We certainly should be! You can’t open a magazine or newspaper these days without being assailed with tips and tricks, Dos and Don’ts, and advice on what you should or shouldn’t be putting in your mouth. A quick Google Healthy Eating search brings up 1 150 000 000 results!
Unfortunately, it turns out we are not taking this free advice. Some of us may be, thanks to how popular vegan and vegetarian cuisine is and the fact that there is so much information available on the Internet, but as a whole? We’re not. Actually, it’s getting worse, and the threat is the same: obesity.
The Side Effects of Obesity
Obese people are at an increased risk of developing cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and problems with joints and respiration.
Heart disease is the single biggest cause of death worldwide and there are currently around 1.13 billion people living with it worldwide, with fewer than 1 in 5 having it under control.
It is estimated that roughly 415 million people are currently living with diabetes, 1 in 11 of the world’s adult population and that 46% of these are undiagnosed. The figure is expected to rise to 642 million people living with this disease by 2040.
The numbers are grim, to say the least.
Why Aren’t We Listening?
The Internet has made it possible for most of us to have reams of information about how to get healthier as close as our PCs, tablets, or smartphones are. It’s as easy to find a good eating plan as it is to play first-rate Australian online pokies nowadays! But pure laziness and a kind of obsession with convenience is costing us our health.
We are consuming massive amounts of sugars, in things like low-fat yoghurt, BBQ sauce, and ketchup, and refined carbs in the form of white bread, white rice, and pastries. We’re eating more takeaways, like burgers, fried chicken, and Chinese food, and convenience foods like frozen pizza, microwavable dinners, and pre-made sandwiches and subs. These very frequently have unhealthy amounts of fat, salt and sugar in them.
We are also simply eating too much, which while it may seem lucky we are not starving, is actually not doing us any good. Portions are getting larger, and many of us snack too frequently throughout the day on high-energy foods. We aren’t getting enough fresh fruit and vegetables each day.
Tips to Take Back Your Health
The main thing is to start off slowly, since making sweeping, immediate changes may well end up derailing the new programme before you have a chance to enjoy its benefits.
Eating a healthy breakfast is a great way to begin and will make you feel like Wonder Woman, or Superman! It’s easy, too, with the simple addition of things like eggs, Greek yoghurt, and good quality coffee to your shopping cart.
Get smart about your snacking, keeping fig or date bars, fresh fruit, and low-fat cheese in stock and in reach. And finally, lay off the soft drinks and up your water intake. The average adult male should be getting roughly 15 cups a day, and the average adult female 11.
