Mediterranean-style diets caused a significant decline in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in early landmark studies. The effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet on lipoprotein oxidation showed that there was a significant reduction in oxidative stress in the intervention group (Mediterranean diet + Virgin Olive Oil) compared to the low-fat diet group. Conversely, the increase in oxidative stress causing inflammation is a unifying hypothesis for predisposing people to atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, and osteoporosis. The impact of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents on cancer and cardiovascular disease, and the interventive mechanisms for the inhibition of proliferation, inflammation, invasion, metastasis, and activation of apoptosis were explored. Following the Great Oxygen Event some 2.3 billion years ago, organisms have needed antioxidants to survive. Natural products in food preservatives are preferable to synthetic compounds due to their lower volatility and stability and generally higher antioxidant potential. Free radicals, reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, pro-oxidants and inflammation are described with examples of free radical damage based on the hydroxyl, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Flavonoid antioxidants with 2- or 3-phenylchroman structures such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, apigenin, and luteolin, constituents of fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine, which may reduce coronary disease and cancer, are described. The protective effect of flavonoids on the DNA damage caused by hydroxyl radicals through chelation is an important mechanism, though the converse may be possible, e.g., quercetin. The antioxidant properties of carotenoids, which are dietary natural pigments, have been studied in relation to breast cancer risk and an inverse association was found with plasma concentrations: higher levels mean lower risk. The manipulation of primary and secondary human metabolomes derived especially from existing or transformed gut microbiota was explored as a possible alternative to single-agent dietary interventions for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Sustained oxidative stress leading to inflammation and thence to possibly to cancer and cardiovascular disease is described for spices and herbs, using curcumin as an example of an intervention, based on activation of transcription factors which suggest that oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cancer are closely linked.

This overview was directed towards understanding the relationship of brain functions with dietary choices mainly by older humans. This included food color, flavor, and aroma, as they relate to dietary sufficiency or the association of antioxidants with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Impairment of olfactory and gustatory function in relation to these diseases was also explored. The role of functional foods was considered as a potential treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase as well as similar treatments based on herbs, spices and antioxidants therein. The importance of antioxidants for maintaining the physiological functions of liver, kidney, digestive system, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer has also been highlighted. Detailed discussion was focused on health promotion of the older person through the frequency and patterns of dietary intake, and a human ecology framework to estimate adverse risk factors for health. Finally, the role of the food industry, mass media, and apps were explored for today’s new older person generation.

The Seven Countries Study showed that traditional Japanese and Mediterranean diets are protective against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The Japanese diet is considered the healthiest because it provides Japanese populations with the highest longevity and health. DASH and Mediterranean-style diets are also considered healthy diets, although the Indo-Mediterranean-style diet may provide better protective effects among patients with CVDs compared to other diets. The concept of the Indo-Mediterranean type of diet was developed after examining its role in the prevention of CVDs in India, the value of which was confirmed by a landmark study from France: the Lyon Heart Study. These workers found that consuming an alpha-linolenic acid-rich Mediterranean-style diet can cause a significant decline in CVDs and all-cause mortality. Later in 2018, the PREDIMED study from Spain also reported that a modified Mediterranean-style diet can cause a significant decline in CVDs, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cancer. The Indo-Mediterranean diet may be superior to DASH and Mediterranean diets because it contains millets, porridge, and beans, as well as spices such as turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and coriander, which may have better anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. These foods are rich sources of nutrients, flavonoids, calcium, and iron, as well as proteins, which are useful in the prevention of under- and overnutrition and related diseases. It is known that DASH and Mediterranean-style diets have a similar influence on CVDs. However, the Indo-Mediterranean-style diet may be as good as the Japanese diet due to improved food diversity and the high content of antioxidants.

The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of overweight, obesity, undernutrition and physical activity status in the urban populations of India. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 6-12 urban streets in each of five cities in five different regions of India using a common study protocol and criteria of diagnosis. A total of 6940 subjects (3433 women and 3507 men) aged 25 years and above were randomly selected from the cities of Moradabad (n = 2002),Trivandrum (n = 1602), Calcutta (n = 900), Nagpur (n = 894) and Bombay (n = 1542). Evaluation and validation were performed by a physician and dietitian-administered questionnaire at Moradabad. After pooling of data, all subjects were divided into various age groups for men and women. Obesity (body mass index = 30 > kg/m(2)) and overweight (BMI 2 25-29.9 kg/m(2) and > 23 kg/m(2)) as well as waist-hip ratio (> 0.85 in women and > 0.88 in men, central obesity) were calculated and physical activity status assessed by a validated questionnaire. The overall prevalence of obesity was 6.8% (7.8 vs. 6.2%, P < 0.05) and overweight 33.5% (35.0 vs. 32.0%, P < 0.05) among women and men, respectively. The highest prevalence of obesity (7.8%) and overweight (36.9%) was found among subjects aged 35 to 44 years in both sexes. The prevalence of obesity was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in Trivandrum (8.5%), Calcutta (7. 1%) and Bombay (8.3%) compared to Moradabad (6.2%) among women and in Trivandrum (7.4%) and Bombay (7.2%), compared to Nagpur (5.0%) among men. There was a significant decreasing trend in obesity (P < 0.05) and overweight (P < 0.05) with increasing age above 35-44 years in both sexes. The overall prevalence of subjects > 23 kg/m(2) was 50.8% and central obesity 52.6%. The overall prevalence of sedentary behaviour was 59.3% among women and 58.5% among men. Both sedentary behaviour and mild activity showed a significant increasing trend in women after the age of 35-44 years. In men, such a trend was observed above the age of 45 years. Sedentary behaviour was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in Trivandrum, Calcutta, and Bombay compared to Nagpur. Sedentary behaviour was significantly (P < 0.001) associated with obesity in both sexes, compared to non-obese men and women. The overall prevalence of undernutrition was 5.5% (n = 380) which was significantly more common in Moradabad, north and Nagpur, central India compared to other cities. Obesity, overweight and central obesity and sedentary behaviour coexist with undernutrition, and have become a public health problem in all the five cities of India. The prevalence of obesity and sedentary behaviour was significantly greater in Trivandrum, Calcutta and Bombay compared to Moradabad and Nagpur. Sedentary behaviour was significantly associated with obesity compared to non-obese subjects in both sexes, which may be due to greater economic development in metro cities.

Recent research indicates an association between brain dysfunction and the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. To investigate this, we created a Medline search (up to December 2011) of articles in PubMed. The results indicated that refined carbohydrates, saturated and total fat, high levels of ω-6 fatty acids, and low levels of ω-3 fatty acids and other long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), all in conjunction with sedentary behaviour and mental stress can predispose to inflammation. Increased sympathetic activity, with increased secretion of catecholamine, cortisol, and serotonin can cause oxidative stress, which may damage the arcuate nucleus as well as the hypothalamus and macrophages, and the liver may release pro-inflammatory cytokines. These, in conjunction with an underlying deficiency in long chain PUFA, may damage the arcuate nucleus as well as neuropeptide-Y and pro-opiomelanocortin neurons and insulin receptors in the brain, especially during fetal life, infancy, and childhood, resulting in their dysfunction. Of the fatty acids in the brain, 30%–50% are long chain PUFA, which are incorporated in the cell membrane phospholipids. Hence, ω-3 fatty acids, which are also known to enhance parasympathetic activity and increase the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 as well as acetylcholine in the hippocampus, may be protective. Therefore, treatment with ω-3 fatty acids may be applied for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.