This week we interviewed Dr.. Ramón de Cangas. De Cangas is a dietitian-nutritionist, biologist, postgraduate in human nutrition and dietetics, doctor in functional and molecular biology, and currently pursuing a second doctorate (in food science). He is the president of the Alimenta Tu Salud foundation, member of the Advisory Body of the General Council of Dietitians-Nutritionists of Spain and member of the academic body of the Spanish Academy of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Among his various scientific publications and books published, We asked him about the book he just published, Eat and get fit! (Ed. Oberon). GINÉS J. VERA
In a section of Eat and get fit! not only did we discover that the existence of neurons in the human intestine has been proven, but its bidirectional interrelation with the brain. This, together with studies that point to benefits in psychiatric health thanks to the intake of foods fermented with live bacteria., what some call psychobiotics. Do you tell us?
That's how it is, It is a relatively recent discovery. It is currently known that this microbiota of the brain is found in man and primates but not in other mammals (and this opens the doors to some hypothesis according to which this fact could have something to do with evolution) y, among many other things, It has been suggested that it may even have an influence on mood. It's more, It has even been hypothesized that the microbiota that we have can influence our decisions when choosing foods. There is much left to investigate, but what is very clear is that our microbiota has a major impact on our health (depending on whether we have one or the other).
Continuing in part with the above, includes in the book a healthy weekly menu where we see dairy products daily. The dairy issue seems to be very controversial.. But we read in Eat and get fit! that there is even evidence of the benefit of calcium intake related to fat excretion (helping to regulate your excess), with a good cardiometabolic status or its preventive role against colorectal cancer. Should we include full-fat dairy products in our diet?, so?
Dairy is not an essential food group, but they are very interesting. There is high evidence that dairy consumption (the evidence is highest for yogurt and especially for full-fat yogurt) is related to a reduction in cardiovascular and metabolic risk, So its consumption is related to better weight control and even greater loss of body and visceral fat and maintenance of lean mass.. Personally, I am in favor of including dairy products daily., especially plain unsweetened whole yogurt.
Tell us about the role of the food industry when it comes to advertising certain products, such as, those of breakfast, since he affirms that sometimes there are economic interests that confuse the population.
Although the food industry can sometimes confuse the population with confusing or biased messages, the same, or worse, certain “gurus” do who are dedicated to criticizing the industry for the sake of it and spreading fear about the industry as well as presenting radical and extreme approaches to achieve followers y likes and finally money derived from it on social networks. It is the so-called ego bias. The food industry can do many things by talking to Dietitians-Nutritionists and interesting things have been done in that sense.. Not everything is black or white.
Another interesting section, as you point out, is the controversy generated by the consumption of processed meat and the increased risk of cancer. Something that seemed to surprise public opinion recently. This despite the fact that this had already been indicated by several international organizations in 2007 y 2011. There is scientific evidence of the relationship between processed meat intake (cecina, ham, chorizo, sausages, mortadella, sobrasada, etc.) with cardiovascular risk, that of suffering from diabetes mellitus or associated with colorectal cancer. Is it so? Why are we so surprised if it has been known for years?? Are there economic interests, again, by industry and government, chance?
They are traditional foods, established in our culture, economic engine of large companies, but also from small producers... Products that we have been used to since childhood and that we see everywhere. This is why it can be difficult to understand that its consumption is dangerous.. However, We cannot be exaggerated either., although the population risk is significant, individual risk is low, besides, consuming these products moderately the risk is low. The problem is that many people include these foods daily or almost in their diet..
