According to the analysis of the eating habits of the Spanish population, the nutritional objectives are aimed at reducing the probability of developing degenerative or chronic diseases.
The nutritional objectives are intended to promote health, reduce the risk of developing pathologies related to food and control specific diseases caused by an excessive or insufficient intake of certain foods.
Guide to achieving nutritional goals
To achieve nutritional goals, easy and understandable recommendations are needed. Dietary guidelines represent the practical way to achieve nutritional goals for the population. They must consider the habitual food consumption pattern of the area, and the aspects that it would be desirable to modify should be indicated. They must be expressed in terms of food.
According to the analysis of the eating habits of the Spanish population, the nutritional objectives are aimed at reducing the probability of developing degenerative or chronic diseases and are as follows:
- Eat a varied diet, as this increases the probability of meeting all recommended nutrient intakes.
- Reduce the consumption of fats, which would prevent the increase in obesity.
- Adapt caloric intake to energy expenditure and maintenance of body weight.
- Increase the practice of physical exercise.
- Increase your fiber intake through cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits.
- Reduce salt intake since excess is related to high blood pressure.
- Moderate and, in some cases, avoid alcohol consumption.
- When in doubt, always consult a nutritionist.
Difference between recommended intake and nutritional goals
Unlike the recommended intakes, which refer to healthy individuals and are expressed by age groups, sex, and physiological situation (pregnancy, lactation …), the nutritional objectives are the same for the entire population. They are expressed as mean intakes for all the population and not as an orientation guide at the individual level.
They also differ in that the recommended intakes are established by scientific societies, which formulate the recommendations through amounts of nutrients per day. That is, they indicate the daily needs of each nutrient. On the other hand, the nutritional objectives are based on evidence since the recommended value represents the average intake for maintaining the population’s health and is expressed through the optimal percentage, food groups, or habits.
