V. Food intake of Yemenite and Kurdish Jews in Israel

Abstract

The food intake of Yemenite and Kurdish Jews living in five agricultural villages was assessed by means of a household inventory technique. Seventy women and 42 men were studied in the summer, but only 35 of these volunteers could be restudied in the winter. The Yemenite Jews had lower intakes (2 270 kcal (9 500 kJ) per day for the women and 3 210 kcal (13 450 kJ) per day for the men) than the Kurdish Jews (2 720 kcal (11 400 kJ) per day for the women and 3 570 kcal (14 950 kJ) per day for the men). There was no significant difference between food intake in the summer and the winter. The intake of all nutrients equalled or exceeded recommended allowances except for the intake of iron and riboflavin. The percentage of the total energy intake derived from fat was 31% in the Yemenite Jews and 33% in the Kurdish Jews.