Less processed meat, more fruit: thousands of cases prevented

Everyone knows it, yet few actually follow through: cutting back on processed meat and reaching for an apple or banana more often. Still, this simple adjustment could make a significant difference. New research from Wageningen University & Research shows just how much health benefit could be gained if we collectively changed our eating habits.

Targeted dietary advice yields the most impact

The researchers examined individual dietary recommendations from the Dutch Health Council. The most substantial impact lies in two specific changes: increasing fruit intake and reducing processed meat consumption. On average, the Dutch eat only half the recommended amount of fruit and consume about forty grams of processed meat daily, including products like sausages and hamburgers. Adjusting this ratio could have major effects. The number of new type 2 diabetes cases could decrease by 22 percent, and coronary heart disease by 21 percent. Eating enough fruit could reduce the number of strokes by more than 18 percent. “It might not seem like much, but it concerns a large number of people,” emphasizes researcher Ming-Jie (Frederick) Duan.

Broad effects on public health

The researchers combined consumption data from the RIVM with established knowledge on how diet influences the risk of chronic diseases. In addition to the effects of fruit and processed meat, they found that extra intake of nuts, seeds, and whole grain products also contributes to improved public health. For instance, consuming enough whole grains could reduce strokes by ten percent.

Making healthy choices remains a challenge

Still, changing eating habits is anything but easy, the researchers acknowledge. “Due to the wide availability and promotion of unhealthy products, people do not always make the healthy choice,” says university lecturer Sander Biesbroek. He sees opportunities in policies that help consumers opt for healthier choices, for example by using price incentives.

Wur.nl