Overall, Jamaican immigrants living in South Florida had nutrient intakes that were above the recommended intakes for most nutrients. Results also showed that most Jamaican immigrants (regardless of the number of days of consumption of traditional foods) were eating traditional foods at varying degrees. This was true even among participants who did not live in ethnic enclaves or have nearby Jamaican restaurants or grocers, though persons who resided in ethnic enclaves ate traditional foods more times per week. It was hypothesized that nutrient intakes would be within 10 percent of the recommended intakes for respective nutrients. However, results showed intakes that were above ten percent of the recommendations and some intakes were double the recommendation. Analyses that examined the percentage above and below the DRI‘s showed that the study population had more than adequate intakes of most nutrients examined in this study.
The dietary analyses conducted implicated several nutrients for intervention for the prevention of heart disease. An examination of the protein, carbohydrate, and total fat intake indicated the need for intervention. Protein intake was doubled and almost doubled the dietary reference for men and women respectively. Similarly, fat intake was double the recommended intake in this population. Intervention on fat intake was imperative since it was a risk factor for the development of so many chronic conditions including heart disease. Carbohydrate intake was also important as it can contributed to the development of diabetes. An overabundance of these nutrients lead to increased
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calories and affects the development of chronic conditions. On the other hand, nutrients like calcium and fiber should be targeted for intervention as they are protective for the development of heart disease. Intakes of fiber were observed to be less than the recommended DRI for a large proportion of the study population. Calcium showed similar findings where a large proportion of the study population had less than adequate intakes. Findings were consistent with lifestyle factors related to the overabundant intake of certain nutrients we face today and a paucity of nutrients that are protective for heart disease.
A likely explanation for the observed high nutrient intakes was that large portion sizes may account for the increased intake of nutrients. Culturally, food is served in abundance especially starchy foods such as rice, potatoes, yams, etc. In addition, less affluent immigrants may have been able to afford greater quantities and varieties of foods compared to their pre-migration status and therefore consumed greater quantities of food since they were now affordable.
A comparison to other dietary studies conducted among Jamaican immigrants showed similarities and differences in findings for nutrient intakes. Findings for percent contribution of macronutrients to energy were in contrast to previous findings by Sharma et al. (1999) that found lower percent contribution from carbohydrates and protein. Jamaican immigrants in the UK had a higher fat, saturated fat, and alcohol percentage contribution to energy. For example, the percent contribution of carbohydrates to energy was 60.3 and 61.2 in Florida and ranged from 49.6 to 52.8 among Jamaican immigrants to the UK 35. Differences in the availability of certain foods given the differences in
climate and distance from Jamaica may have accounted for these differences. The mean age of immigrants in the UK was also greater than that for the current study.
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In comparing mean nutrient intakes with previous findings, Sharma et al., (1999) found lower overall mean macronutrient intakes among Jamaican immigrants to the UK. The exception was fiber where Caribbean immigrant (mostly Jamaicans) men had higher intakes compared to JAMUS participants and women had lower fiber intake compared to JAMUS results. The former sample was on average older than participants in the current study and lived in the UK longer compared to the number of years the current
participants have spent in Florida (31 vs. 19.3).
A comparison of the top ten foods found to contribute to energy were similar to findings by Samuda et al. (1998) and in contrast to finding by Sharma et al. (1995). Samuda et al. (1998) found foods such as rice and peas and soups were most commonly consumed. The current findings were a contrast to a previous study by Sharma et al. (1995) that found foods like rice and peas, hardough bread, dumplings, condensed milk, curry chicken, and yam to contribute highly to energy among Jamaican immigrants in the UK.
Findings for the top ten foods that contributed to macronutrients showed some consistency with previous findings while some were unique to the current study. One example of consistency was the foods that contributed to fat intake. Foods such as rice and peas, ackee and saltfish, and chicken were consistent across studies (Sharma et al., 1996). These foods were not surprising given their importance culturally. For example rice and peas is served on Sundays in most Jamaican households. It was considered a more formal dish compared to plain or ―white rice‖ and was often cooked for Sunday dinner and special events. Ackee and saltfish is the national dish of Jamaica and also a Sunday favorite in households. Most restaurants in the South Florida area served this dish on weekends. Because of the scarcity of this food due to hurricanes in recent years, it was in even greater demand during our study period.
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Similar to findings from the UK, curry goat was a top contributor to protein 151. In
contrast, the same study showed different foods to contribute to protein among
Jamaicans living in Jamaica. The only consistency in findings was rice and peas listed in the top ten contribution to protein. Foods that contributed to carbohydrate intake also varied in comparison to previous findings. The current findings for carbohydrate intake contrast that from Sharma et al. (1996) who found more nutrient rich and natural fluids such as orange juice and lemonade to contribute highly to carbohydrates. Consistent with Jamaican immigrants in the UK, the current study found that rice and peas was a big contributor to carbohydrates as was white rice and soup151. The consumption of
Ribena among Jamaican immigrant to the UK (Sharma et al., 1996) was in contrast with the consumption of syrup among Jamaican immigrants in South Florida. Both drinks were found in concentrated forms, however Ribena provided more nutritional value compared to syrup. Findings among Jamaicans living in Jamaica also found banana, white rice, and rice and peas contributed highly to energy 151.
Lastly, foods that contributed to fat and saturated fat were vastly different from those cited in previous studies. Items such as cheesecake, cookies, and breadsticks found in the current study likely represented environmental influences or dietary
acculturation. The latter foods mentioned were not widely consumed by Jamaicans living in Jamaica as they were expensive to purchase. Meanwhile, they were affordable and readily available here in the US.