(Food-Beverage-News.Com, July 09, 2014 ) London, England -- A new scientific study into health, diet and lifestyle has revealed that poor nutrition which includes a lack of fruit, vegetables and whole grains is associated with the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
The study, which captured the data of more than 1000 people over a period of five years, showed that the number with more than one chronic disease increased from 14% to 34% over five years.
Dr Zumin Shi, from the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine in Australia, explained that it is already well understood that a lack of exercise, smoking and poor nutrition are fundamental to the development of chronic disease. But now, for the first time, nutrition itself has been directly linked to the development of more than one chronic disease.
Dr Shi, a co-author of the report, commented that the people involved in the study that ate larger quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, and more grains (other than wheat and rice), enjoyed better health.
"June was fruit and vegetable month and I hope that it encouraged more people to cook and eat these nutritious foods", says Monica Kaiser, Founder of Seraphina's Kitchen. "Our overall health really is impacted by what we eat which is why we've created our premium baking mats to make cooking at home much easier."
Dr Shi explained that grains such as oats, rye, sorghum, corn, barley, quinoa and millet, are likely to contain more dietary fibre due to the fact that they are less likely to be refined. The benefits of whole grains are well understood and these include a reduction in diabetes, colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease.
In the study it was noticeable that the amount of rice eaten was significantly lower in the healthier group. This could be because rice is commonly refined and deprived of both the nutritional benefits associated with fibre and the kinds of phytochemicals that you find in whole grains.
A further outcome of the study was that healthier participants had a higher daily intake of phosphorous, magnesium, iron, vitamin B1, potassium and vitamin C. Based on the results of the study, it looks as though a higher intake of fruit helps to fight against the onset of the first chronic disease, and a higher intake of vegetables helps to protect against developing more than one chronic disease.
"Fruit can be enjoyed so easily by just giving it a quick wash and eating it," says Kaiser. "Vegetables can be included in a salad or easily and quickly roasted in the oven on a medium heat for 20 minutes – and don't forget the non-stick mat to avoid dirty pans!"
About Seraphina's Kitchen
Seraphina's Kitchen designs and creates premium, FDA food-grade, baking mats for the home cook and professional chef. In 2014, following extensive collaboration with its customers, it launched its premium quality Silicone Baking Mats on Amazon.com.
