Table of Contents

USER GUIDE - DIETAGOAL

Free Web Portal for Advanced Nutritional Monitoring

🆕 2025 Update - New features and advanced technologies

Versione Italiana

INTRODUCTION

DietaGoal is a completely free and technologically advanced web portal for diet monitoring and calorie counting. Developed with professional ASP.NET Core architecture, it offers cutting-edge tools for:

  • Precise caloric monitoring with scientifically validated calculations
  • Complete food database with over 100,000 products
  • Multi-directional barcode scanner
  • 🆕 Behavioral analysis based on 90 days of data
  • Metabolic calculations with certified medical formulas
  • Advanced recipe system with automatic calculation
  • Complete nutritional analysis of micronutrients
  • 🆕 Intermittent fasting support with scientific protocols
Main Features 2025
  • ✅ Completely free - no cost, no subscription
  • ✅ No intrusive advertising or behavioral tracking
  • ✅ Food database with multiple API integrations
  • ✅ Barcode scanner with multi-database support (OpenFoodFacts, USDA, Nutritionix)
  • ✅ 🆕 Intelligent system for real-time data updates
  • ✅ Scientific calculations with certified Mifflin-St Jeor formulas
  • ✅ 🆕 Behavioral analysis with advanced pattern recognition
  • ✅ Multi-device - works on computers, tablets, and smartphones
  • ✅ Multilingual support - Italian and English
  • ✅ Enterprise security - guaranteed data protection and privacy
New in 2025
  • 🆕 Behavioral Analysis: System that analyzes your eating patterns
  • 🆕 Intermittent Fasting: Calculator with validated scientific protocols
  • 🆕 Smart Updates: Automatic refresh based on activity
  • 🆕 Form Protection: Data loss prevention during form completion
  • 🆕 Professional API: Endpoints for external integrations
  • 🆕 Multi-Database Scanner: Intelligent search with automatic fallback

REGISTRATION AND FIRST ACCESS

Account Creation

  1. Access the DietaGoal portal from your browser
  2. Click "Register" on the main page
  3. Fill out the registration form with:
    • Valid email (required for account confirmation)
    • Secure password (minimum 8 characters)
    • Date of birth (for metabolic calculations)
    • Gender (influences basal metabolism calculation)
  4. Confirm registration through the email received
  5. Log in for the first time with the created credentials
Initial Setup - IMPORTANT!

After registration, it's essential to enter your first body measurement to activate all calculations:

  1. Go to "Measurements" in the main menu
  2. Click the "+" button to add a new measurement
  3. Enter the required data:
    • Height in centimeters (e.g., 175)
    • Weight in kilograms (e.g., 70.5)
    • PAL - Physical Activity Level from 1.0 to 4.0:
      • 1.2-1.4: Sedentary (office work, little movement)
      • 1.5-1.7: Light activity (walking, occasional sports)
      • 1.8-2.0: Moderate activity (sports 3-4 times/week)
      • 2.1-2.4: Intense activity (daily sports)
    • Kcal Correction (optional): For personalized adjustments
  4. Save the measurement
TIP: The system automatically calculates your basal metabolism using the Mifflin-St Jeor formula, considered the most accurate by the medical community.

MAIN DASHBOARD

Interface Layout

After login, you'll see the navigation menu with the main sections:

  • Foods - Personal food database management
  • Calorie Trend - Daily summaries and energy balances
  • Measurements - Body data and metabolic calculations
  • FAQ - Frequently asked questions and support
  • Donations - Support the project (optional)

Real-Time Indicators

The dashboard always shows:

  • Current caloric remainder - How many calories you can still consume
  • Daily balance - Overall sum for the day
  • Macronutrient percentages with smart color system 2025:
    • 🔵 Blue: Carbohydrates (45-65% of total calories)
    • 🟢 Green: Proteins (10-35% of total calories)
    • 🔴 Red: Fats (20-35% of total calories)
    • 🟤 Brown: Fiber (14-40g per day)
    • 🎯 Nutritional Status Indicators:
      • 🟨 YELLOW: Value TOO LOW ⬇️ - Increase intake
      • 🟥 RED: Value TOO HIGH ⬆️ - Reduce intake
      • Normal color: Value in optimal range ✅
ADVANCED COLOR SYSTEM 2025: The new system distinguishes between deficiencies (🟨 yellow) and excesses (🟥 red), following WHO/FDA/EFSA guidelines for more precise and personalized guidance.

FOOD MANAGEMENT

Adding New Foods

Method 1: Database Search
  1. Go to "Foods" in the menu
  2. Click the "+" button
  3. Type the name in autocomplete (e.g., "pasta", "chicken")
  4. Select from the list of suggestions
  5. Enter the weight or use mathematical expressions
  6. Save the food
Method 2: Manual Entry
  1. Leave the name field empty
  2. Fill in manually all fields
  3. Enter consumed weight
  4. Save
Mathematical Expressions for Weights

The system supports automatic calculations for weights:

  • 200/2.5 = 80g (e.g., half portion)
  • 50*3 = 150g (e.g., three portions)
  • 100+50 = 150g (e.g., two ingredients)
  • (200+100)/1.5 = 200g (combinations)

🆕 Macronutrient Interpretation

The Foods page displays macronutrient percentages with an advanced color system to guide you toward balanced nutritional choices:

🎯 Optimal Values (WHO/FDA Ranges)
  • 🔵 Carbohydrates: 45-65% of total calories
  • 🟢 Proteins: 10-35% of total calories
  • 🔴 Fats: 20-35% of total calories
  • 🟤 Fiber: 14-40g per day
🚦 Smart Color System
  • YELLOW Too Low ⬇️ - Increase intake
  • RED Too High ⬆️ - Reduce intake
  • Normal Color - Optimal range ✅
Tip: Colors change in real-time as you add foods throughout the day, providing immediate feedback on your diet's nutritional quality.

BARCODE SCANNER

Scanner Activation

  1. In food entry, click the barcode icon
  2. Allow camera use when prompted
  3. Position the barcode in the scanning area
  4. Wait for automatic detection (3-5 seconds)
Multidirectional Scanner
  • Horizontal codes: Position normally
  • Vertical codes: Rotate device 90°
  • Small codes: Use zoom control
Camera Controls
  • Flashlight: Automatic activation
  • Zoom: For small or distant codes
  • Camera switch: Front/rear
Scanner Troubleshooting
  • Code not detected: Try rotating device 90°
  • Slow reading: Get closer to the code, improve lighting
  • Camera not working: Reload page, check browser permissions
🆕 Intelligent Multi-Database System

The system automatically searches 4 integrated databases with intelligent fallback:

  1. OpenFoodFacts (Primary): 2.8M+ worldwide products
  2. USDA FoodData Central (Secondary): Official USA database
  3. Nutritionix (Tertiary): Professional commercial database
  4. Internal Database (Backup): Certified Italian products
🆕 Scanner Features 2025
Intelligent Multi-Orientation Scanner
  • EAN-13/UPC-A: Horizontal and vertical detection
  • Automatic rotation: No manual rotation needed
  • The system automatically detects orientation and barcode type
Professional Camera Controls
  • 🔦 Intelligent flashlight: Automatic activation in low light
  • 🔍 Adaptive zoom: Auto-adjustment for small codes
  • ⚡ Rapid scan: Fast mode for multiple scans
Scanner Troubleshooting
  • Damaged code: Automatic reconstruction of missing parts
  • Light conditions: Automatic exposure compensation
  • Excessive movement: Integrated digital stabilization
  • Multi-codes: Automatic primary code selection
Validation and Quality Score

Each scanned product receives a Quality Score (0-100%):

  • 90-100%: Certified data, official source
  • 70-89%: Community verified data, high reliability
  • 50-69%: Crowd-sourced data, medium reliability
  • <50%: Incomplete data, requires manual verification

🆕 BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS

IMPORTANT - MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

WARNING: All suggestions and analyses provided in this section are exclusively for informational and educational purposes and do NOT constitute medical advice, diagnoses, or therapeutic prescriptions.

It is ALWAYS recommended to consult a specialist doctor or qualified nutritionist before making significant changes to your diet or undertaking specific eating regimens.

🤖 Advanced System for Pattern Recognition

The integrated system continuously analyzes your eating behaviors across 6 main dimensions:

Multi-Dimensional Analysis (90 days)
  • 🕰️ Temporal Patterns - Time patterns
  • 📅 Weekend vs Weekday - Weekend/weekday behaviors
  • 🌿 Seasonal Variations - Seasonal variations
Advanced Detection
  • 🎉 Celebration Detection - Special day detection
  • 😊 Mood-Food Correlation - Food-mood correlations
  • ⏰ Circadian Optimization - Circadian rhythm optimization

📈 Detailed Behavioral Analytics

1. Temporal Pattern Analysis

Personalized Optimal Times:

  • Morning Peak: Your ideal morning energy peak
  • Lunch Window: Optimal lunch window for your metabolism
  • Dinner Timing: Dinner time for better digestion/sleep
  • Snack Patterns: When and why you tend to snack

Calculated Metrics: Consistency Score, Regularity Index, Circadian Alignment

2. Weekend vs Weekday - Behavioral Shift Analysis

Automatically Detected Patterns:

  • Caloric Variance: Average caloric difference weekend/weekday
  • Macro Shifts: Changes in macronutrient proportions
  • Meal Timing: Meal time shifts on weekends
  • Social Eating: Detection of social vs. solitary meals

Intelligent Alerts: 🟡 Moderate Shift (15-25%), 🔴 High Variance (>25%), 🟢 Consistent (<10%)

🤖 Personalized Recommendations

Adaptive Recommendation System

Based on 6 months of behavioral data + metabolic profile:

Temporal Recommendations
  • "Your data shows better caloric control with dinner by 7:30 PM"
  • "Weekend pattern: consider +200kcal distributed over hearty breakfast"
Nutritional Recommendations
  • "Tuesdays: you tend to under-consume protein (-12g). Suggest Greek yogurt 150g"
  • "Stress pattern: days <6h sleep you increase simple sugars (+40g). Alternatives: nuts"
Behavioral Recommendations
  • "Celebration days: average +650kcal. Pre-plan with -150kcal/day in 3 preceding days"
  • "Sunday: 73% probability evening snacks. Pre-set healthy options"

🏆 Advanced Behavioral Scores

Consistency Score (0-100)
  • 90-100: Optimal behavior, highly disciplined
  • 75-89: Good control, occasional deviations
  • 60-74: Moderate control, identifiable patterns
  • <60: High variability, requires strategy
Predictability Index (0-10)
  • 8-10: Highly predictable, the system can provide precise recommendations
  • 5-7: Moderately predictable, generally accurate recommendations
  • <5: Chaotic behavior, requires structured approach

Intermittent Fasting - General Information

The system can provide information on the main intermittent fasting protocols based on scientific literature:

16:8

16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating. Most common protocol for beginners.

5:2

5 normal days, 2 days with caloric restriction (500-600 kcal).

ADF

Alternate Day Fasting - alternating days of fasting and normal eating.

Contraindications and Precautions

Intermittent fasting is NOT suitable for:

  • People with diabetes or glucose metabolism disorders
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • People with eating disorders or history of eating disorders
  • Minors under 18 or adults over 65
  • People with chronic medical conditions
  • Those taking medications that require food consumption

ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR before starting any intermittent fasting protocol.

📊 How to Access the Analysis

  1. Accumulate data: The system needs at least 30 days of data for meaningful analysis
  2. Go to "Behavioral Analysis" in the main menu
  3. View charts of your eating trends
  4. Read personalized suggestions based on your patterns
  5. Monitor your behavioral scores and predictions
Note: All analyses are purely informational and preceded by appropriate disclaimers. The system never provides direct medical advice.

🆕 INTERMITTENT FASTING

⚠️ MEDICAL-LEGAL DISCLAIMER ⚠️

Intermittent fasting may have specific contraindications. DietaGoal provides educational tools, NOT medical advice. ALWAYS consult a doctor before starting IF protocols. Stop immediately if: dizziness, nausea, extreme weakness.

This tool does not replace professional medical consultation.

🧑‍⚕️ Scientifically Validated Protocols

DietaGoal integrates an expert system for intermittent fasting based on:

  • Medical literature: 2000+ peer-reviewed studies
  • Certified protocols: Approved by endocrinologists
  • Personalization: Based on individual metabolic profile
  • Safety checks: Automatic contraindications

🕰️ Supported Protocols 2025

16:8 Protocol (Beginner Friendly)
  • Eating window: 8 consecutive hours
  • Fasting window: 16 hours (includes sleep)
  • Recommended for: Beginners, flexible lifestyle
  • Scientific benefits: Insulin sensitivity, autophagy
DietaGoal Personalization:
Your Optimal Window: 12:00-20:00
Based on: Cortisol peak, Social needs, Family time
Other Advanced Protocols
  • 14:10 Protocol: Gentle approach, women of reproductive age
  • 18:6 Protocol: Advanced, aggressive weight loss goals
  • 20:4 Protocol: Expert level, medical supervision
  • ADF: Alternate Day Fasting for >15kg weight loss
Warning: Advanced protocols require experience and medical monitoring

🛑 Safety System & Contraindications

Automatic Safety Checks

The system automatically blocks IF protocols if it detects:

Absolute Contraindications:
  • Age <18 or >70 years (growth/aging considerations)
  • BMI <18.5 (underweight risk)
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding (declared in profile)
  • Type 1 Diabetes (hypoglycemia risk)
  • History of eating disorders (self-reported)
Relative Contraindications (Warning):
  • BMI >35 (requires medical supervision)
  • Type 2 Diabetes (possible, but with monitoring)
  • Blood pressure irregularities (frequent monitoring)
  • Medication interactions (drug timing)

🆕 SMART REFRESH SYSTEM

🤖 Smart Refresh Technology

DietaGoal's intelligent system continuously monitors:

Adaptive Algorithm
  • User Activity: Real-time user activity detection
  • Data Staleness: How "old" the displayed data is
  • Page Context: Which page you're viewing
  • Network Conditions: Connection quality
  • Battery Status: Device battery status (mobile)
Practical Examples
  • Calorie dashboard: 15s (high priority, critical data)
  • Recipes: 300s (low priority, static data)
  • Active scanner: 5s (maximum priority)
  • Mobile battery <20%: 50% rate reduction

🛑 Form Protection System

Intelligent Change Detection

Automatic protection from data loss during:

  • Form completion: Detection of unsaved changes
  • Automatic refresh: Pause if forms modified
  • Navigation away: Warning before leaving page
  • Session timeout: Auto-save draft every 60s
User Control Panel:
  • 🔄 Auto-refresh: ON/OFF toggle
  • ⏱️ Refresh rate: 15s/30s/60s/Manual
  • 🛑 Form protection: ON/OFF toggle
  • 📱 Mobile optimization: Battery aware ON/OFF

🆕 API AND INTEGRATIONS

🔗 Professional RESTful API

Public Endpoints

Base URL: https://dietagoal.com/api/v1/

Authentication: Basic Auth + API Key

Food Database API
  • GET /foods/search
  • GET /foods/barcode/{code}
  • POST /foods
  • PUT /foods/{id}
User Data API
  • GET /user/profile
  • GET /user/measurements
  • GET /user/daily-summary
  • POST /user/food-entry
Analytics API
  • GET /analytics/behavioral
  • GET /analytics/trends
  • GET /analytics/predictions

🌍 External Database Integrations

OpenFoodFacts
  • Database: 2.8M+ worldwide products
  • Update: Real-time via webhook
  • Quality: Community verified
  • API Calls: Unlimited
USDA FoodData Central
  • Database: 600K+ official USA products
  • Update: Quarterly releases
  • Quality: Government certified
  • API Calls: 1000/hour (free)
Nutritionix Database
  • Database: 800K+ commercial USA products
  • Update: Weekly updates
  • Quality: Commercial grade
  • API Calls: 500/day (subscription)

🔗 Available Third-Party Integrations

Fitness Trackers (BETA)
  • MyFitnessPal: Import/Export data
  • Fitbit: Import burned calories
  • Apple Health: Sync measurements
  • Google Fit: Import physical activity
Healthcare Integration
  • Epic Healthcare: Clinical data sharing
  • Telemedicine: Export reports
  • Lab Results: Import blood values
Smart Home (BETA)
  • Smart Scales: Auto-import weight
  • Kitchen Scales: Recipe integration
  • Voice Assistants: "Alexa, add pasta to DietaGoal"

BODY MEASUREMENTS

Automatic Calculations

The system automatically calculates:

BMI

Body Mass Index

Weight / Height²
Basal Metabolism

Mifflin-St Jeor Formula

Most accurate medical formula
Total Energy

Daily Requirement

BMR × PAL + Corrections

Physical Activity Levels (PAL)

PAL Range Activity Level Description
1.2-1.4 Sedentary Office work, little movement
1.5-1.7 Light Activity Walking, occasional sports
1.8-2.0 Moderate Activity Sports 3-4 times/week
2.1-2.4 Intense Activity Daily sports/professional athlete

RECIPES AND INGREDIENTS

Creating a Recipe

Step 1: Base Food
  1. Go to "Foods" and click "+"
  2. Enter recipe name
  3. Leave weight = 0
  4. Save and click "Recipe"
Step 2: Add Ingredients
  1. In "Ingredients" section, click "+"
  2. For each ingredient enter name and weight
  3. Repeat for all ingredients
Step 3: Finalize
  1. Return to main recipe
  2. Enter final recipe weight
  3. Values calculate automatically
  4. Save complete recipe
Recipe System Advantages
  • Automatic calculation of proportional nutritional values
  • Recipe reuse in different portions
  • Precision in macronutrients
  • Personal database of favorite recipes

MEDICAL-LEGAL DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Nature of the Service

DietaGoal is a computer tool for nutritional monitoring for exclusively informational and educational purposes. The portal:

  • Does NOT provide medical advice, diagnoses, or therapeutic prescriptions
  • Does NOT replace consultation with qualified healthcare professionals
  • Is NOT a medical device and is not certified for clinical use
Mandatory Professional Consultation

It is MANDATORY to always consult:

  • A doctor before substantially modifying your diet
  • A qualified nutritionist for personalized meal plans
  • A specialist doctor in case of pathologies or particular conditions
  • Your attending physician before undertaking regimens like intermittent fasting
Limitation of Liability

The developers and managers of DietaGoal:

  • Do NOT assume any responsibility for consequences arising from use of the portal
  • Do NOT guarantee absolute accuracy of calculations or information
  • Are NOT responsible for decisions made based on information provided
  • Disclaim all responsibility for direct, indirect, or consequential damages
Use at Your Own Risk

Use of DietaGoal occurs exclusively at your own risk and responsibility. The user acknowledges:

  • Having read and understood this disclaimer
  • Using the service exclusively for informational purposes
  • Not considering the portal as a substitute for medical advice
  • Taking full responsibility for their dietary choices
Special Medical Conditions

In the presence of:

  • Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders
  • Eating disorders or eating behavior disorders
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding, pediatric or geriatric age
  • Ongoing pharmacological therapies
  • Any chronic or acute medical condition

It is ESSENTIAL to consult a doctor before using information provided by the portal.

Complete Guide

This guide includes all the main functionalities of DietaGoal:

  • ✅ Registration and Initial Setup
  • ✅ Dashboard and Navigation
  • ✅ Food Management and Barcode Scanner
  • ✅ Eating Behavior Analysis
  • ✅ Complete Medical-Legal Disclaimer

For additional information or technical support, use the FAQ section of the portal.

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