How You Should Eat For Health

 

Yes, genes certainly play a role. But 30 percent of your health is actually up to you! And most important is the food you eat. Numbers can be twisted and turned, we know that. Just as you can choose to see the glass as half empty or half full.

We take it from the beginning:

When we look at what affects our health, 50 percent depends on living conditions related to upbringing, genes, education and occupation. Like where in the world and in what environment we live. These are things that can be difficult to influence - but which affect our health to the greatest extent.

Another 20 percent is affected by the healthcare we have access to, and it can behave somewhat randomly even in a country like Sweden. But then there is 30 percent left. And there is all the more you can do!

lifestyle factors are as much as 30 percent, says veronica hedberg, doctor, vice president of doctors for the future and co-author of the book "smart food for a healthy body and brain".

Food and lifestyle affect health

In other words: what we eat and drink affects our health. How we move, if we smoke, stress and sleep too little, sunbathe too much - this affects our health to the greatest extent. And these are things that we actually can influence.

You can stop smoking - which has an enormous effect on your health! You can move more - which also has great health and well-being effects. You can stress less - and reduce the risk of serious diseases.

- the world health organization, who, ranks eating habits as the biggest threat to public health, says veronica hedberg.

So how should we eat to stayhealthy and live long? Well, it partly depends on who you ask. But there are some things scientists and doctors completely agree on, and that is that it is good to eat a lot more vegetables, legumes and unprocessed food - and cut back on animal red meat, white flour and sugar and processed food.

Or as veronica Heidelberg, herself a long-time vegan, sums it up:  plant-based, which they eat in the blue zones. Sparing with milk and meat, low protein intake, lots of fiber.

Food from the plant kingdom

The world's blue zones, are areas where people are healthier and get older. The zones, which can be found around the Mediterranean and in japan, have been in focus for a number of years, and have several things in common: here, the diet comes largely from the plant kingdom, with minimal processed food and little animal products. It is nutrient-dense food without excessive energy content. But the lifestyle in general also benefits health; these are areas where people move in everyday life, experience less stress and have strong social ties.

According to veronica Heidelberg, we don't need the proteins we get from meat at all. More and more studies show that we get complete proteins by eating, for example, beans and lentils. In addition, there is now scientific support that red meat and charioteer increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases, diabetes and bowel cancer.

Here, however, opinions differ. Animal products not only provide protein, but also vital b12, which vegans need to eat as a supplement.

A few years ago, the debated documentary "the game changers" also came out, which is about athletes being able to perform at a high level even if they eat vegan. You don't need to eat animal protein at all to build muscles and become strong and fast, is the thesis put forward by, among others. However, the film is controversial and many experts believe that it is a one-sided way of interpreting research.