Prevention is Better Than Cure: a Case for Proactive Healthy Eating
Every 33 seconds, somebody dies from heart disease in the USA1. According to the CDC, it is the leading cause of death among Americans, followed by cancer, injuries, strokes, and lung disease. However, many of these conditions are preventable.
Proactive health management means adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases in later life. It promotes healthy aging through nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management. Taking this proactive stance on your health can reduce your risk of developing Diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle diseases.
Scientific Evidence for Proactive Health Management
The North Karelia Project is a famous study that proves how positive lifestyle changes can reduce heart disease and extend lifespans. In 1972, the project kicked off in North Karelia, Finland – a region plagued by heart disease at the time. Through aggressive media campaigns, business collaborations, and community outreach programs, the project helped people quit smoking and reduce their sodium and saturated fat intake. By 2012, Finland had reduced heart disease-related deaths by over 80%.
Another famous experiment, The Seven Countries Study, proved how lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol intake, and saturated fat intake can lead to coronary disease. This groundbreaking study spanned over 50 years and continues to influence nutrition research. Today, Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries2 highlight other diseases one can avoid through proactive health management, including type 2 Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dental disease, and depression.
Current Healthy Eating Trends for Disease Prevention
- Blood Type Diet
This diet is based on the belief that people of different ABO blood groups should eat distinct foods and was popularized in 1996. While scientific evidence for the blood type diet is limited, some studies suggest a connection between blood types and diseases that can be mitigated through preventative nutrition. - Plant-Based Diet
Saturated fats are a known catalyst for heart disease, so cutting them out is an obvious choice for high-risk patients. Vegan diets are typically lower in saturated fats because they avoid dairy, eggs, and meat. Plant-based eating may also mean consuming more fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants that fight cancer-causing free radicals. - MIND Diet
The MIND Diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) combines elements of the Mediterranean Diet and the DASH diet. It is a proactive eating plan that focuses on brain health. Following the MIND diet means eating more berries, fish, nuts, leafy greens, olive oil, beans, whole grains, vegetables, and poultry. Research suggests that this diet can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. - TLC Diet
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute endorses the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet. This diet aims to lower LDL cholesterol levels by reducing saturated fat intake and increasing soluble fiber consumption. A proactive nutrition plan works best when combined with regular physical activity.
Other Considerations for Holistic Health
Healthy eating is not the only way to reduce your risk of developing a lifestyle disease. Stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption should also be top of mind. Today, more consumers are taking a holistic approach to their health, which includes prioritizing mental well-being, relationships, personal development, quality rest, and other forms of self-care.
Many consumers also actively avoid synthetic ingredients in favor of natural products that offer increased health benefits. For example, natural flavorings from plants often contain healthful compounds called phytonutrients. These natural chemicals protect plants from disease, and eating them regularly can boost the human immune system.
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1 https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11795/