HARD WORK DOES NOT RESULT IN A DECREASE IN MEAL QUALITY - THE CASE OFA JAPANESE FARMING VILLAGE

Historically, when Japanese farmers engaged in hard labor, they were l ikely to increase their carbohydrate intake without increasing intake of other nutrients. After Japan's economic growth started in the 1960s , however, many kinds of food became available and affordable. We inve stigated whether farmers today have increased the nutrients in their d iet in proper proportion to energy expenditures when they are engaged in farming work by comparing the quantity and quality of meals between farmers and other villagers within a small area of a farming village. The quantity of energy and other nutrients increased with farming wor k, but the amounts of each nutrient per unit of energy did not decreas e with the increase in energy intake. The intake of each nutrient rela tive to the recommended dietary allowance for energy and each nutrient did not decrease with farming work either. It was concluded that the quality of meals of farmers does not decrease with the increasing ener gy intake for farming work when many kinds of food are available and a ffordable. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.