In eight Latin American countries, a significant gap exists between recommended diets and actual eating habits. A recent investigation focused on urban areas in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The goal was to see how well people followed the EAT-Lancet diet and how this affected their intake of essential nutrients. The EAT-Lancet diet is a plan designed to reduce the environmental impact of what people eat. However, it's not widely adopted in these countries.

The study involved 6835 participants. Researchers used detailed food recall methods to assess usual dietary intake. They also evaluated how well each person's diet matched the EAT-Lancet recommendations. The results showed that adherence was quite low, with an average score of 44. 6 out of 150. Costa Rica led the way with the highest adherence at 32. 9%, while Argentina had the lowest at 25. 8%. This low adherence might be due to a clash between the EAT-Lancet guidelines and deeply rooted cultural eating habits.

The study also looked at who was more likely to follow the EAT-Lancet diet. It found that older adults, those with higher incomes, more education, and higher physical activity levels tended to adhere more closely to the diet. Interestingly, people who were overweight or obese also showed higher adherence. This could be because they are more conscious of their health and try to follow dietary guidelines more strictly.

Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet had mixed effects on nutrient intake. Those who followed the diet more closely were at higher risk for deficiencies in cobalamin, vitamin D, and calcium. However, they were less likely to be deficient in pyridoxine, folate, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc. This suggests that while the diet may improve some aspects of nutrition, it could also lead to other deficiencies.

The study highlights a key challenge: how to promote diets that are both healthy and environmentally friendly without disregarding cultural food traditions. Recognizing and respecting diverse food cultures is essential. It's crucial to find a balance that supports both human health and environmental sustainability. This means creating dietary guidelines that are not only based on nutritional science and environmental concerns but also take into account the unique cultural contexts of different regions.

Latin America's Diet Dilemma: Balancing Health and Culture

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