Irish lives could be saved - if we eat like the English

Close to 4,000 deaths could have been avoided if diet had been changed

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Woman chowing down on traditional British fish and chips - should the Irish eat like the British?

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New research has shown that eight out of ten deaths in Wales and Ireland, and four out of ten in Scotland,  deemed “unnecessary” from cancer, heart disease, and stroke could have been prevented if the victims followed an English diet as opposed to that of their native country.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, revealed that citizens of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland as a whole ingest more calories, salt, and fat than their neighbor does. They also eat fewer fruits and veggies, staples to any healthy diet.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the John Radcliffe Hospital noticed that regarding heart disease, stroke, and ten types of cancer associated with diet, the death rates were significantly higher in the three countries compared to England. Between 2007 and 2009, the experts estimate that close to 4,000 died unnecessary deaths, ones that could have been avoided had they followed England’s diet.

Overall, the average daily calorie consumption for England was 2289, Wales 2364, Scotland 2370, and Northern Ireland 2424. Another high figure was the total fat, with England at 94.9 g and Ireland at 100.1g.

Overall, however, the chief factor in the dietary differences seems to be the giant gap in fruits and vegetable intake. “Consumption of fruit and vegetables in Scotland is around 12% lower than in England, and it is about 20% lower in Northern Ireland. The Welsh eat about the same amount as the English,” according to HealthCanal.com

To combat this clearly daunting issue, the researchers have proposed a “fat tax”: “identifying 'fiscal initiatives aimed at increasing the cost of foods high in saturated fat (so called ‘fat taxes’) may be best placed to reduce geographical inequalities in health if they are paired with subsidies for fruit and vegetables,’” according to the Daily Mail.
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