More support is needed for people to make healthier food choices<\/p>\n
Research suggests<\/a> that more than half of the calories in Britons\u2019 diets come from ultra-processed foods<\/a>, which are often (but not always<\/a>) high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat. High intake of all of these ingredients is associated with a higher risk of chronic disease. For example, eating too much saturated fat can increase levels of LDL cholesterol<\/a> in the body, which, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n RELATED: Eating More Plants Could Help Boost Mood, Focus, and Even Prevent Depression\u2014Here\u2019s the Proof<\/a><\/p>\n But the report is not pointing the finger at individuals. Instead, it is calling for more government action. Right now, the cost of eating healthier, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and more fiber-rich ingredients<\/a> would cause poorer British households to double their food spend, notes the study. Some researchers are calling for the government to offer the public more support to buy more fruits and vegetables, perhaps through a voucher program.<\/p>\n \u201cThis \u00a3268 billion cost shows us that we have a food system that privatizes the profits and socializes the harms from bad food,\u201d Dolly van Tulleken, PhD, told The Guardian<\/a>. \u201cIt puts a price on the failure of the government stretching back over 30 years to regulate big food.\u201d<\/p>\n The UK\u2019s current Health Secretary, Wes Streeting has stressed on multiple occasions that he would like to move the country toward a prevention-focused healthcare model. \u201cA healthy diet and lifestyle is pivotal to achieving that,\u201d he said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n The UK also recently banned junk food advertising in a bid to help protect the \u201cbroken NHS\u201d and help support children to develop healthier habits at a young age.<\/p>\n More time outside can significantly benefit mental health\u00a0<\/p>\n In Canada, another study has looked at how lifestyle changes can help support people and potentially prevent serious conditions. Rather than food, its focus was nature, and encouraging individuals\u2014again, particularly children\u2014to spend more time outdoors for the good of their mental health.<\/p>\n Researchers examined the behavior of 500 children in Quebec for three months and found that children were far more attentive and calm after they had spent time in nature. The biggest difference was observed in children who were already experiencing significant mental health problems, with symptoms like anxiety or aggressivity.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis suggests that nature-based programs may offer targeted benefits for children with higher levels of mental health vulnerabilities and potentially act as an equalizer of mental health among school-age children,\u201d researcher Sylvana C\u00f4t\u00e9 said in a statement.<\/p>\n The study contributes to a growing body of research that links time in natural spaces with better health. In 2019, another study published in the journal Nature<\/a> suggested that spending two hours in nature a week could benefit overall health and well-being significantly. Not just for children, but for everyone, regardless of age.\u00a0<\/p>\nPexels<\/p>\n
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