Some people would wish that eating becomes optional. Unfortunately, it is not. So long as we live, we can’t help but eat. There are basic reasons why we eat: to prevent or quench hunger and to gain the strength or energy needed to work. We also eat to be healthy. That is why we should be quite selective about what we eat.
Not every food is healthy. By some twist of irony, what we eat may also turn around and endanger our health. We find that even in spite of our carefulness, the food we eat can still put us in an undesired health condition. In fact, sometimes, in trying to be selective, we choose the wrong kinds of food and end up achieving the opposite of the result we desire, putting our body in the bad state.
Poor states of health that can be induced or worsened by food are many. Here, we discuss the major ones so you’ll know what they are, the foods that cause or increase them and, keep away from those.
Arthritis
Arthritis is simply known as an inflammation of the joints. Its common symptoms are joint pain and restlessness. Arthritis is common all over the world. In the US for instance, available statistics show that 54 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. The same statistic also shows that the number of people expected to have arthritis in 2040 in the US alone is more than 78 million. These are staggering figures, evidence of how common it is.
Old age and bad posture are well-known causes of arthritis. However, some foods equally contribute to causing or increasing it, where it already exists. Processed food such as fried meat, frozen meal, and others have been identified to trigger arthritis for some reasons.
On the contrary, some food items, known as anti-arthritis food, help in reducing arthritis. They include tart cherries, red raspberries, watermelon, strawberries, avocado and, grapes. More of these should be eaten instead of the ones that induce arthritis.
2. Hypertension
Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. It occurs when the pressure of the blood being pumped through your arteries is higher than it should be. Hypertension is as dangerous as it is common. To give you an idea of how common this ailment is, records show that about 85 million people have hypertension in the US alone.
Hypertension is commonly caused by stress, age, alcohol, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking. Some of the things we eat can equally contribute to a hypertensive condition – foods that have an irregular balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fats, for instance. Grain-fed beef is a typical example of such food, which is important that you avoid.
3. Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are heart-related diseases. They could occur in the form of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and other forms. Heart diseases have become very common nowadays. Here are some interesting figures about heart diseases.
According to Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2015 Update, heart disease is the leading cause of death globally with a 17.3 million figure annually. This number, according to the report, will likely increase to 23.6 million by the year 2030.
Interestingly, the food you eat can also put you at the risk of a heart disease! According to scientists, foods that could lead to cardiovascular problems include fried chicken, sausages, cheesecake, steak, burgers, pizza, pasta, ice cream, doughnuts, and chips
On a final note, while you may now begin to take the saying ‘health is wealth’ as a cliché, it is still a very relevant adage especially in modern living. Everyone desires wealth and beauty. But these desires can be ruined by what is consumed when a person’s health is compromised as a result of a poor diet choice. In the end, you are what you eat.
