Scottish Primary School Children Who Consume Greater Levels of Fruit and Vegetables Have Improved Health Markers

Background: There is conflicting information about whether Scottish children follow the UK government recommendation of consuming 5 portions of fruit and vegetable (F & V) a day, or whether increased intake of F & V promotes improved health. Objective: This study aimed to 1) perform a cross-sectional study of the number of F & V portions that primary school children consume in relation to age (4 - 13 years old) and sex, 2) establish the relationship between F & V intake and health parameters. Methods: Data were collected from 466 children using a specific F & V intake questionnaire. Health parameters (weight, height, blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference and lung function) were measured from all of the children. Results: Children consumed on average a total of 4.50 (SD 1.86) portions of F & V per day. F & V intake was not significantly different between girls and boys (t(464) = -0.397, P = 0.69). Children had greater intake of F&V on week day compared to weekend day (t(465) = 6.42, P ≤ 0.001). 42.2% children achieved the recommended F & V intake of five or more portions per day. After adjusting for age, sex and school, children who consumed more F & V had several markers of positive health including greater height, and parameters reflecting pulmonary function (FEV1 and FVC) were improved, while body weight, body fat, systolic blood pressure, pulse, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip and waist to height ratio were all reduced. Conclusion: The recommended level of F & V or more can promote health among primary age children.

Factors Associated with Students’ Daily Fruit and Vegetable Recommendation at Umm Al-Qura University

Introduction: There is a lack of the awareness in the fruit and vegetable (F & V) recommendation among Saudi society. Although the known facts of the benefits of F & V on health, information on Saudi society following the advised recommendation whether by WHO or local are still unknown. Aim: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the perception of F & V intake among students at Umm Al-Qura University and to assess if they follow these recommendations of F & V locally and internationally. Method: Students from Umm Al-Qura University participated in this study (n = 98, age between 18 - 55). All data were collected using short online survey via Online survey—Survey Monkey in 2019. Result: 55% students were not aware of these recommendations whereas 45% were aware of WHO recommendation. The majority of students 53% have less than two portions a day of F & V. Only 14% have between two to four portions a day. 32% do not eat any portion of F & V daily. 59%, 14%, 5% of students believe that they should have five, seven, more than seven portions a day for being healthy respectively. Maintaining health, reducing the risk for chronic disease and providing essential vitamins and minerals to the body were all reasons why students believe that they should have F & V everyday by 71%. Busy lifestyle, F & V cost, lack of the awareness about the health benefits, dislike of the taste, some F & V spoiled easily were all factors affecting eating F & V daily. Conclusion: University students need educational and nutritional campaigns to spread the awareness about the health benefits of F & V. Most importantly the ministry of health should support those campaigns to increase students’ awareness and build a healthy society with a good habit.

The Role of Healthy Diet (HD) on Covid-19 Pandemic during and after

Diet remains a key factor that significantly influences the outcomes of the disease. There are some factors that place one at a higher risk of morbidity from the disease, with the common ones being elderly age and coexistent comorbidities. The dietary consumption of the patient is vital since some Western Diets that are largely refined predispose one to cardio-metabolic diseases. In addition to that, the consumption of such diets largely influences the immunity of the individual, whereby it reduces the disease-fighting capability of the immune system. The health education on the patient with the condition has largely widened to encompass the healthy eating habits that one should emulate to reduce the disease severity. Further, in an attempt to promote the awareness of the importance of healthy eating, Eat Well Saskatchewan (EWS) has formulated some social media outreach to ensure that the importance of healthy eating reaches a larger population.