Your plate decides longevity: Suboptimal diet responsible for more deaths than any other health risk

Poor diet poses the greatest risk to life among all factors affecting global populations that impact health and cause death, according to a study by Lancet. It is now empirically proven that healthier diets could, in fact, save one in five lives every year, says the study, which was based on more than 9,000 country years of data.

IMPACT OF POOR DIET

Suboptimal diet is responsible for more deaths than any other risks globally, including tobacco smoking, highlighting the urgent need for improving human diet across nations.


LEADING DIETARY RISK FACTORS FOR MORTALITY
Diets high in sodium and low in whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids.

MORE SERIOUS THAN IT SEEMS

Top 10 risk factors for death globally

1. Dietary risks
2. High BP
3. Tobacco

- High blood sugar, air pollution and high BMI are the next three causes
- Cholesterol (high LDL), malnutrition, alcohol and impaired kidney function are the others