Eating junk food is killing people more than smoking, finds a study

1.Are you living a healthy life?

When it comes to following a healthy diet, smoking is considered to be one of the biggest evils risking our health. From the risk of developing cancer, cardiac complications, breathing difficulties and the danger of catching second-hand smoke, there is a very valid reason to say no to smoking.

2. What is more dangerous than smoking?

However, a new study conducted in over 195 countries has pointed out to a bigger cause of concern at hand. And, it is much worse than smoking. Wonder what it could be?

3.The study

According to a study conducted by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle, eating bad quality food is increasing the mortality rate at a higher speed than smoking. Yes, you read that right. Your addiction to junk is actually cutting short your life and compromising on your lifestyle and health.

4. Addicted to snacking?

Not that junk food was ever considered a healthy food option to have, experts, have now pointed out that all those hours of binge-eating, mindless snacking and midnight cravings for chips, colas, donuts, and chocolates on a regular basis is one of the biggest threats mankind is facing and poses a grave threat to healthy living.

5. Junk food is killing people

According to a study conducted by the Seattle based Institute titled ‘Global Burden of Disease’, following unhealthy diets and eating bad food lacking in any nutrition causes around 11 million deaths which are easily preventable. This figure, in comparison, is much higher than deaths caused by excessive tobacco consumption.

While tobacco caused over 8 million deaths in the given year, high blood pressure deaths caused by eating bad food killed around 11 million people.

6.Young people more at risk

What’s more? 22% of these deaths caused by junk food consumption affected those below the age of 70.

7. Why is that?

The research points out the basic evidence and reaffirms what your grandmother has been trying to tell you for ages. You are skipping out a good dose of vegetables and nutrition for cheese laden corn starch based processed food, which is never a healthy habit to have.

8.The risk

In the absence of a healthy diet, what you risk developing is high-risk cardiac complications, heart attacks, and type-2 diabetes.

9.How to cut back?

The study also offered an interesting way to cut down on the risk of getting lifestyle diseases. Instead of forcing people to quit junk food and sugar completely, doctors say it would be better to promote healthy alternatives and force them to include more grains and vegetables in your diet.

Another study conducted by a Harvard-based professor some months back provided another easy alternative. Restricting yourself to six french fries a day is the key to staying healthy in the long run. Talking about the same, the professor suggested that 6 pieces of fries along with a healthy salad will help balance nutrition.

10. Wealthier nations more at risk?

The study also pointed out to a far more concerning statistic. People in wealthier, more developed parts of the world tend to be unhealthier, consuming lot more meat and processed food than those living in developing parts of the world, where vegetable and grain consumption was a lot better.

As compared to this mismatch, it was observed that nearly all regions across the earth saw a spike in the consumption off sugar and aerated drinks, which increased the risk for diabetes.

TNN/timesofindia.indiatimes.com