The president of the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC), Doctor Javier Aranceta, has urged to “wait five years” before drawing conclusions about the effects of the new nutritional pyramid in the United States, presented this year, although he has remarked that it “proposes the complete opposite” of the Mediterranean diet.
As he explained, the “big problem” of the American population “is morbid obesity,” which is why “they have proposed a slightly ketogenic diet.” These statements were made during the presentation of the details of the SENC congress, which will take place from November 26 to 28 in Madrid, where a new edition of the “SENC Dietary Guidelines” and a special issue of the magazine “Dieta Sana” dedicated to this scientific meeting were also announced.
Aranceta pointed out that US specialists “have adapted” to the lifestyle of their citizens. “To us, it may seem incongruous,” he noted, once again advocating for the Mediterranean diet pattern, which, however, “is decreasing among young Spaniards,” who “are more into fast food.”
Maintain the Mediterranean diet as a reference
“We are doing something wrong in food literacy in schools,” he warned, recalling that “all primary products have decreased” while “prepared meals, ‘delivery,’ are increasing,” to insist that the goal is “to maintain the Mediterranean diet as an icon for the population.” In this regard, he highlighted that “changes” have been introduced in the food pyramid proposed by SENC.
He detailed that “aspects that will help make eating more positive, such as culinary techniques” and waste reduction, which “is very important,” continue to be at the base. He indicated that “anything raw is interesting,” and that cooking “steamed or boiled” is also suitable, while barbecues should be reserved for “sometimes in the summer.”
In relation to food, SENC recommends a daily consumption of fruits and vegetables — in a quantity of “at least 500 grams,” according to Aranceta — as well as vegetables and spices. Regarding the latter, he stressed that “they are being seen to have components of great interest.” The pyramid also proposes the daily intake of rice, pasta, and whole grains, legumes, mushrooms, and sourdough bread.
Among the products that can be consumed daily or several times a week are dairy products such as fresh cheese and yogurt, fish, seafood, eggs, vegetable proteins, and white meats such as chicken and turkey. In contrast, occasional and moderate consumption of pasture-raised red meats, artisan cured meats, and quality processed foods is advised, reserving sweets, pastries, and baked goods for specific moments and in a very limited way. Regarding hydration, he stressed that “one must try to avoid” sugary drinks.
Aranceta also emphasized the importance of correctly selecting containers, highlighting glass ones, and the role of “physical activity and emotional balance.” “We don’t eat the same or shop the same if we are in a bad mood,” he pointed out, insisting on the convenience of “dedicating a little time and love in the kitchen.”
Update of the “SENC Dietary Guidelines”
In this context, he defended the update of the “SENC Dietary Guidelines,” which constitute “a tool of interest in public health.” “We do not put the population on a diet; we provide guidance that allows for improvement based on health profiles,” he indicated, advocating for “personalized nutrition” and the connection with “omics” through “precision nutrition” that “is in its infancy.”
He acknowledged, however, that “much needs to be improved because there are microorganisms in the microbiota that still cannot be cultured,” and he also alluded to “culinary medicine,” a discipline with which “one is taught to cook” and which, in his opinion, will facilitate in the future “the possibility of food literacy” in “health centers.”
For his part, the editor of “Dieta Sana,” Ángel Salmador, announced that this publication “for professionals and the general population will be distributed among attendees of the SENC Congress and in PDF format for people connected by ‘streaming,’ as well as facilitating its access to associated healthcare professionals in Ibero-America.” Aranceta added that the congress will include an awards ceremony and, as a novel element, “training pills,” brief spaces in which research can be presented for “five minutes.”
Dining and Cooking