“In many countries, poor diet causes more deaths than smoking and high blood pressure”assures Ashkan Afshin. Asked by CNNthis assistant professor at the Institute for the Measurement and Evaluation of Health at the University of Washington (United States) develops the conclusions of his study, published in The Lancet last April. According to his research, the lack of healthy foods in our dietand a too much salt intakeare as impactful on our health as the red meat consumption or of sugary drinks.
Ashkan Afshin and colleagues looked at 15 trim-related risk factors and their impact. The consequences of diets high in red and processed meats, sugary drinks, trans fatty acids and salt (already known to have adverse health effects) were compared to those of a diet low in healthy foods (fruits, vegetables , whole grains, calcium, nuts and seeds, fiber, legumes, omega-3 fatty acids, etc.).
Three responsible factors
With the exception of salt, a key hazard in most of the countries studied, a diet high in processed foods was at the bottom of the risk table. In fact, more than half of diet-related deaths in 2017 were due to three factors: too much salt, not enough whole grains and not enough fruit.
In the same year, 10 million deaths were the result of cardiovascular disease. Cancer was responsible for 913,000 deaths. Type 2 diabetes, 339,000. In total, 66% of disabilities related to chronic diseases were due to these three factors. “Interestingly, obesity was not a leading factor, ranking sixth on the list of global disease risks”notes Ashkan Afshin, still to the British media.
the lack of whole grainsin our meals is particularly highlighted by the study. This also shows that it is not that we do not eat cereals, but that they are processed, low in nutrition and high in calories. Solicited by CNNAndrew Reynolds, researcher at the University of Otago (New Zealand) and author of a study on the subjectwarns: many products labeled “whole grain” are not. “Whole grains are included in ultra-processed products, which can be finely ground and have added sodium, free sugars and saturated fats”he explains.
Different issues depending on the country
Uzbekistan is the country with the highest number of food-related deaths, followed by Afghanistan, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. On the contrary, Israel recorded the lowest number, followed by France, Spain, Japan and Andorra. But the risks are always present, regardless of the socio-economic level of the territory.
However, regional challenges are emerging. In Asia, the amount of salt is the biggest risk, especially due to the extremely salty vinegars, sauces and rice noodles used to cook traditional Asian dishes. Mexico is one of the few countries to see sugary drinks high on its risk list. A significant rank, since drinking water is not free. Sodas and processed products are more accessible there than water or fruits and vegetables.
This new study is part of the annual report on morbidity in the worldprepared by thousands of researchers who track premature death and disability from more than 350 diseases and injuries in 195 countries.
Read also :
- We still don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables
- 1 in 5 deaths linked to poor diet
