruit and vegetables runs in the fifth position, behind tobacco smoke (number one killer), high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. And prior to recognized villains, like alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.

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Overwhelming evidence Evidence sustaining the benefits of a diet containing a high proportion of fruit and vegetables are overwhelming. Only to mention a few examples: ▪

Fruit consumption cuts cardiovascular disease risk by up to 40% European Society of Cardiology, September 1, 2014, cited by Science Daily. The study presents the findings of a seven year follow-up study of nearly half million people in the China Kadoorie Biobank1. The more fruit people ate, the more their risk of CVD declined.

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A second report from the European Society of Cardiology published on April 25th, 2016 and also reported by Science News (“Mediterranean” diet linked to lower risk of heart attacks, strokes in heart patients – But a “Western” diet is not associated with an increased risk.”) states that “a Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables fish and unrefined foods, is linked to a lower risk of heart attack in people who already have heart disease, according to a study of over 15.000 people in 39 countries around the world. The research also showed that eating greater amount of healthy food was more important for these people than avoiding unhealthy food – a “Western” diet.”2

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Related to cancer, “Study confirms safety, cancer – targeting ability of nutrient in broccoli, other vegetables, researchers say” Oregon State University, June 9, 2011. “Sulforaphane, one of the primary phytochemicals in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that helps them prevent cancer, has shown for the first time to selectively target and kill cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected. The findings are another important step forward for the potential use of sulforaphone in cancer prevention and treatment.”

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The British daily “The Guardian” reports on a study of the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, showing that “elderly adults who strictly followed the “Mind” diet were 7.5 years younger cognitively over a period of nearly five years than those who adhered the least.”

1 The

CKB is an open-ended study with very broad research aims. The main objectives of the study are: 1) To assess reliably the effects of both established and emerging risk factors for many diseases, not only overall but also under various circumstances (e.g. at different ages and at different levels of other risk factors); 2) To determine the complex interplay between genes and environmental factors and between different genes on the risks of common chronic diseases.

2 Our emphasis (MMP).

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A diet rich in green leafy vegetables, beans, berries, wholegrains and wine can help slow normal brain ageing and cognitive decline, researchers said.

But, which is the reason of such evident success of a vegetable – rich diet? Many are cited. Vegetables do not contain salt, sugar, fat – all compounds that can be damaging if exceedingly taken. They are rich in fiber, which is very short on other foods and also in vitamins, of course (carotene -vitamin A; folic acid – vitamin B11 -, ascorbic acid – vitamin C -, alfa-tocoferol – vitamin E). Minerals like iron, magnesium und selenium are also present, and all in a natural mix. And a whole array of other chemical compounds found in vegetables, all of them known for their positive effects on human heath, are being presently investigated.

Low on fruit and vegetables? Also a silent killer Source: Peppelenbos, Wageningen

Changes in nutrient contents There are indications that environmental conditions, changes in vegetable cultivars and simple cultivation techniques are having an influence on the nutrient contents of our vegetables.

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An American study (“Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999”), carried out by scientists of the University of Texas and of the Bio Communication Research Institute in Kansas, had as objective to evaluate possible changes in USDA nutrient content data (13 nutrients) for 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999.

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It was found out that content of six nutrients (protein, Ca, P, Fe, riboflavin and ascorbic acid showed declines at a statistically reliable level, but not for seven other nutrients. The conclusion is that any real declines are generally most easily explained by changes in cultivated varieties between 1950 and 1999, representing trade – offs between yield and nutrient content.

These changes in nutrient content are seldom measured. Testing is expensive, and changes can be the consequence of – as found in the described piece of research differences between cultivars, or growing under different conditions or different seasons, or effects of post-harvest treatments and processing.

A recent study of the total β – carotene content - measured in μg / g fresh weight - made on two different lettuce cultivars (L. sativa cv Xamena and cv E01C.10216 grown under four different light treatments (blue + red3; white + red; blue + red + far red; white + red + far red), shows that the contents of that vit amin in Xamena is significantly higher when the plants grow in a light environment of only blue + red or white + red radiation. When far red radiation length is added, the concentration of β – carotene is lower.

Even when expensive, this kind of measurement research opens new possibilities regarding the study of the composition – and hence nutritional qualities – of different vegetables. It would be possible to improve advice on cultivar choice, on growing conditions, on the improvement of postharvest handling – storage, packaging, transport - of produce, on the optimization of processing techniques. And of course, on improving the quality of nutritional claims and general information made to the consumers.

Is consumption enough?

Another problem area is the target consumption and actual consumption of fruit and vegetables, taking into account the medical recommendations of minimal consumption.

How much should be eaten, to be in the healthy range? And how much is eaten really?

Recommendations have changed in the last years. Old numbers recommend a daily intake of 160 / 200 grams of vegetables. But new numbers show that the quantity should be increased to at least 250 grams daily.

3 The

color red covers the range between 630 and 740 nm on the visible spectrum. Far- red light is located at the extreme red of the visible spectrum, betwwen red and infra-red light – between 710 and 850 nm wavelength.

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In the meanwhile, sales of fruit and vegetables have been diminishing in the last seven years in The Netherlands. And only 22% of men and 30% of women eat the required consumption of fruit, and 27% of men and 27% of women the recommended quantities for vegetables. Even worse, the consumers are not aware of the problem.

75% of Dutch consumers think that they eat enough vegetables, while in fact only 15% reach the old recommendation of 200 grams daily. Most of vegetables are eaten as – or with – a warm meal.

Recommended consumption of fruit and vegetables is increased lately Source: Peppelenbos, Wageningen

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Increasing consumption In order to reach the consumers with consumption recommendations, the concept of CAN for the sales promotion has been developed. CAN means “C” for convenient, “A” for attractive and “N” for normal. A product is convenient when it is visible in trade and easy to reach, it is attractive when enticingly displayed and it is normal when it is an obvious choice for a meal. Competitors on the supermarket shelves – milk products, for instance – understand quite a bit of that ways to capture the eye of the consumer.

Research4 is also exploring other variables related to fruit and vegetable consumption: eating moments (breakfast, lunch, snack); eating locations (daycare, school, meetings, to go); and other produce positioning (restaurants, markets).

In that approach, one research groups are made up of toddlers, served fruit and vegetables in their daycare center, at 3 PM. The conditions are safe for the kids and very easy for the caring personal. In second group, high school teenagers are reached during lunch, or the produce is presented as snacks. Office workers are targeted during meetings, between 10 and 12 AM or 2 to 4 PM. Families and groups of friends are targeted during dinner, in restaurants, with the produce presented on the plate.

Presentation of fruit and vegetables in different locations, at different times and to different social groups, taking into account the above-mentioned CAN conditions, is a powerful instrument to promote its consumption. With positive effects to personal health, diminished costs to society, increased income for farmers and the development of a powerful and economically healthy food industry.

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Project “Dutch Topsector Tuinbouw”

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Literature Cited PEPPELENBOS, Herman (November 3, 2016). Fruit and vegetable consumption: the glass half full approach (customised food, Wageningen University & research).

At the Amsterdam Produce Show, Wageningen University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Mention us MERINO-PACHECO, Miguel. (2017). Fruit and vegetable consumption: the glass half full approach. Biblioteca Horticultura. Recovered from http://publicaciones.poscosecha.com/es/home/329-fruit-and-vegetableconsumption-the-glass-half-full-approach.html#

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