SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) A study published on Friday (9) in the scientific journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, conducted by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP), the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), found that the average Brazilian loses 5.89 minutes of life per portion of food consumed. The study evaluated the impact of the 33 foods that contribute most to the energy intake of Brazilians, and the worst of them was the filled biscuit, which results in a loss of 39.69 minutes of healthy life, followed by pork (-36.09 minutes). These foods are part of the 1,141 items listed in the National Food Survey. The analysis was made using the Nutritional Health Index (HENI), a score that estimates the number of minutes gained or lost based on the nutritional characteristics of the items. The environmental impact of the portions in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and water usage was also calculated. The results show that most of the most consumed foods in Brazil were evaluated negatively, being associated with the loss of healthy minutes (according to HENI). It considers the negative or positive effects of dietary components on the risk of chronic diseases and mortality, such as sodium, trans fat, processed meats - which are negative -; and fruits, fibers, and whole grains - which are positive. Of the 33 evaluated, 23 had a negative HENI, and only 10 were found to be positive. The study finds that, despite having beneficial foods such as rice, beans, and bananas, the Brazilian diet is marked by the growing consumption of meat and ultra-processed foods, to the detriment of fruits and vegetables. 'This may be contributing to the increase in non-communicable diseases, such as obesity,' says Marhya Júlia Leite, a nutritionist and graduate student in the Master's program in Public Health Nutrition at the School of Public Health at USP, one of the authors of the article. By order, the worst-rated foods were the filled biscuit (-39.69 minutes), pork (-36.09 minutes), and margarine (-24.76 minutes). On the other hand, the best evaluations were for general juices (+17.22 minutes) and freshwater fish (+17.22 minutes), bananas (+8.08 minutes), and beans (+6.53 minutes). As a country of churrasco, Brazil tends to have a high consumption of meat, which was poorly evaluated. In addition to pork, beef was evaluated at -21.86 minutes. However, the combination of rice and beans (+2.11 minutes), which is very present in the population's plates, was evaluated positively. The researchers emphasize that not all meals with these foods take away minutes of life, but the data point to the general imbalance of the current eating pattern of the average Brazilian, in general. 'This reinforces the importance of seeking balance, with a greater presence of vegetables in the diet and a lower consumption of animal products,' says Leite. According to her, the data can help guide public policies that encourage the consumption of plant-based foods and reduce the consumption of ultra-processed products.
https://jornaldebrasilia.com.br/estilo-de-vida/bem-estar/biscoito-recheado-pode-tirar-ate-39-minutos-de-vida-saudavel-por-porcao-diz-novo-estudo/