A balanced diet is next tol moderate exercise the key to good health. It is the starting point of the XV Congress of the SENC to be held at the University of Deusto, in which a debate on new advances in nutritional public healthin addition to starting collaborative projects and giving a boost to food Km0 in the new Food Guides for the Population (2025). We will also talk about nutritional and culinary education taught in schools, improve collective menus, greater control of the contents of pesticides, heavy metals and microplastics in food and nutritional training programs for adults.
WHO
Javier Aranceta Bartrina is a Doctor in Medicine and Nutrition, and president of the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC). He is also president of the Royal Academy of Medicine of the Basque Country. Among his numerous awards is the Grande Covian and Gregorio Marañón Prize. In addition, he has published numerous books on nutrition and public health, and community nutrition and health. He is an Academician of the Royal Academy of Doctors, Royal European Academy of Doctors and the Royal Academy of Gastronomy.
Balanced diet, exercise, not smoking or drinking alcohol… these are healthy measures but without a patent, why do we prefer to be prescribed expensive drugs (ozempic for example) rather than following those simple and cheap rules?
These classic measures are always necessary, but not always sufficient because obesity and other health problems have genetic or metabolic components that need to accompany healthy lifestyles with a collaborative component, in certain cases a drug, that improves the intervention.
What role should administrations play to promote healthy personal and community lifestyles (food among them)?
Administrations at all levels of action have a key role in health promotion. The first and perhaps most important level is the municipal level, because it is the first line of the environment. But these projects need organization, specific financing and qualified professionals.
Dairy, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat in moderation, no or little alcohol… It is easy to find information on healthy diets, but why do they fail, due to little information, ignorance, lack of will, are they expensive…?
A diet based on ultra-processed foods, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizzas, etc. is more appetizing and more comfortable. Cooking takes time, money and a lot of love. The idea that we must spread is that the time spent shopping at the local market, cooking traditional recipes at home and eating in company is saved in waiting times at the clinic.
“A diet based on ultra-processed foods is more palatable and comfortable. Cooking takes time, money and a lot of love”
Does healthy nutrition have a zip code? Or is it feasible to eat a balanced diet on a modest budget?
The zip code is related to more or less vulnerable environments due to economic capacity, culture and educational level. The solution is to prioritize these districts in nutritional education (teaching shopping, cooking and healthy lifestyles), facilitate healthy environments (sports spaces, healthy and sustainable recreational activities, implement measures that facilitate access to more food and drink options. healthy, by offer, e.g. educational centers; and by price, monitoring and evaluation of community actions in the area, etc.). We need to be more proactive in these environments; We will save a lot in health expenses.
In supermarkets, the areas dedicated to pre-cooked foods are expanding day by day; From a dietary and health point of view, are they better, the same or worse than those traditionally prepared at home?
He gold standard It is food prepared at home. Grandma’s cooking has no possible competitor either in flavor or health. Prepared food can be an interesting addition managed judiciously. Some dishes such as hake in green sauce, roast chicken, cod meatballs, etc. They can help us complement a lunch or dinner based on salad or steamed vegetables. The processed and ultra-processed have no interest to take home. We need to be better organized with shopping and cooking time, cooking seconds on the weekend to freeze and refrigerate. The collaboration of all family members greatly improves the situation.
“If we eat well, we avoid waiting at the clinic”
Eating well requires being well informed. To understand food labels, either you are an expert or most of them are unintelligible. What can be done?
Go with reinforcement glasses when shopping at the supermarket. There is no problem if we buy fresh, seasonal products from the local market. Any questions will be resolved by the shopkeeper.
Gluten, lactose, histamines, nuts… Allergies and intolerances seem to grow at a gallop. Why are there so many? Are they increasing or is it a marketing strategy to sell more expensive?
Surely now there are more diagnostic possibilities and we link many discomforts to food components. Food without They are sold more expensive because they have required a technological process that makes the product more expensive. Either you avoid it or pay for the alternative without. In my opinion, in many cases these products really benefit the consumer with these special needs. The truth is that we need more products without pesticides, heavy metals or microplastics.
“We need more products without pesticides, heavy metals or microplastics”
Probiotics, prebiotics, supplements, vitamins, trace elements… Are they necessary if we are healthy? Why is it preferable to take these preparations instead of a balanced diet?
It is more comfortable and sometimes they are necessary, in older adults, athletes, intense and demanding occupation, sick people. The first and most important level is food (salmon); the second is the dietary supplement (fish oil) and the third (omega-3 capsules). Dietary advice is key here, because comfort can be very uncomfortable in the long run.
The SENC is the Spanish Society for Community Nutrition; Since nutrition is an individual act, do community norms influence the way each individual eats so much?
We are and live in community. Eating habits have an individual aspect but also a community, population aspect. Individual actions are more relevant in the healthcare field, community actions in the field of Public Health, which is where the SENC operates. You reach a larger population by respecting their customs, beliefs and felt needs.
We can share the table with old and young people, should healthy eating be similar? In a society that is galloping towards geriatrization, is this rapid aging already taken into account in nutrition?
From 10 to 110 years old, you can eat similar foods with different amounts/textures and some alternative substitutions, such as chicken breast for a vegetable burger, a variety of salads for crushed vegetables, a bite of an apple for chopped fruit, whole milk for an almond drink, etc They are small changes to eat as a family, choosing the best option for young people and centenarians.
What positive results do you expect regarding nutritional public health from this meeting, debate and sharing of nutrition experts?
We need support so that nutritional and culinary education is taught in primary and secondary education centers; improvement in collective menus (schools, companies, nursing homes, etc.). Implementation of training and skills programs for older adults (buying, cooking, preserving, eating and resting). And greater control of the content of pesticides, heavy metals and microplastics in food products.