Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables: Review from Sub-Saharan Africa

Amao, I.O.

doi:10.5772/intechopen.74472

Cited by 32 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Some common fruits like citrus (e.g., lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, grape), guava, cashew, mango, pawpaw, pineapple, avocado, banana, African star apple, sweetsop/ sugar apple, breadfruit, soursop, African bush mango, passion fruit, apple, dates ( 58 ) and vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, okra, eggplant, cucumber, beets, garlic, onion, and ginger) found in sub-Saharan Africa may be of nutritional psychiatry relevance ( 58 ). These fruits and vegetables have high levels of micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, and vitamins ( 59 , 60 ).…”

Section: Foods and Food Compounds That Affect Psychiatric Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Augmenting Clinical Interventions in Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Update on Nutrition

et al. 2021

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There is a strong relationship between a healthy diet and mental well-being. Several foods and food compounds are known to modulate biomarkers and molecular mechanisms involved in the aetiogenesis of several mental disorders, and this can be useful in containing the disease progression, including its prophylaxis. This is an updated systematic review of the literature to justify the inclusion and recognition of nutrition in the management of psychiatric illnesses. Such foods and their compounds include dietary flavanols from fruits and vegetables, notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, probiotics (fermented foods) known to protect good gut bacteria, foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., Omega-3), and avoiding diets high in saturated fats and refined sugars among others. While the exact mechanism(s) of mitigation of many nutritional interventions are yet to be fully understood, the evidence-based approach warrants the inclusion and co-recognition of nutrition in the management of psychiatric illnesses. For the greater public health benefit, there is a need for policy advocacy aimed at bridging the knowledge gap and encouraging the integration of nutritional intervention with contemporary therapies in clinical settings, as deficiencies of certain nutrients make therapy difficult even with appropriate medication.

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Section: Foods and Food Compounds That Affect Psychiatric Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Augmenting Clinical Interventions in Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Update on Nutrition

et al. 2021

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“…One study indicated that fruits and vegetable intake is low among adolescents and correlates with low consumption (Labyak, Jahan-Mihan, Seabrooks-Blackmore & Rodriguez, 2017). Several studies highlight positive benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption including improvement in brain and memory function and overall wellbeing (Liu, 2003;Slavin & Lloyd, 2012;Amao, 2018). One study concluded that the rate and frequency of fruits and vegetable consumption among participants increase in tandem with the health education and promotional benefits received (Nti, Hagan, Bagina, & Seglah, 2011).…”

Section: Meal Outsourcing Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the National School Lunch Program at a Public Charter School in Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Mr.

Prof.

2021

EAJESS

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The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is the second largest meal program in the United States, operating in Elementary, Secondary and not for profit private schools. The goals and objectives of the NSLP is to provide free, healthy, nutritious and balanced meals to students each school day so they can develop into healthy adults. This study sought to assess whether the goals and objectives of the NSLP were being met. A mixed method with a convergent design was employed with a sample of 30 students and 2 staff. Findings revealed that majority of students believed that meals served are healthy, nutritious and balanced and are served timely. Majority of the respondents indicated that staff and servers in the school cafeteria are friendly and accommodating. It can be deduced from the findings that the school met the objectives of the program to a great extent but there is room for improvement since there are students who were served with nutritional foods but still did not consume portions of it. It is therefore recommended that the school incorporate healthy eating habits in the school’s curriculum including health education and promotions, which can help to boost consumption and increase the nutritional intake of vital nutrients in students.

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“…Fruits are essential in the human diet and their consumption has been correlated with multiple health benefits as they are dense in vitamins, minerals, fibre and many bioactive compounds (Amao, 2018). Their medicinal properties have been linked to their potent antioxidant activities which reduce the risks of short life span, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, obesity, diabetes, neuronal dysfunction and cancer (Boffetta et al., 2010; Oyebode et al., 2014; Rolls et al., 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strawberry fruit ( Fragaria x ananassa Romina) juice attenuates oxidative imbalance with concomitant modulation of metabolic indices linked to male infertility in testicular oxidative injury

et al. 2021

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This study investigated the protective properties of strawberry fruit on testicular oxidative injury. Oxidative injury was induced in vitro in testicular tissue homogenates by incubation with ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) in the presence and absence of strawberry fruit extract (SFE) for 30 min at 37˚C, with gallic acid serving as the standard antioxidant drug. Induction of oxidative injury significantly reduced glutathione, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; and inhibited SOD, catalase and ENTPDase activities when compared to normal control. It also led to exacerbated nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, LDL‐cholesterol levels, acetylcholinesterase, ATPase and lipase activities. These effects were, however, reversed following treatment with SFE when compared to the untreated control, except for cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Additionally, the induction of the oxidative injury led to alterations in testicular lipid metabolites that were accompanied by the activation of α‐linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolic pathways. While SFE treatment had no significant impact on the altered metabolites, it repressed pathways for mitochondrial beta‐oxidation of long‐chain saturated fatty acids and plasmalogen synthesis. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of SFE revealed the presence of rutin, caffeic acid, p‐coumarin and cinnamic acid. These data imply the protective potentials of strawberry fruits against testicular oxidative injury.

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Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables: Review from Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 32 publications

References 23 publications

Augmenting Clinical Interventions in Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Update on Nutrition

Augmenting Clinical Interventions in Psychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review and Update on Nutrition

Evaluation of the National School Lunch Program at a Public Charter School in Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Strawberry fruit ( Fragaria x ananassa Romina) juice attenuates oxidative imbalance with concomitant modulation of metabolic indices linked to male infertility in testicular oxidative injury

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