Interviewed expert: Fan Zhihong, professor of College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University
Global Times health client reporter Tian Yuting
According to a preliminary study that will be published Feb. 9 at the 2023 International Stroke Conference, Americans living near the "food swamp" may have a higher risk of stroke. Food swamps correspond to food deserts (areas where fresh, healthy food is scarce), and as the name suggests, they are food environments that make people sink deeper and deeper, referring to communities where the number of junk food stores and fast food restaurants exceeds the number of places where fresh food is bought.
The study showed that among nearly 18,000 adults over the age of 50, those living in higher food swamp grades had a 13 percent higher risk of stroke than those living in areas with more healthy food choices. The researchers also set a retail food environment index, which indicates a higher prevalence of obese people in that community when it is greater than or equal to 5. Statistics found that 72% of people live in areas with a food environment index of 5 or higher and have a 13% higher chance of stroke compared to people living in communities with a food environment index of 5 or higher. The researchers noted that the overall median of the Retail Food Environmental Index for all neighborhoods was 6, "meaning that many participants lived in areas where there were 6 times the number of unhealthy food retailers than there were healthy food retailers." ”
Fan Zhihong, a professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering of China Agricultural University, told the Global Times Health Client reporter that the food environment is largely formed by the choices of consumers, "what you want to buy, the merchant sells", and will also be affected by socio-economic and cultural factors, so many people are in the "food swamp". The unhealthy food usually contains a lot of sugar, salt and saturated fat and other ingredients, which is not conducive to the prevention of chronic diseases, and this kind of food "saves trouble" - do not have to do it yourself, "delicious" - rich in taste and stimulates the taste buds, "not expensive" - and the price of buying food raw materials is similar, the temptation to people is great, it will make people in the "food swamp" can not extricate themselves, deeper and deeper, bringing greater damage to health.
Fan Zhihong suggested that the saturated fats and trans fats contained in many ultra-processed foods will directly increase the level of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly known as "bad cholesterol") in the blood, leading to plaque formation and heart disease; Foods with excessive salt content will lead to excessive sodium intake and increase the risk of high blood pressure; Too much sugar in food can also cause sudden increases in blood sugar levels, damage the lining of blood vessels, cause chronic inflammation, make bad cholesterol adhere to arterial walls, change blood viscosity, and block blood flow to the heart. In addition, long-term intake of such foods can lead to obesity, and obesity can also induce or aggravate high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc., so that health into a vicious circle.
"People of the older generation are not afraid of being busy and tired, and they eat their own meals every day," Fan Zhihong said, "Meals cooked with natural fresh ingredients are healthier than fast food and takeaway." In her view, changing the living environment is not easy, so to avoid the "food swamp", contemporary people generally need to improve health awareness, internalize it in their hearts, and turn it into their own living habits.
1. Choose healthy foods. According to the "Report on the Status of Nutrition and Chronic Diseases of Chinese Residents (2020)", mainland residents should eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and shrimp and other aquatic products, beans and soy products, eggs and milk, etc. Minors in particular should stay away from fried and puffed snacks and develop healthy eating preferences from an early age.
2. Proper cooking handling. After eating heavy foods such as takeaway and fast food for a long time, it may be difficult to accept a light diet, and you need to eat more heavy foods to stimulate your appetite. When cooking by yourself, you must develop good cooking habits, try to cook with less salt, less sugar, less oil, use steaming and stewing instead of frying, you can use green onions, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, coriander and other natural ingredients to enhance the flavor of dishes.
3. Look more at food labels. A survey in 2022 showed that more than 60% of consumers in mainland China are unable to accurately identify food nutrition labels and lack the ability to distinguish the nutritional value of food. When buying food, focus on nutritional information such as energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, etc., and learn to identify which foods are "unhealthy foods" and which foods have high nutritional value. ▲
Responsible editor: Pan Zihu
Editor-in-chief: Li Di