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Poor Diet Is a Factor in 1 in 5 Deaths, Global Disease Study Reveals

  • September 15, 2017

A global disease report has found that 1 in 5 deaths around the world is actually due to a poor diet, according to The Guardian. Generally speaking, people are living longer; it’s just that chronic diseases triggered in part by eating the wrong things are causing us to die too soon. Health officials blamed the spread of “western diets” as partially to blame, along with mental health problems and substance use disorders.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been told that "eating right" can go a long way toward keeping you healthy. From obesity to heart disease to diabetes to arthritis, it’s true that what you put in your mouth has a huge impact on how your body looks and feels. In fact, eating the right amount of certain foods may help cut your risk of dying from heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes by almost half.

Coupled with a fasting-mimicking diet, making the right food choices can help you avoid chronic diseases and ultimately live longer. “Good” foods that most people don’t eat enough of include omega-3 fats, raw nuts and seeds, veggies and wild-caught Alaskan salmon.

“Bad” foods to eliminate include farmed seafood, sugary drinks and soda, artificial sweeteners, processed meats like bacon and hot dogs, and meats from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). And while fresh, raw fruit is an important component of a healthy diet, you should limit your total intake and overall fructose, as well as balance your sodium and potassium intake.

My updated nutrition plan can be your guide to optimal health. It’s almost the inverse of the original USDA food pyramid, but in a GOOD way. One of the “master keys” of my pyramid is to EAT REAL FOOD and avoid or eliminate excess sugars and all processed food products.