Not smoking is pointless if you are killing yourself faster with your poor diet

It’s official, poor eating habits are a bigger killer than smoking and each year accounts for around 11 million deaths worldwide, or 22% of the total recorded. This is according to recently published research.

 And just for the records, smoking tobacco was associated with eight million deaths while diet related deaths were 11 million. Ouch! The study showed that the vast majority of diet-related deaths were due to heart disease, followed by cancers and Type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of  published in The Lancet journal showed that a low intake of whole grains and fruits, and high consumption of sodium  (found in salt) accounted for more than half of diet-related deaths. So please pause and think again before you pop that salted and tasty crisps into your mouth!

The rest of diet related deaths were attributed to high consumption of red and processed meat (say hello to bacon and tasty sausages); sugar-sweetened drinks (that would be many drinks); and other unhealthy foods including those containing trans-fatty acids. 

The research also highlighted the huge burden of disabilities caused by poor diets placed on society. 

In essence, this means it’s unfair that your family, your friends and haters, neighbours and even the average Jack Doe that doesn’t know you but pays his taxes regularly, is picking up the tab for your unhealthy eating habits that is causing the problems sending you to the GP and the hospital. That’s not cool is it?

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said "more must be done to reduce the burden of diet-related disease". She said the UK's challenge to the food industry to reduce sugar from everyday foods was "a clear step in the right direction", adding "we want to see that ambition from other countries".

"We are what we eat and risks affect people across a range of demographics, including age, gender, and economic status," said Dr. Ashkan Afshin of the University of Washington, US.

Afshin added: "We are highlighting the importance of low consumption of healthy foods as compared to the greater consumption of unhealthy foods.  "Dietary policies focusing on promoting healthy eating can have a more beneficial effect than policies advocating against unhealthy foods."

I must have written this refrain so many times in the last 3 years, ‘you are what you eat’! Don’t feel good only that you are not smoking and putting tobacco in your lungs. What about the rest of your body system? What are you eating? What are you drinking? It’s never too late to make a change. Get in touch with us today – for free! We’ll be happy to advise and help in anyway we can. 

Remember – treat your body with food! Visit our website today www.treatwithfood.co.uk for more information.