Unhealthy diets linked to
20% of deaths worldwide
By PROF. RANDOLPH HOWES M.D PhD
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Longtime medical columnist for The Times, the
author is an accomplished surgeon, medical inventor, and Country music
recording artist. Dr. Howes grew up on his parents' Ponchatoula straw-
berry farm. He is a graduate of St. Joseph, Ponchatoula High School,
Southeastern, Tulane - two doctorates, followed by a residency at the
Johns Hopkins Hospital in plastic surgery. He says he is "retired" now in
Kentwood. The doctor's column appears on facebook.com/theponchatou-
latimes and on facebook.com]theindependencetimes.
Unhealthy diets linked to 20% of deaths worldwide
In 2017, eleven million deaths worldwide in 2017
were linked to people eating poor diets high in sugar,
salt, and processed meat that contributed to heart dis-
ease, cancer, and diabetes.
Of the 11 million in
deaths in 2017, almost 10
million were from cardio-
vascular diseases, around
913,000 from cancer, and
almost 339,000 from type
2 diabetes.
Researchers found that
among 195 countries stud-
ied, the proportion of diet-
related deaths was highest
in Uzbekistan and low-
est in Israel. The United
States ranked 43rd, while
Britain was 23rd, China
140th and India ll8th.
Consumption of healthier
foods such as nuts and
seeds, milk, and whole
grains was on average too
low, and people consumed
too many sugary drinks
and too much processed
meat and salt.
Experts say this affirms
what many have thought
for several years.
Chris Murray, director
of the Institute for Health
Metrics and Evaluation at
the University of Washing-
ton, said, 'Poor diet is re-
sponsible for more deaths
than any other risk factor
in the v orld. Our assess-
ment suggests the lead-
ing dietary risk factorsare
high intake of sodium, or
|ow intake of healthy foods,
such as whole grains,
fruit, nuts and seeds, and
vegetables."
People ate only 12% of
the recommended amount
of nuts and seedsman av-
erage intake of 3 grams a
day, compared with the
recommended 21 grams--
and drank more than 10
times the recommended
amount of sugary" drinks.
Diets high in sugar, salt,
and bad fats are known
risk factors for heart dis-
ease, stroke, diabetes, and
many types of cancer.
A study published in
January suggested an
"ideal diet" for the health
Of people and the planet
would include a doubling
Dr. Howes
of consumption of nuts,
fruits, vegetables, and le-
gumes, and a halving of
meat and sugar intake.
Unhealthy diet causes
one in seven deaths in
Britain every year and re-
search foundlack of fruit
and fiber is taking the
heaviest toll, fueling condi-
tions such as cancer, heart
disease and diabetes. A
study by the University
of Washington identified
lack ofwholegrain, nuts
and fruits as the worst el-
ements of the British diet.
Too much salt was the
fourth biggest dietary risk
factor, followed by too little
vegetables. And the study
found that fizzy drinks
and processed meats such
as ham and bacon were
only minor contributors to
Britain's death toll.
In Britain, bad eating
habits cost almost as many
lives as smoking. Poor diet
is responsible for more
deaths than any other risk
factor in the world.
In the America that I
love, there is no miracle
diet but there are lots of
bad diets that we are reg-
ularly exposed to. Always
avoid extreme or fad di-
ets, emphasize fresh fruits
and vegetables in moder-
ate portions and exercise
regularly.-
AT THE MILL
Friday, April 12 10am - 7pm
Saturday, April 1:5 10am - 5pm
Sunday, April 14 * 11arn - 4pm
Children's Art Classes: Saturday 11am - 2pro
l~ctures with Easter Bun~. Saturday. l Oa'm-2pm $5
$5 Admission
For information, contact 225.638.5360
or visit Marketatthemillnewroads.com
Y
THE TERRY ANN McMAHON
MEMORIAL LABYRINTH
bur reasons
We all know water is good for us and that we should
probably drink more of it. So why, then, do Americans
find it so difficult to sipffom what is arguably the foun-
tain of youth? .
antioxidants, improve aer-
Answers vary, but the obic capacity, enhance en-
fact is, one in 10 Ameri-
cans drinks zero cups of
water per day, according
to-a study by Dr. Alyson
Goodman, a medical epi-
demiologist for the Cen-
ters for Disease Control
and Prevention. Zero. She
suspects that those who
don't drink any water (or
very little) are getting it
from other sources such as
food and coffee, but warns
this may not be enough.
'Wiany health risks de-
crease when you drink
plain water," says Good-
man.
Which is why, she says,
the results are "mindbog-
gling."
Robert Eakle, CEO of
Alkame Water, agrees.
%Vithout water, no liv-
ing thing can survive," he
says. "It affects every area
of our life and is an essen-
tial part to maintaining
proper health."
However, not ' all wa-
ters are created equal.
Enhanced Waters, like
Alkame Water, provide
the body with more health
benefits than regular wa-
ter. Just take a look at
how it can help:
I.t balances body flu-
ids. your body is composed.
of about 60 percent water
and performs vital func-
tions such as protecting
your organs and tissues,
regulating your body tem-
perature and carrying nu-
trients and oxygen to yDur
cells--essentially it keeps
your body running like a
well-oiled machine.
It keeps skin looking
healthy. Water moistur-
izes your skin and func-
tions' as a protective bar-
rier to prevent excess fluid
loss (think free anti-aging
cream). In addition, it can
keep your skin fresh and
smooth.
It boosts the immune
system. Those who guzzle
water are at'a lower risk of
getting sick. This crystal-
clear concoction helps fight
aga.inst flu, cancer and
other ailments--especial-
ly if your water has mild
alkaline properties, such
as those found in Alkame
Wateri Including ionized
water in your daily intake
can give your immune sys-
tem a boost through added
ergy levels and through a
patented technology that
alters the molecular struc-
ture of water, hydrate your
body more fully:
It can help control
calories. While drink-
ing water may not be a
weight-loss strategy, per
se, substituting it for high-
er-calorie or sugar-filled
beverages can help by re-
moving by products of fat,
filling you up so you're not
noshing, acts as a natural
appetite suppressant and
raises your metabolism.
Alkame Water, Inc is
a wholly owned subsid-
iary of Alkame Holdings,
Inc. (OTCQB: ALKM). For
more information about
Alkame Water and its
health benefits, visit www.
alkamewater.com.
AT ROSARYVILLE
Labyrinths have existed for over
2,000 years. Be a part of this
addition to our community by
donat!ng to help build the
Terry Ann McMahon Memorial
Labyrinth.
This labyrinth path will be stained
green On a 60 X60 concrete slab
requiring little upkeep.
Open to the public at no charge.
A great attraction for Rosaryville
and Tangipahoa Parish.
Send your donation or stop bY
Rosaryville's gift shop for some
labyrinth charm jewelry.
Attn: Labyrinth Fund
39003 Rosaryville Rd.
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
The Krewe of Erln began the
project in honor of Terry Ann
McMahon, co-founder of the
Krewe of Erin and greatly missed
community advocate.
i
i
II
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Times Internet Edition -- www. oonchatoula.com/)times E-Mail: editor@~ )endence@gmail.com
