A proposed food pyramid for Asian countries ensures similar nutritional intake and health benefits as the .
Asian fruits and vegetables exhibit a nutritional profile comparable to those in the Mediterranean Diet.
Whole grains such as barley may serve as a suitable alternative to white rice.
Sesame oil could provide a source of unsaturated fats, similar to olive oil.
Legumes like soybean, along with edible insects, mushrooms, and algae, may offer adequate plant-based protein with a complete amino-acid profile.
This approach aims to create a sustainable local food system aligned with Mediterranean Diet principles for the Asian population.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The (MD) has been recognized for its benefits for human health and sustainability for the planet, but it has considered not easy to reproduce in other populations. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development is fostering a research project (), aiming to identify a healthy dietary pattern based on local foods with the same MD features. The aim of our study is to develop a MD-based food pyramid for Asian populations.
METHODS: Asia was stratified into six areas according to pedo-climatic conditions. For each region a comprehensive scoping review of local crops and typical foods was conducted on several databases such as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s database, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website, and PubMed, focusing on both plant-based and animal-based foods. Narrative review was then conducted on the identified foods to determine their nutritional composition and planetary health impact. Finally, the collected information was used to build up the Asian food pyramid with details for each respective region.
RESULTS: We proposed a food pyramid for Asian countries, guaranteeing the same nutritional intake and health benefits as MD, by considering dietary habits and typical foods of this population. From the bottom to the top, Asian fruits and vegetables present similar nutritional profile as those in MD. Whole grains (barley) may represent valid alternative to white rice. Sesame oil represents a source of unsaturated fats and an alternative to olive oil. Legumes (soybean), edible insects, mushrooms and algae, guarantee an adequate intake of plant-based proteins with a complete amino-acid profile and a low environmental impact with respect to animal-based ones.
CONCLUSIONS: This work is a new insight of healthy and sustainable local food system based on MD principles for the Asian population.
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