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Appetite May 2024What factors hinder the reduction of meat and/or dairy intake? In this study, we explored the perceived barriers that meat and/or dairy reducers experienced when...
What factors hinder the reduction of meat and/or dairy intake? In this study, we explored the perceived barriers that meat and/or dairy reducers experienced when shifting their diets. We particularly focused on how meat and/or dairy reducers were affected by their beliefs about how omnivores stereotype vegans (i.e., meta-stereotypes), as meta-stereotypes have not been previously explored in this context. Through open-ended questions in an online survey, we explored the experiences and perceived barriers among female meat and/or dairy reducers (n = 272), as well as their perceptions of vegans (i.e., stereotypes and meta-stereotypes), and how these perceptions affected their lived experiences. We analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis and generated six themes. We highlighted perceptions of cost (Theme 1) and perceptions of health concerns (Theme 2) as the most dominant barriers to the reduction of meat and/or dairy intake. Regarding (meta) stereotypes, participants' perceptions of vegans were shaped by personal experiences and encounters with vegans (Theme 3), and how participants related to vegans was sometimes reflected in the language they used to describe vegans (Theme 4). Participants felt that they, or reducers more generally, were occasionally judged as vegans (Theme 5), which might influence participants' choices and conformity to eating norms (Theme 6). Meta-stereotypes may play a role in polarised dietary group perceptions, and we discuss how they are shaped by social identity processes as well as by aspects of Western food systems.
PubMed: 38782094
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107506 -
Communications Biology May 2024Dairy fat has a unique lipid profile; it is rich in short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids that induce ketone production and has a balanced ω6/ω3 ratio that...
Dairy fat has a unique lipid profile; it is rich in short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids that induce ketone production and has a balanced ω6/ω3 ratio that promotes cognitive development in early life. Moreover, the high consumption of vegetable oils in pregnant and lactating women raises concerns regarding the quality of lipids provided to offspring. Here, we investigate maternal dairy fat intake during gestation and lactation in a highly valuable primate model for infant nutritional studies, the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). Two experimental diets are provided to gestant mouse lemurs: a dairy fat-based (DF) or vegetable fat-based diet (VF). The psychomotor performance of neonates is tested during their first 30 days. Across all tasks, we observe more successful neonates born to mothers fed a DF diet. A greater rate of falls is observed in 8-day-old VF neonates, which is associated with delayed psychomotor development. Our findings suggest the potential benefits of lipids originating from a lactovegetarian diet compared with those originating from a vegan diet for the psychomotor development of neonates.
Topics: Animals; Female; Cheirogaleidae; Cognition; Pregnancy; Dietary Fats; Animals, Newborn; Psychomotor Performance; Dairy Products; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Lactation; Male; Plant Oils
PubMed: 38769408
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06255-w -
Food Science and Technology... May 2024The germinated clove basil () and sweet basil () seeds being a potent source of dietary fibre, minerals and antioxidants are utilized as functional ingredients for the...
The germinated clove basil () and sweet basil () seeds being a potent source of dietary fibre, minerals and antioxidants are utilized as functional ingredients for the enrichment of gluten-free pasta. The germinated clove basil seed and sweet basil seed incorporated pastas with acceptable sensory scores were developed by substituting 30% and 15% of gluten-free flour respectively. Basil seed pastas exhibited lesser cooking time (7-8 min), cooking loss (6%) and similar texture as that of control. The clove basil seed pasta exhibited better cooking quality, nutritional and antioxidant properties than the sweet basil seed pasta due to higher level of basil seed flour substitution. Consumption of one serving of clove basil seed pasta (75 g) could meet the dietary fibre (49%, 58%), protein (15%, 17%), magnesium (18%, 21%), phosphorus (22%, 22%), manganese (28%, 28%) and copper (28%, 28%) daily requirements of sedentary adult men and women, respectively.
PubMed: 38766716
DOI: 10.1177/10820132241252218 -
Appetite May 2024This study investigates the structure of factors that influence consumer intentions to both try and to consume cultured proteins, and their intentions to substitute...
This study investigates the structure of factors that influence consumer intentions to both try and to consume cultured proteins, and their intentions to substitute vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets with these alternative protein sources. Comprehensive survey data (N = 3862) was collected from three Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, and Norway) and analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Theoretically, this article draws from behavioural models of environmental psychology, identity theory, and attitude theory. Results indicate that beliefs about the necessity of an industry producing cultured proteins and impacts of cultured proteins on the global economy are significant predictors of consumer intentions. Moreover, participants who exhibited high levels of general and food innovativeness were more likely to express positive intentions to consume cultured proteins. Social norms influenced consumer intentions: Individuals surrounded by positive attitudes and intentions toward cultured proteins within their social networks were more inclined to want to consume these products. The predictor variables in the final model accounted for between 39% and 66% of the variance in the different cultured proteins related intentions. Understanding consumer intentions better can inform targeted communication strategies aimed at promoting the advantages of cultured proteins and facilitating its adoption.
PubMed: 38763298
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107501 -
Appetite May 2024An important area for tackling climate change and health improvement is reducing population meat consumption. Traffic light labelling has successfully been implemented...
An important area for tackling climate change and health improvement is reducing population meat consumption. Traffic light labelling has successfully been implemented to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and sugary drinks. The present research extends this work to meat selection. We tested 1,300 adult UK meat consumers (with quotas for age and gender to approximate a nationally representative sample). Participants were randomised into one of four experimental groups: (1) a red traffic light label with the text 'High Climate Impact' displayed on meat meal options only; (2) a green traffic light label with the text 'Low Climate Impact' displayed on vegetarian and vegan meal options only; (3) red/orange/green (ROG) traffic light labels displayed on relevant meals; and (4) control (no label present). Participants made meal selections within their randomised group across 20 meal trials. A beta-regression was performed to ascertain the change in primary outcome (proportion of meat meals selected across the 20 trials) across the different groups. The red-only label and ROG labels significantly reduced the proportion of meat meals selected compared to the unlabelled control group, by 9.2% and 9.8% respectively. The green-only label did not differ from control. Negatively framed traffic light labels seem to be effective at discouraging meat selection. The labels appeared to be moderately acceptable to meat eaters, who did not think the labels impacted the appeal of the products. These encouraging findings require replication in real-life settings.
PubMed: 38763297
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107500 -
Prague Medical Report 2024We present a case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum secondary to a phytobezoar in an adult patient with no surgical history and without a vegan diet....
We present a case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum secondary to a phytobezoar in an adult patient with no surgical history and without a vegan diet. High intestinal obstruction due to a phytobezoar is rarely described in the literature, posing a diagnostic challenge when evaluating potential differentials in the emergency setting. Subsequently, we conduct a review focusing on tomographic findings and the surgical specimen, highlighting key points to consider when addressing such pathologies.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Bezoars; Duodenal Obstruction; Duodenum; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 38761047
DOI: 10.14712/23362936.2024.13 -
Allergologie Select 2024Since the EAT-Lancet Commission's call for a change in diet towards more plant-based foods, especially protein sources, this so called "Planetary Health Diet (PHD)" has... (Review)
Review
Since the EAT-Lancet Commission's call for a change in diet towards more plant-based foods, especially protein sources, this so called "Planetary Health Diet (PHD)" has been widely discussed. While for some the reduction in animal foods is not enough and vegan diets are advocated to save the climate, others are sounding the alarm that the reduction is too drastic and that the PHD makes it impossible to provide a diet that meets our needs (of essential nutrients). In addition to climate aspects, health benefits often cited to justify the PHD do not take into account that vegetarians/vegans differ from the general population by far more factors than the reduction or elimination of animal foods. Also not sufficiently discussed is the fact that a diet which excludes or severely restricts animal foods is also associated with health risks if critical nutrients are not adequately covered. Moreover, the challenge of meeting protein requirements is underestimated by many. The food industry has responded to the trend towards more plant-based foods by massively expanding the range of highly processed or ultra-processed vegan foods. These - vegan or not vegan - are suspected of being partly responsible for the development of non-communicable diseases. In addition to general criticism regarding the usefulness of advertising the PHD, the replacement of animal protein sources with plant-based sources notably harbors a number of additional relevant risks for allergy sufferers so that the latter should be classified as an unfavorable target group for the implementation of the PHD recommendations.
PubMed: 38756209
DOI: 10.5414/ALX02471E -
Revue Medicale Suisse May 2024
Topics: Diet, Ketogenic; Humans; Diet, Vegan; Microbiota; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Immunity
PubMed: 38756039
DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2024.20.874.998 -
PloS One 2024In a recent study (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265662), associations were identified between owner-reported dog health status and diet, whereby those fed a vegan diet...
In a recent study (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265662), associations were identified between owner-reported dog health status and diet, whereby those fed a vegan diet were perceived to be healthier. However, the study was limited because it did not consider possible confounding from variables not included in the analysis. The aim of the current study was to extend these earlier findings, using different modelling techniques and including multiple variables, to identify the most important predictors of owner perceptions of dog health. From the original dataset, two binary outcome variables were created: the 'any health problem' distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be healthy ("no") from those perceived to have illness of any severity; the 'significant illness' variable distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be either healthy or having mild illness ("no") from those perceived to have significant or serious illness ("yes"). Associations between these health outcomes and both owner-animal metadata and healthcare variables were assessed using logistic regression and machine learning predictive modelling using XGBoost. For the any health problem outcome, best-fit models for both logistic regression (area under curve [AUC] 0.842) and XGBoost (AUC 0.836) contained the variables dog age, veterinary visits and received medication, whilst owner age and breed size category also featured. For the significant illness outcome, received medication, veterinary visits, dog age and were again the most important predictors for both logistic regression (AUC 0.903) and XGBoost (AUC 0.887), whilst breed size category, education and owner age also featured in the latter. Any contribution from the dog vegan diet variable was negligible. The results of the current study extend the previous research using the same dataset and suggest that diet has limited impact on owner-perceived dog health status; instead, dog age, frequency of veterinary visits and receiving medication are most important.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Humans; Surveys and Questionnaires; Dog Diseases; Male; Female; Ownership; Perception; Health Status; Diet, Vegan; Logistic Models
PubMed: 38748734
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280173 -
PloS One 2024Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the two main leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Suboptimal diet, poor in vegetables, fruits, legumes and... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the two main leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Suboptimal diet, poor in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grain, and rich in processed and red meat, refined grains, and added sugars, is a primary modifiable risk factor. Based on health, economic and ethical concerns, plant-based diets have progressively widespread worldwide.
OBJECTIVE
This umbrella review aims at assessing the impact of animal-free and animal-products-free diets (A/APFDs) on the risk factors associated with the development of cardiometabolic diseases, cancer and their related mortalities.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed and Scopus were searched for reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published from 1st January 2000 to 31st June 2023, written in English and involving human subjects of all ages. Primary studies and reviews/meta-analyses based on interventional trials which used A/APFDs as a therapy for people with metabolic diseases were excluded.
DATA EXTRACTION
The umbrella review approach was applied for data extraction and analysis. The revised AMSTAR-R 11-item tool was applied to assess the quality of reviews/meta-analyses.
RESULTS
Overall, vegetarian and vegan diets are significantly associated with better lipid profile, glycemic control, body weight/BMI, inflammation, and lower risk of ischemic heart disease and cancer. Vegetarian diet is also associated with lower mortality from CVDs. On the other hand, no difference in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension were reported in pregnant women following vegetarian diets. Study quality was average. A key limitation is represented by the high heterogeneity of the study population in terms of sample size, demography, geographical origin, dietary patterns, and other lifestyle confounders.
CONCLUSIONS
Plant-based diets appear beneficial in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as CVDs, cancer risk and mortality. However, caution should be paid before broadly suggesting the adoption of A/AFPDs since the strength-of-evidence of study results is significantly limited by the large study heterogeneity alongside the potential risks associated with potentially restrictive regimens.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Diet, Vegetarian; Cardiovascular Diseases; Risk Factors; Diet, Vegan
PubMed: 38748667
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300711