Throughout the world we are seeing different trends in the food industry causing negative and positive changes in eating habits affecting all aspects of health. So, it is no surprise that nutrition has been a hot topic throughout the health industry for the past few decades. One of the main concerns we are seeing is that not only does following an unhealthy diet increase heart and cardiovascular diseases, but it negatively affects muscle response time and alertness. In today’s blog post I will be comparing diets between two countries with different economies and cultures based on the results featured in Health News.
“The Best”
Higher living conditions does not necessarily mean better nutritional habits. A perfect example of this statement is the country Chad. This central African country has a population of 13,670,084 with approximately 47.3% of its population under the age of 15.5 Their economy relies on agriculture; 80% of the current jobs are in farming and cultivating.5 Even though there is political instability and poor infrastructure, Chad is currently ranked as having the healthiest diet in the world.2 Majority of the population eats a well balanced meal consisting of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and good sources of protein. Across the board, Chad is consuming the most fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains than most countries. An example of a traditional meal is boule (a thick grainy porridge made from ground corn) served with spicy sauces of vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, beans, meat and fish. Although Chad is considered an underdeveloped country, most developed countries could learn a thing or two from countries with better eating habits.
“The Worst”
Over the span of the past 20 years, researchers have found there has been an improvement with healthy diets in high-income countries.1 Unfortunately, there are several countries who are still practicing very unhealthy diets such as the country of Armenia.2 With a population of 3 million, and steady economic growth, this country is considered to have the unhealthiest diet around the world.4 Unlike Chad, bread and salt are considered a staple in traditional Armenian dishes. There is a prevalence of overweight and obesity among all ages due to the overeating habits of most people. Many health professionals are taking concern with the diets implemented in Armenian schools. Children are the future of any country, therefore it makes sense to start changing the poor eating habits found in schools. Most children in Armenia are consuming lots of carbohydrates and sugars from processed foods rather than vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.3 There needs to be more regulations on the types of food being provided to students.
We are seeing an increase of overweight and obese populations in developed countries due to the rapid technological advances and lack of caloric exhaustion. As diseases related to unhealthy eating habits arise, there needs to be a push to promote the increase of fruits, vegetables and whole food consumption. The more awareness we provide to these countries to practice better eating habits, the better the quality of life they will be living.
Next blog topic I will be discussing how poor nutrition affects muscle response time and how physical therapy can help reverse it.
References
1Adair, L. S., Ng, S. W., & Popkin, B. M. (2012). NOW AND THEN: The Global Nutrition Transition: The Pandemic of Obesity in Developing Countries. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 70(1), 3-21. Retrieved February 21, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257829/.
2Gander, Kashmira. "Revealed: the countries with the best and worst diets in the world." Health News. Independent, 19 Feb. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2017. <http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/revealed-the-countries-with-the-best-and-worst-diets-in-the-world-10057363.html#gallery>.
3Hakobyan, J. (2012, July 07). Health concerns and unhealthy lifestyle: Nutrition specialists warn of increased number of overweight children in Armenia. Retrieved February 23, 2017, from https://www.armenianow.com/society/health/41791/armenian_children_obesity_schools_canteens_healty_life_style
4I., & T. (n.d.). Armenia. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/9/Armenia
5T., & I. (n.d.). Chad. Retrieved February 25, 2017, from http://country-facts.findthedata.com/l/45/Chad
Absolutely eye opening, I was completely unaware of this.
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