Study shows chronic disease can be triggered by eating unhealthy foods

What you eat reflects in your health, nutritionists and fitness experts always say. The findings of a new research corroborate this theory. The study shows eating unhealthy foods can expose you to chronic ailments. On the contrary, consuming plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits regularly can thwart possibilities of developing such diseases. The research, one of its kind, was carried out by University of Adelaide. The team analyzed relation between diet and as many as 11 chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis and coronary heart disease.

The study finding shows people eating plenty of fruits are more immune to developing any chronic disease. Those eating lots of vegetables tend to resist formation of second chronic ailment when they are already afflicted with one. The study was carried out in conjunction with health organizations and universities in Canada and China. The findings can be found in Clinical Nutrition journal. This is in fact the first study to set up link between multiple chronic disease development and poor nutrition.

To execute the study, the team analyzed life and diet of over 1000 Chinese people for a period of 5 years. Dr Zumin Shi, the co author of this study said those participants used to eat relatively small amount of fruits per day. Dr Shi said, 'Chinese consumption of fruit is quite low, but even when low you can see the benefits.’ Those candidates ate lower amounts of rice as well. He added, 'This could be because rice is mainly refined and deprived of the benefits associated with fibres, and the kinds of phytochemicals that you find in whole grains’.

The researchers also found that healthier study candidates ate more grain types apart from rice and wheat, including rye, millet, oats, barley etc. These grains are usually not refined and contain extra dietary fiber. Dr Shi said, 'If you look at the intake of whole grains, the highest intake of whole grains is among those who stay healthy over five years. A higher daily intake of iron, magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin B1 was associated with healthier participants.’

The study findings corroborate to food guides recommendations related to fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain cereals, said the researchers. The study team also separated part of nutrition from risk factors contributing to chronic ailments like smoking, sedentary lifestyle etc. Dr Shi said people can have multiple diseases simultaneously but dietary changes can have impact on their health and enhance immunity.