International Journal of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics

Our ancient literatures of Hindus’, Muslims as well as of Cristian’s are full of plants described about their nutrimental and medicinal potential. A significant number of plants described in their texts are still unidentified because of least or no interest in plant taxonomy among neither grate scientists in well-developed different organisations nor respected teachers of Universities or Colleges of repute. We can say with confidence that there are no teachers who can teach Plant Taxonomy in significant numbers of academic institutions. A man of Biotechnology can do nothing if he/she cannot identify the plant on which the work has to be worked out. As a result, due to non-identification of plants we
cannot use our wealth of knowledge which has been provided by our ancestors present in form of scripts. We were presented a book written by M I H Farooqi entitled “Quruani Poudhe Vagayanic Dhristi Se” while in Seminar organised by UP Biodiversity Board, Lucknow. We found that there are seventy one plants being reported in Holy Qur’an and Bible. We have consulted the literatures available as well as the tribal of Bahraich about the uses of the plants available. The perusal of the alphabetical list of plants of Holy Qur’an reveals that there are 71 plant species representing 48 genera of 30 families. Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Moraceae family were found to be the biggest
family represented by 6 plant species each whereas Caesalpiniaceae, Papilionoideae and Poaceae with 5 plant species each; Rosaceae and Rhamnaceae with 4 plant apecies; Mimosaceae, Liliaceae, Pinaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Oleaceae, Lytharaceae, Lamiaceae and Arecaceae with 2 plant species and rest fourteen species viz., Malvaceae, Asclepidiaceae, Lauraceae, Bixaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Juglandaceae, Cuprassaceae, Lecnoraceae, Loranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Sterculiaceae, Ericaceae, Salvadoraceae, and Vitaceae is being represented by single plant species each.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical; Ethnomedicinal; Potential; Plants; Qur’an.
 

It is not surprising than an adult human body contains hundred trillion bacteria. The composite microbial genome found in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract is termed as gut microbiome. Various metagenomic studies have tried to dissect out the distribution of microbiota in gut and the diversity of microbiome functionally related to the health conditions. Also these microbiomes are risk factors for illness such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic disorders. Human health is regulated by gut microbiome in many different ways, such as direct stimulation of afferent neurons of the enteric nervous system via vagus nerve to central nervous system inflammation, protection against infection, generation of innate memory and functional reprogramming of bone marrow progenitors. In this review article, authors discussed how the varying composition of gut microbiota at different situations related
directly or indirectly to human health.

Keyword: Gut microbiota; Bioreactor; Gastrointestinal tract (GI tract); Innate immunity.
 

Background: Quality of life of girls continues to be poor, more so in urban slums which can be solved by imparting nutrition education. Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of school going girls (10 11years), to provide nutrition education to the participants and to assess the efficacy of nutrition education on their nutritional status.Method: This
interventional study was conducted in 100 girls in which anthropometric measurements and 24 hour dietary recall were taken. A self-designed questionnaire was administered which included general information and dietary habits. It also tested the nutritional knowledge of the participants and was scored. Multiple nutrition education sessions were imparted in each school through group discussion. Post- intervention nutritional knowledge was again tested along with anthropometric measurements & 24 hour dietary recall. Knowledge Increment percent was calculated.
Statistical analysis was performed using SPPSS software for Windows version 20. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Dietary habits like skipping meals, eating junk food were recorded. Average weight was 29.4±6.06 kg which significantly increased to 29.8± 6.03 kg (p=0.00) and BMI had increased from 15.6± 2.33 kg/m2 to 15.8± 2.27kg/m2 (p=0.00). The pre-intervention nutritional knowledge score had significantly increased to 22.1± 3.22 (p=0.00) with 78.4% knowledge increment. Calorie consumption had significantly increased from 1461±238kcal/ day to 1536±210kcal/day post intervention (p=0.00). A significant difference was also seen in the carbohydrate, protein, fats, iron and calcium (p=0.00). Conclusion: Nutrition education impacted positively on weight, BMI, level of nutritional knowledge and nutrient intake amongst the school going girls.

Keywords: Nutrition education; Anthropometric measurements; Knowledge increment; Dietary habits; Height; Weight; Energy; Junk food; School going girls; Iron; Calcium; Protein; Fats.
 

Carrot pomace(CP) isa by-productof carrotjuiceprocessing industry. It contains largeamounts of dietary fiberand other valuable compounds.Dryingincreasethe shelf life of CP.Consumption of bakery products increasing but that contain negligible fiber and minerals therefore, continuous consumption may lead to major chronic diseases and mineral deficiencies.Bakery products easily modified into therapeutic products. Therefore, the present study was planned to develop bread enriched with fiber and minerals using CP and evaluate its nutritional composition. For that, CP was dried,ground, sieved to 240 (CPP), packed in polythene bag and stored until used. For product
optimization Maida was replaced with 2,4,6,8 and 10% CPP in the commercial bread formula and evaluate sensorily (6penalistsX3times) using 9 point hedonic scale. The processing changes include increased proofing temperature and decreased time and vice-a-versa in baking.6% CPP replacement resulted into pour volume & texture. Thus CPP replacement level narrowed down to 1,2,3,4 and 5% for primary selectionand3.5, 4 and 4.5% for final selection using composite scoring test. The 4% CPP replacement scored highest. That is considered as Experimental Bread (EB). A consumer survey showed that 87.5% liked EB. Raw material, control and experimental bread were analysed for
various nutrients using standard methods. The carbohydrate, calorie and protein content of CPP found about three fourth, third fifth and half as compared to Maida because of very high content of fiber. EB contains 238% more fiber and 32% more ash while 47% lesser energy then CB.

Keywords: Health food; bread; Carrot pomace; High fiber food; Mineral enrichment