20% of All Deaths Worldwide Are Linked to Poor Diets
Just read a study that one in five deaths globally is linked to poor diets.
The researchers at Lancet found that the key to eating more healthfully isn’t depriving yourself, but eating more. It’s just that you eat more of healthy foods!
It was a 20 years study of dietary data from 195 countries, looking also at nutrition-related health risks/benefits. And the results were stunning!
Poor diets killed 11 million people around the world in 2017.
The poor diets led to cardiovascular disease and cancer.
That makes subpar nutrition a more scary health threat than smoking, according to the research!
Diet effects everyone the same. It will lay down anyone to rest regardless of age, gender, or where they live!
The study co-author Dr. Ashkan Afshin, an assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said, “Low intake of healthy foods and high intake of unhealthy foods is the leading cause of mortality, globally and in many countries.”
So, what did the study say we eat that is being labeled “poor diet”?
Too much sodium is the main thing. This causes high blood pressure and heart conditions. Heart related conditions are the largest cause of death globally. So, maybe pass on the fries this week and next?
Dr. Ashkan said “the main problem we see is the low intake of healthy food,” ... so rather than high intake of unhealthy food. Aside from eating too much salt, most of the top dietary risk factors are related to not eating enough nutritious foods, including whole grains, nuts and seeds, fruits, vegetables, polyunsaturated fats and legumes.
Out of 15 food and nutrient categories (like fruits, vegetables, fiber and processed meats) the study looked at each person’s consumption and how it effected their bodies and the illnesses they endured over time.
Then they were able to see a relationship between the food people ate and the food’s impact on the risk of developing diet-related diseases and health issues.
Poor diets — which include those that are too heavy in sugary drinks, trans fats and processed meats, and too light in whole grains, produce and nuts — were associated with death and disease all over the world.
For people seeking to improve their diets?
THE TOP TEN MOST DANGEROUS DIETS:
Too much salt
Too few whole grains
Too little fruit
Not enough nuts and seeds
Too few vegetables
Not enough omega 3 fatty acids
Low levels of fibre
Not enough polyunsaturated fatty acids
Low levels of legumes
Over-consumption of trans fats
SOME IDEAS & BABY STEPS TO INCORPORATE:
Use herbs and spices to flavor food rather than salt. We use this spice blend with everything – vegetables, eggs, roast meat and fish.
Discover some of the cheap but exotic whole grains: wheat berries, freekeh and quinoa are a few of the best. But don’t forget the high-fibre benefits of a simple bowl of brown rice.
Don’t use fruit solely for desserts and snacks. Use it in savor dishes too. Try protein options with blackberry or apple sauce.
Top almost any dish with a sprinkling of nuts and seeds. Or eat a handful as a snack.
A vegetable sauté isn’t really a recipe, more of a method. It’s so adaptable, just like roasting vegetables...great every time!
Make fish more of an essential part of age-well diet than red meat. And eat it at least twice a week. Aim for smaller fish which are lower in mercury like sardines, anchovies and mackerel. Watercress and pea puree with smoked mackerel and spaghetti with sardines are good recipes to try. My mother grew up on sardines and soda crackers as a snack.
Don’t forge to get fibre from whole grains, beans and legumes.
Try to incorporate sunflower seeds and walnuts to boost levels of polyunsaturated fats.
Mindful meal prep...I make hummus every week. This is a great snack and easy addition to dishes. Try roasted chickpeas or red lentil soup.
There’s no way round this: avoid deep-fried and fast food.
These are some very simple, effective ways to change our diets and become ageless.
Start with adding in more whole grains and nuts.Globally, people were eating only 12% as many nuts they should be, and only 23% as many whole grains, the researchers found! So, lets start easy with a bowl of whole grain steel cut oats in the morning and replace those high-sodium snacks with some unsalted nuts!
It's About Choices That Fit Your Life
Diva Over Fifty isn’t a boot camp, a starvation diet, or gimmick.
It’s about your choices and your program customized for your life.
Take as much as you want.
If you want more, take it.
If you want to scale back during holidays and vacations, do it.
For as little as $3 a day …you do YOU!
There’s only one “you” and no program fits everyone.
Want the roadmap to longevity, beauty and mindfulness?
Together we can make the SHIFT
TO BECOME AGELESS
Basic .. Smart ... Efficient...
Then we’ll be on the way to a longer, healthier life!
