Food of people worldwide has never been healthy. With awareness programs and campaigns on healthy eating habits, there was a slight improvement in healthy eating in the world including the UK.
But now as inflation has hit the world and the UK, people are moving away from eating healthy foods. The adequacy and quality of foods have diminished.
British households and healthy eating
The eating habits of our ancestors were healthy. They led an active and fit life free of most of the modern day diseases. But with urban lifestyle, industrialization, and mechanization, there is a rise in stress. The current lifestyle took its toll on our eating habits too. Healthy eating fell and junk and processed foods took the place of nutritious whole foods. The net result was a chain of incurable diseases and early deaths.
Unhealthy foods (Source: BBC)The world health related organizations and governments were trying various measures to improve the diet of people and make it healthier. They initiated various regulations and campaigns to encourage people to inculcate healthy eating habits. And these measures were bearing fruit. People had become somewhat health conscious and were eating healthier foods.
Inflation and foods and eating
But recent surveys have shown that British households are turning away from eating healthier foods. The reason is that inflation is so high and expensive foods and most foods are going out of the reach of common people.
Most people are now unable to afford fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and fish. Instead, they opt for the cheaper packaged foods that are heavily processed and might have unwanted harmful ingredients such as added sugar, salt, and other food additives.
Inflation rise in the UK (Source: BBC)Prices of fresh foods have skyrocketed. Milk has also become expensive. Though packaged food prices have risen but it is in lesser amounts. Hence people are now choosing processed meats, packaged pizzas, sugary snacks and chocolates. The price of chocolates rose the least at 3% compared to that of low fat milk at 42%.
Therefore, survey data showed that purchase of fresh foods fell and that of ready-made foods rose. Also, many people go and sleep hungry.
Problems of unhealthy eating
Health bodies of the UK are concerned with this new data from NielsenIQ. The firm had created a basket of 37 food items to see how their sales have changed this year. The figures are disturbing. Even before, UK is a forerunner as regards the obesity epidemic. More than 60% of its adult population is overweight or obese. Due to this serious, incurable, and chronic diseases have risen and early deaths occur.
Healthy foods (Source: My fitnesspal blog)This trend towards unhealthy eating is harmful for the body. The added sugars and saturated fats can cause weight gain. This decreases the insulin sensitivity and can lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Moreover, saturated fats intake means rise in bad cholesterol of blood. This will cause atherosclerosis and arterial blockages. And these blocks can hamper free blood flow and cause heart attack and strokes. It might affect kidney function and lead to renal failure. All this increases risk of early deaths.
Read more: Healthy eating and feeling good: both are essential in eating!
Adequate and balanced nutrition for everyone should be the goal. The government has to aim to bring down the rising inflation rates down at a faster rate so that people will be financially in a position to buy healthy food and improve their health and that of their family.