Houston, Texas
October 11, 2007
The number of people across the
globe who are underweight has declined to less than 1 billion in
the last decade, while the world's overweight population grown
to more than 1.1 billion, according to Dr. Thomas Lumpkin, with
the World Vegetable Center in
Taiwan.
Thompson presented this contrast this week at the
International Symposium
on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables. Medical
and agricultural researchers from almost 40 countries are
exchanging information at the Omni Hotel in Houston.
"This probably represents the first time in the history of
mankind where the underweight population is shrinking, while the
obese population is increasing," he said.
The World Vegetable Center is addressing a number of economic,
cultural and health issues in underdeveloped countries by
promoting fruit and vegetable production.
Globally, government programs subsidize food stocks or
agricultural production of starches, some meat programs but not
much fruit and vegetable production. Supplements help, including
vitamin-enhanced corn
for cornmeal or other food supplements, Lumpkin said. In
addition to tasting better than supplements, fruits and
vegetables are the most efficient dietary method of providing
micro-nutrients such as iron, iodine and vitamin A.
"No matter how poor you are, everyone wants a tomato now and
then," he said.
In addition to improving nutrition, the center promotes fruit
and vegetable production in developing countries. Producers can
generate more money per acre by producing vegetables,
particularly varieties indigenous to their country. Vegetable
production generates more jobs and supports a higher income
level for the local community.
"Our vision for this world gathering is to bridge the gap
between medical researchers and agriculture scientists," said
Dr. Bhimu Patil, conference chair and director of the Vegetable
and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, which is
hosting the gathering. "This will help to ward off the obesity
syndrome and related problems such as cancer, cardiovascular
disease and diabetes. That way, people can live healthier
lives."
Patil noted that through the Texas
A&M center, several researchers are collaborating to find
improvements in fruits, nuts and vegetable crops by
understanding what is needed for human health.
For example, Dr. Leo Lombardini, who studies pecan production
for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, noted the
connection between growing the nut and educating consumers about
the health aspects.
"Pecans are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and
protein," Lombardini said. "They are rich in fat, which makes
some people think they need to avoid them. But they have the
same fats as olive oil. We suggest people put them in healthy
foods such as salads."
In addition to studying the phytochemicals in fruits, nuts and
vegetables, researchers also are looking at how growers produce
the crops to achieve the highest levels of these components.
One major crop input - water - has been the subject of many
studies mainly because it is becoming so limited in farm areas
or in higher demand by urban centers, according to Dr. Daniel
Leskovar, Experiment Station horticulturist in Uvalde.
"So we have looked at what is the impact of limited water on the
quality of crops," Leskovar said. "And we are finding that the
amount of antioxidants in crops like watermelon and spinach
doesn't decrease with less water."
Some studies have reduced water applications by one-fourth,
which caused slightly less yields but didn't harm phytochemical
levels, he said.
"I believe that in the near future, consumers will begin to
demand these compounds in their fruits and vegetables, and what
we have learned will help farmers quickly adapt to producing
these crops high in antioxidants," Leskovar added.
The international conference continues through Saturday.
More information is available at
http://FAVhealth2007.tamu.edu .
Writers: Kathleen Phillips
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