Social Aspects of Food and Nutrition An Overview

Journal of Ecohumanism
2024
Volume: 3, No: 7, pp. 2953– 2961
ISSN: 2752-6798 (Print) | ISSN 2752-6801 (Online)
https://ecohumanism.co.uk/joe/ecohumanism
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i7.4431
Social Aspects of Food and Nutrition: An Overview

Sivakumar J T Gowder1
Abstract
This article explores the multifaceted social aspects of food and nutrition, examining how cultural, economic, and social factors influence
dietary habits and health outcomes. It discusses sociological perspectives, including structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic
interactionism, highlighting their relevance to food and nutrition. The article also addresses food as a social problem, focusing on issues
such as food safety, biotechnology, and dietary disorders, and the role of public health policies in managing these concerns. Cultural
influences on food and nutrition are analyzed with examples from various societies, illustrating how traditional foods, religious beliefs,
and globalization shape dietary practices. Social influences on eating behavior, including family, peer, and societal norms, are explored,
emphasizing their implications for nutritional interventions. The article delves into socio-economic inequalities in nutrition, discussing
barriers to healthy eating faced by low-income populations and proposing strategies to address these disparities. Finally, the emerging
field of nutritional epigenetics is examined, considering its social and biological implications for long-term health outcomes.
Keywords: Nutritional Epigenetics, Socio-Economic Inequalities, Dietary Habits, Public Health Policy, Cultural Influences.
Introduction
Food and nutrition research explores the social, cultural, political, and economic aspects of human life,
therefore transcending the simple biological necessity for survival. Clearly healthy food is a physiological
need and necessity for health; nevertheless, we cannot overlook the social value of food and eating. Though
they are omnivores, all civilizations seek to restrict the spectrum of foods by guidelines regarding what is
edible and inedible. Stories of French people eating frogs and horses still cause questions in the UK. We
are also aware of Muslims and Jews avoiding pork. While in Vietnam chicken is seen as poisonous for
pregnant women and in Tibet as dirty as chickens consume worms, moreover chicken is a basic meal in the
UK. Though they seem random and illogical, these guidelines help to set groups distinct and hence confirm
group membership. Such guidelines can be connected to the hierarchy of meals daily, weekly, and annually.
Breakfast is the least significant meal symbolically; dinner is the most essential; Sunday lunch especially so
with Christ mas topping the bill (Douglas, 1975). For instance, whilst still following their cultural tastes for
supper, immigrants to the UK have developed the practice of eating breakfast cereal (Bradby, 1997).
Not simply a source of energy and nourishment, but also a basic component of social identity, cultural
expression, and economic activity, food shapes human life. The social dimensions of food and nutrition
cover a broad spectrum of subjects, including how dietary practices are influenced by society values and
norms, the function of food in social stratification, and the effect of food policy on public health. Different
social elements entwine food and nutrition with other elements to define access to food, dietary decisions,
and nutritional results. For example, what individuals eat and how they cook their food is much influenced
by their culture customs and beliefs. These cultural standards might range greatly between nations and even
among subgroups of the same nation. Furthermore, socioeconomic level determines a person's access to
healthy food; lower-income groups usually suffer more from food insecurity and accompanying health
problems (Murcott, 2002). Dealing with public health issues and advancing better eating habits depend on
an awareness of the social elements of food and nutrition. Many times, public health campaigns concentrate
on personal behavior modification without thinking through the larger societal environment influencing
eating habits. Nonetheless, according to sociological points of view, successful dietary interventions have
to deal with the fundamental social interactions and structures influencing eating behaviors (Robinson et
al., 2013). This paper attempts to give a thorough review of the social elements of food and nutrition
together with an exploration of several sociological ideas and their consequences for public health. It aims
1 College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Email: [email protected].
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to underline the need of an interdisciplinary approach combining nutritional science with sociological
insights to better grasp and handle food-related social problems.
Sociological Perspectives on Food and Nutrition
Using a sociological perspective helps one to understand food and nutrition by looking at how social
structures, economic systems, cultural values, and society norms affect eating patterns and nutritional
results. Sociological theories offer a structure for investigating the intricate interaction between people and
society in forming attitudes and behavior connected to food. Structural functionalism is one of the
fundamental sociologically ideas pertinent to the analysis of food and nutrition. According to this view,
society is a complicated system made of several elements cooperating to provide social order and stability.
Within this perspective, food and nutrition are considered as fundamental elements of social life that help
society to run. For instance, the family as a main social institution is very important in passing down eating
habits and nutritional information from one generation to the next. Meal preparation and consumption
rituals and customs support family ties and societal cohesiveness by means of their repetition (Mcintosh,
2013). Structural functionalism also tackles how food and nutrition related social conventions and values
are upheld and spread in society. For example, personal eating preferences and actions might be influenced
by society standards on what qualifies as a "proper" diet. Cultural customs, religious beliefs, and public
health advice all help to establish these expectations by themselves forming a normative framework that
directs eating patterns. According to the idea, deviations from these standards—such as bad eating habits—
can be considered as disturbances to social order and call for intervention by means of policy projects and
education.
Another important sociological point of view, conflict theory, presents a distinct picture by emphasizing
power relations and inequities inside the food system. This thesis contends that constant conflicts between
many factions vying for resources and power define social existence. Conflict theory emphasizes in the
framework of food and nutrition the differences in access to good food and the consequent nutritional
inequalities. Often to the disadvantage of underprivileged and low-income areas, it underlines how political
and economic power structures impact the allocation of food resources (Maurer and Sobal, 1995). Food
insecurity—that is, the absence of consistent access to enough reasonably priced, nutritious food—is a
fundamental idea in conflict theory. Often resulting from economic inequities, food poverty
disproportionately affects low-income people and families. Arguing that their profit-driven goals may lead
to labor exploitation, environmental damage, and the marketing of unhealthy food items, this theory also
questions the part of multinational companies and agribusinesses in regulating food production and
distribution. Examining these power disparities helps one to see the social factors of nutritional health and
support more fair food systems by means of a critical lens.
Emphasizing the micro-level interactions and meanings people attach to food and eating habits, symbolic
interactionism provides still another viewpoint. According to this view, daily encounters and symbols
individuals use to transmit help to create social reality. Symbolic interactionism investigates in the
framework of food and nutrition how social interactions and personal identities shape eating habits and
food choices. For example, while food preferences reflect personal interests and cultural identities, the act
of sharing a meal may be a potent emblem of social connection and belonging (De Garine, 1972). Food
rituals—that is, the routines and behaviors connected with food preparation and consumption—are a
fundamental idea in symbolic interactionism. Reflecting many meanings and values associated to food, these
rituals can vary greatly throughout several civilizations and social groupings. A family supper, for instance,
may strengthen ties among members and transmit stability and tradition. Likewise, cultural events such
religious fasting or celebration feasts can help to transmit common values and reinforce group
identification. Analysis of these rituals clarifies the symbolic meanings and social purposes of food in daily
life by means of symbolic interactionism.
Closely linked to symbolic interactionism, social constructionism stresses how collective social processes
shape social events including food and nutrition. From this vantage point, institutional activities and social
interactions help to shape and preserve knowledge and ideas about food. For instance, public health
regulations, scientific research, and cultural standards all help to form the idea of a "healthy diet" rather
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than any one, objective reality. Social constructionism also looks at how food-related discourses and
narratives affect individual and group actions, including the stigmatizing of obesity or the encouragement
of particular dietary rules (Robinson et al., 2013). Feminist theory offers a useful prism through which one
may examine the gendered aspects of food and nutrition. From this vantage point, food-related jobs and
obligations are sometimes split along gender lines, with women typically carrying the most responsibility
for food preparation and caring. Feminist philosophy also challenges the way women's interactions with
food and their bodies are shaped by society expectations and beauty standards. For women, for example,
the cultural focus on diets and thinness can cause disordered eating patterns and body dissatisfaction.
Feminist theory draws attention to the necessity of more inclusive and fair methods of food and nutrition
by analyzing these gender dynamics (Murcott, 2002).
Another pertinent perspective examining how race and ethnicity interact with food and nutrition is critical
race theory. This viewpoint looks at how institutional and historical racism affect food access, eating habits,
and health results for many different racial and ethnic groups. For instance, systematic impediments like
economic inequality, residential segregation, and food sector prejudice cause African American and
Hispanic populations in the United States to have greater rates of food insecurity and diet-related disorders.
In order to provide fair access to nutritious food for all people, critical race theory supports food justice
and addressing of systemic inequities (Landecker, 2011). Examining how events and changes during an
individual's life impact eating patterns and nutritional status, life cycle theory provides a longitudinal view
of food and nutrition. This thesis stresses throughout time the combined influence of social, financial, and
environmental elements on health. Childhood food insecurity, for instance, can have long-lasting
consequences on nutritional health and development, therefore impacting dietary patterns and results of
health in adulthood. Furthermore emphasized by life course theory are the important times when dietary
interventions can significantly affect long-term health, including pregnancy and early infancy (Edwards,
1983).
With an eye on how food production, distribution, and consumption affect ecological sustainability,
environmental sociology studies the interaction between food systems and the environment. Emphasizing
the requirement of sustainable eating practices to guarantee the health of people and the earth, this point
of view shows the interdependence of social and environmental systems Industrial agriculture, for instance,
may cause climate change, loss of biodiversity, and environmental damage that influences food security and
nutritional quality. Sustainable food systems that advance ecological balance and social fairness are
advocated by environmental sociology as means of achieving this (Germov and Williams, 2016).
Understanding the larger social and economic elements influencing nutritional health also depends on a
knowledge of the social determinants of health framework. This method investigates how factors like
money, education, job, and social support influence eating habits and results on health. Higher
socioeconomic level people, for example, frequently have greater access to nutrition education and health
care services as well as may afford better dietary choices. On the other hand, those of lesser socioeconomic
level might encounter obstacles such food deserts, limited financial resources, and ignorance of nutrition,
which would result in worse eating behavior and health effects (Mcintosh, 2013).
Network theory investigates how social networks could influence nutritional outcomes and eating patterns.
This point of view emphasizes how people's social relationships—that of family, friends, and peers—affect
their eating patterns and food choices. Social networks, for instance, can help nutritional knowledge and
standards to proliferate as people frequently follow the eating habits of others in their close social circles.
Strong social links give emotional and pragmatic support for good eating habits, hence network theory also
investigates how social support might affect nutritional health (Maurer and Sobal, 1995). Introduced by
Pierre Bourdieu, cultural capital theory offers understanding of how social and cultural elements shape
eating patterns and nutritional condition. This theory holds that people have several kinds of capital—
financial, social, and cultural—that affect their way of life and spending habits. Food choices and eating
habits are influenced by cultural capital—that which comprises knowledge, skills, and cultural
competencies. Higher cultural capital persons could, for example, have easier access to nutrition instruction
and be more likely to follow good dietary guidelines. On the other hand, persons with less cultural capital
might have trouble finding and using nutritional knowledge (Robinson et al., 2013). Food political economy
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studies how political and economic institutions affect food distribution, manufacture, and consumption.
From this viewpoint, the food system is shaped by government policies, business practices, and market
forces rather than only by Agricultural subsidies, trade regulations, and food marketing techniques, for
instance, can impact the availability and cost of various kinds of food, therefore affecting dietary patterns
and nutritional health. The political economics approach also questions the privatization of food,
contending that profit-driven corporate goals might result in bad environmental and health effects
(Landecker, 2011).
Food as a Social Problem
Food is not just a fundamental human requirement; it is closely related to many social, cultural, and financial
aspects as well. Viewing food as a social issue calls for tackling various important problems like food safety,
biotechnology, dietary disorders, and the part public health and politics play in controlling these issues.
Within the larger conversation on food as a social issue, food safety is very important. It covers food
handling, preparation, and storage done correctly to stop foodborne diseases. With millions of recorded
cases yearly worldwide, foodborne infections continue to be a major public health concern (Bhaskar, 2017).
From farm to table, contaminants including pesticides, viruses, and bacteria can enter the food chain at any
moment and seriously compromise health (Rather et al., 2017).
Another divisive topic within the field of food safety and societal effect is biotechnology in food
production. Proposed for its ability to raise production, improve nutritional value, and offer resistance to
pests and diseases is genetic modification (GM) of crops. Public concern about the ethical and safety issues
of genetically modified organisms is still strong, nevertheless. Critics contend that GM crops might
endanger the environment and human health by means of possible allergenicity and the inadvertent
transgenes dissemination to wild plant populations (Kamthan et al., 2016). Another aspect of food as a
societal concern are dietary diseases include obesity, malnutrition, and eating disorders. Driven by elements
like poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic inequalities, the global incidence of obesity
has approached epidemic proportions. Among the several health problems linked to obesity include
diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, and several malignancies (Ng et al., 2014). On the other hand, in many
low- and middle-income nations malnutrition—which includes undernutrition as well as micronutrient
shortages—remains a major problem. Particularly in young children, malnutrition stunts physical and
cognitive development and raises vulnerability to infections and chronic disorders (Black et al., 2013).
Solving the social issues related to food depends much on public health and policy. Different approaches
are used by governments and health groups to guarantee food safety, advance good eating, and control
dietary problems. For instance, avoiding foodborne diseases depends critically on laws like food labeling
regulations, safety inspections, and hygienic standards (Unnevehr and Grace, 2013). Furthermore, crucial
in preventing obesity and malnutrition are public health efforts targeted at teaching the people about
nutrition and good lifestyle choices. Low-income people and families receive food aid from programs such
as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States, therefore lowering food
insecurity and enhancing dietary quality (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2019). Policy interventions cover
biotechnology's regulation as well. Governments have to strike a balance between ethical issues and societal
worries versus the possible advantages of genetically modified organisms. Clear labels of GM foods and
open risk assessment procedures will assist to increase public confidence and enable wise consumer
decisions (Macnaghten and Habets, 2020). Furthermore addressing the worldwide character of food
production and commerce depends on international collaboration and standardization of food safety
criteria.
Cultural Influences on Food and Nutrition
Dietary habits and nutritional practices are much shaped by culture. It affects what, how, and when
individuals eat; these cultural eating practices are frequently firmly ingrained in history, religion, and social
mores. Traditional meals and cooking techniques are among the most important ways culture influences
eating. Many times passed down through generations, traditional cuisines reflect the geography, history,
and values of a society. For example, the agricultural and climatic circumstances of the Mediterranean area
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produce the diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil. Among the several health advantages
connected to this diet include lower risk of cardiovascular disorders (Willett et al., 1995). In Japan, too, the
traditional diet consists in great quantities of fish, seaweed, and soy products, which are thought to help to
explain the low rates of heart disease and population lifespan (Craig, 2010).
Furthermore, greatly influencing eating patterns are religious views. Many faiths have certain dietary rules
their adherents observe. For instance, Muslims fast from dawn till sunset during the month of Ramadan
and Islam forbids eating pork. These behaviors influence not just the kinds of food eaten but also the timing
and style of eating (Shatila et al., 2021). Vegetarianism is promoted in Hinduism because of the non-violence
toward animals concept, which results in a diet sometimes heavy in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and dairy
products (Sharma and Majumdar, 2009).
Still, ethnic eating customs can sometimes have bad nutritional effects. For example, certain societies value
high-fat, high-sugar diets, which raises obesity and related illness rates. Traditionally, the Southern United
States diet consists in numerous fried and processed foods, which has been connected to increased
incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Mokdad et al., 2003). Likewise, the westernization of diets
in many underdeveloped nations has resulted in a change from traditional diets to those heavy in processed
foods, hence fueling growing rates of obesity (Popkin, 2001). Globalization and immigration add much
more complexity to the link between culture and cuisine. Maintaining their previous eating habits while
adjusting to new culinary situations is a difficulty for immigrants. This can lead to dietary acculturation, in
which people adopt eating patterns from their new nation, occasionally leading to bad health effects owing
of intake of more processed and convenience foods (Satia-Abouta, 2003). On the other side, globalization
has resulted in the availability of many foreign cuisines and the development of varied cooking techniques
thereby enabling individuals to include healthy nutritional ingredients from many civilizations into their
diets.
Social Influences on Eating Behavior
Eating behaviors, food selections, meal patterns, and general dietary practices are much shaped by social
factors. These factors have important consequences for public health policies and dietary treatments as they
come from different social conventions and settings including family, friends, and more general society
trends. The familial surroundings are among the main social settings affecting eating habits. Through
modeling and the kinds of meals kept available at home, family members—especially parents—play a vital
influence in forming children's eating patterns (Scaglioni et al., 2011). Another strong social determinant
influencing eating behavior is peer influence, particularly in young adults and teenagers. Often motivated
by the need for social approval and conformity, social contacts with peers can cause changes in food tastes
and eating habits (Salvy et al., 2012). Studies have indicated that people are more inclined to mimic the
eating habits of their peers, whether healthy or unhealthy, demonstrating that peer groups can dramatically
influence dietary decisions (Larsen et al., 2015). Furthermore very important in determining eating habits
are more general society standards and trends. Individual eating choices are influenced by cultural standards
on what is deemed appropriate or desirable to consume. For instance, many Western countries place great
focus on fast food and convenience, which could lead to bad eating habits (Stead et al., 2011). Media and
advertising support particular meals and dietary habits, therefore augmenting these society standards.
Increased intake of high-calorie, nutrient-poor meals—especially among children—has been related to the
widespread marketing of such items (Boyland and Halford, 2013).
Designing successful dietary treatments and public health campaigns depends on an awareness of these
social factors. Especially successful are interventions using social conventions and settings. School-based
initiatives involving peer leaders in advocating healthy eating, for example, can take advantage of peer group
power to inspire better eating among students (Van Lippevelde et al., 2011). Likewise, family-based
programs including parents in meal preparation and teaching about good eating can help the dietary habits
of the whole house (Waters et al., 2011). Moreover, public health efforts gain from challenging society
expectations. Over time, campaigns opposing bad food marketing and advocating good eating habits might
help to change society expectations. Programs like the "5 A Day" campaign, which promotes daily intake
of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, have proven effective in increasing awareness and changing
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eating habits, for instance (pollard et al., 2008). Policies controlling food marketing to children and requiring
accurate nutritional labeling can also assist to foster an atmosphere encouraging better eating options
(Swinburn et al., 2011).
Socio-Economic Inequalities in Nutrition
Dietary habits and health effects are strongly influenced by socioeconomic level (SES). Lower SES
individuals and families can have more obstacles to access nutritious meals, which results in worse
nutritional quality and negative effects on their health. Often referred to as food deserts, poor availability
to wholesome meals is linked to lower socioeconomic level. Particularly in low-income urban districts and
rural areas, these are places where reasonably priced, healthful food alternatives are few (Walker et al., 2010).
Convenience stores and fast-food restaurants, which usually provide high-calorie, nutrient-poor cuisine,
may be relied upon by residents in these neighborhoods. The scarcity of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains fuels diets heavy in fats, sweets, and processed foods, hence contributing to greater incidence of
obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses (Darmon & Drewnowski, 2008). Dietary decisions can much
depend on economic limitations. Often more costly than processed and quick foods are healthy foods
include fresh fruit, lean meats, and whole grains (Drewnowski and Specter, 2004). The more expensive
healthful meals are, the more of a barrier low-income families face in choosing less expensive, less nutritious
choices. Further aggravating poor dietary outcomes is financial instability, which can lead to food
insecurity—where people lack continuous access to enough food for an active, healthy life (Gundersen and
Ziliak, 2015).
Furthermore, contributing to dietary inequities are educational differences. Often associated with less
awareness of good eating behaviors and worse understanding of nutrition is lower educational attainment
(Wardle et al., 2000). Dealing with socioeconomic differences in nutrition calls for all-encompassing plans
aiming at the underlying reasons of these variations. Policy interventions help to improve access to
nutritious meals, so one efficient strategy is Supermarkets and farmers' markets opening in underprivileged
regions might be encouraged by governments to boost the availability of fresh, wholesome goods.
Furthermore, helping low-income families afford better alternatives by subsidizing nutritious meals or
offering financial aid, such the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States,
can help (Hoynes et al., 2011). Furthermore, more general socio-economic measures addressing poverty
and income disparity might help to indirectly enhance nutritional results. Policies that raise the minimum
wage, offer reasonably priced homes, and enhance healthcare access can assist to reduce some of the
financial strains causing bad eating habits (Marmot, 2005).
Nutritional Epigenetics and Social Implications
A growing area of research, nutritional epigenetics investigates via epigenetic pathways how food affects
gene expression. Epigenetics is the study of modifications in gene activity that do not change the DNA
sequence but rather influence how genes are switched on or off. Many mechanisms, including DNA
methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA interactions, help to moderate these alterations
(Feil and Fraga, 2012). Nutritional epigenetics, then, investigates how bioactive dietary molecules and
nutrients could change these epigenetic markers, therefore influencing the course of health and illness. One
of the fundamental ideas in nutritional epigenetics is that food components can induce epigenetic changes
influencing gene expression patterns. Key nutrients engaged in the one-carbon metabolic pathway, which
supplies methyl groups for DNA methylation, are folate, vitamin B12, and methionine (Sharma et al., 2010).
A diet lacking in certain nutrients may cause hypomethylation of DNA, therefore activating oncogenes and
raising cancer risk (Kim, 2005). On the other hand, a diet high in these nutrients could guard against illness
and encourage appropriate DNA methylation.
Particularly in terms of long-term health effects and the interaction between social surroundings and
biological processes, dietary epigenetics have substantial societal consequences. Dietary behavior can be
greatly influenced by socioeconomic level (SES), therefore epigenetic changes that might support or
aggravate health differences. Those from lower SES backgrounds can have restricted access to healthy
foods, which results in diets that do not promote ideal epigenetic changes. This can help chronic illnesses
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such diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders (Drewnowski, 2009) to flourish. Furthermore,
nutritional epigenetics emphasizes how early life diet shapes long-term health effects. Epigenetic markers
created at pivotal times of development—such as in utero and early childhood—may have long-lasting
impacts on gene expression and illness susceptibility (Burdge and Lillycrop, 2010). Maternal diet during
pregnancy, for instance, might change the epigenetic programming of the fetus, therefore influencing the
child's risk of metabolic problems later in life (Waterland and Jirtle, 2003). This emphasizes the importance
of public health campaigns guaranteeing enough nutrition during these crucial times, especially in people
with low socioeconomic level of living.
Furthermore implying widespread health advantages is the interaction between social and biological
elements in nutritional epigenetics, suggesting that raising dietary quality at a community level might Policies
that improve access to nutritious foods—such as subsidies for fruits and vegetables or the creation of
community gardens—could assist to lessen the harmful epigenetic consequences of inadequate diets
(Walker et al., 2010). Furthermore, educational initiatives aiming at nutritional literacy and understanding
of epigenetic effects can enable people to choose better diets. Furthermore affecting individualized nutrition
and precision medicine is knowledge of the epigenetic consequences of diet. Personalized food
recommendations based on an individual's epigenetic profile might become feasible as scientists keep
breaking apart the intricate interactions among nutrition, epigenetic changes, and health consequences.
Customized to an individual's unique genetic and epigenetic composition, this might result in more
successful preventive and treatment plans for diet-related disorders (Mathers, 2019).
Conclusion
Deeply entwined with social, cultural, and financial aspects are food and nutrition, which shapes eating
patterns and health effects throughout communities. To comprehend the complexity of eating practices,
this essay emphasizes the need of seeing food through several sociological lenses like structural
functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Problems include food safety, biotechnology,
and dietary disorders highlight the necessity of thorough public health policy covering these issues. While
socioeconomic differences cause obstacles to obtaining nutritious meals, therefore aggravating health
inequities, cultural traditions greatly influence what and how individuals consume. With long-term effects
on health especially in socio-economically underprivileged populations, nutritional epigenetics shows even
more how food may affect gene expression. Good nutritional interventions have to take into account these
several factors and combine social knowledge with nutritional science to encourage better eating habits and
thereby enhance public health results. Dealing with the more general social factors of nutrition can help us
to create more fair and sustainable food systems for all spheres of life.
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Social Aspects of Food and Nutrition An Overview

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Journal of Ecohumanism

Social Aspects of Food and Nutrition: An Overview

Sociological Perspectives on Food and Nutrition

Food as a Social Problem

Cultural Influences on Food and Nutrition

Social Influences on Eating Behavior

Socio-Economic Inequalities in Nutrition

Nutritional Epigenetics and Social Implications

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