of the basic diet in Latin American cultures. Incan,
Mayan and Aztec diets were balanced in quantity
and quality in carbohydrates, protein, fibre, fats and
good n-6:n-3 ratios, which is now difficult to attain,
as well as in terms of micronutrients such as min-
erals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. It was a
more vegetarian diet, animal protein was not so im-
portant, in the north it came from native Mexican
turkey (Gallopavo meleagis) or Guajalote, in the An-
dean Region from lama (Lama glama) and cuy
(Cavia porcellus) and in general, from rivers, lakes
and the sea (Tapia, 1997; Bengoa, 2001).
- Latin American food biodiversity related to food
composition and health
From ancient times, Latin America has been a good
example of food biodiversity. PACHAMAMA, the
Mother Earth to the Incan culture, opens up each
year offering all kinds of fruits, roots, tubers, leaves,
flowers, seeds and species, each one maintaining
its biodiversity unchanged over the centuries. Now
it is our turn to do research and to discover the se-
crets of their healthy components. A brief comment
on 22 native foods cultivated by these ancient cul-
tures and introduced to the whole globe by Spanish
and Portuguese navigators after 1492 now follows,
all of which have high biodiversity, and have
changed the colourless and monotone diet of the
Old World. Like a rainbow that settled overseas for-
ever, they are present on the tables of millions of
families around the world on a daily basis, bright-
ening them with their attractive colours: deep reds,
oranges, yellows, pinks, deep greens, deep violets,
black, white and browns.
They not only enhance taste and flavour, but offer
health and life to consumers through their contri-
butions of vegetable proteins, carbohydrates, fats,
vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants
(Hoffmann-Ribani et al.,2009; Rodriguez-Amaya
et al., 2008 ). Corn (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus
vulgaris), yuca (Manihot esculenta, Manihot utilis-
sima), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), sweet potato
(Hipomea batata) and squash or pumpkin (Cucurbita
maxima) have been commented on. Tomato (Ly-
copersicum esculentum Mill.), the best source of ly-
copene, conquered Italy, and became a daily
ingredient of Italian meals. Ají or hot chili and sweet
chili (Capsicum annuum), changed gastronomy in
Asian countries, capsaisina is responsible for hot
taste. Exotics fruits from the tropical zone, include
avocado (Persea americanaMill.), cherimola (An-
nona cherimola Mill.), papaw (Carica papaya),
pineapple (Ananas sativus(Lindl)Schult.), guayaba
(Psidium guajava), maracuyá, (Passiflora edulis,
Pasiflora edulis flavicarpa).
From the Chilean forest come white strawberries
(Fragaria chiloensis), and from Mexico, prickly pear
(Opuntia ficus-indica) representing many options for
different attractive and good tasting formats. From
Brazil, two seeds, the peanut (Araquis hypogaea)
and the cashew nut (Anacardium occidentaleL.),
can be found in the pockets of people of all ages
around the world, and are high in protein and fat
content. From Mexico, sunflower seeds (Heliantus
annus) are a source of one of the most important
vegetable oils produced in the world. Also from
Mexico, come two spices: vanilla (Vanilla planifolia),
a delicate natural flavouring and source of the pow-
erful antioxidant vanillin, and rocu seeds (Bixa orel-
lana) with natural red-orange bixina carotenoid food
dye. From Ecuador, cocoa seeds (Theobroma cacao)
“Food for Gods”, from the Mayan word “Ka'kaw”, an
important beverage for the Mayans and the Aztecs,
was domesticated more than 2 000 years ago and
introduced to Africa and Oceania. Its seeds contain
the most delicious fat in the world, impossible to
duplicate, and a source of natural antioxidants (Vi-
sioliet all., 2009). The composition of most of these
foods is in the cited literature.
New data has been generated and published in recent
years in Food Composition Tables: Centro America
(2006), Costa Rica: Alfaro et all. (2006), Blanco-Metzler
et all. (2006), Monge-Rojas and Campos (2006),
Brazil: TACO (2006), Rodriguez-Amaya et all. (2008),219