Dietary changes such as eating more whole grains and vegetables and consuming less sodium and sugar-sweetened beverages have been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, but many people have difficulty following healthy eating guidelines. According to a new review paper by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, policy changes are needed to help people overcome the roadblocks to a healthy diet.
The paper was published August 13, 2018 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
“Eating habits are forged over a lifetime and are influenced by a multitude of factors from all levels of society including biological, economic, physical, social, and psychological determinants,” senior author Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition said in a journal press release. “The assumption that most people would replace unhealthy dietary components in light of new research is overly optimistic.”
Hu and his co-authors suggested several policy strategies that may help boost healthy eating, including improving nutrition labels, taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, providing economic incentives for the production of healthy foods, regulating food marketing, promoting healthy school and work environments, and funding educational campaigns.
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Following five healthy lifestyle habits may increase life expectancy by decade or more (Harvard Chan School press release)