What we put into our bodies is essentially what we get out. Our diets and the amount of exercise we do plays a major factor in terms of how long we get to walk on the Earth. We look at interesting statistics of what reduces your life span and how you can improve it.
Death by salt
A little salt here and there is good for seasoning, but too much could result in an unhealthy diet. Unhealthy diets have claimed 11 million people’s lives. If your diet consists of too much sodium which can be found in take-aways and processed foods, it can offset your health. Most foods contain natural salts and for food groups that don’t or are on the bland side, it is fine to add the recommended amount of salt for flavour.
What the world needs now is whole grains and fruits
Another contributing factor to most health-related diseases is that globally, we are depriving ourselves of whole grains and fruits. Global diet-related deaths were due to three risk factors; one of which was eating too much salt without consuming enough whole grains and fruit. The main cause of this is the socioeconomic factors that affect people’s ability to afford or have access to such food groups that can help them stay healthy for longer.
Ischaemic heart disease and strokes are the world’s biggest killers
When it comes to matters of the heart the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed Ischaemic heart disease and strokes as the leading cause of deaths. It has caused 15.2 million deaths globally and has remained the leading cause of death for the last 15 years.
According to WHO, 80% of all heart diseases, strokes, type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancers could be prevented if people improved their diets and participated in physical exercise. Making lifestyle choices such as reducing the amount of alcohol you consume along with quitting the use of tobacco can improve your health significantly.
Steps to take to prolong your life
You can take steps to improve your health by changing your diet and exercising for 15 – 30 minutes a day. The benefits of doing this can help:
Start by changing your diet and including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fibre calcium, nuts, legumes, lean meats and omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in seafood and vegetable oils and in a range of nuts and seeds.
Always consult with your doctor and a dietician to see which food groups you need to eat more of and what you need to cut back on to improve your overall health and prolong your life.
