NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Poor eating habits kill 11 million people every year, making bad diets more deadly than smoking cigarettes, a new study says.
One in five deaths worldwide can be attributed to poor diets, according to the study, which was published in the medical journal “The Lancet” earlier this week.
After looking at bad eating habits from all over the world, researchers discovered that many diets are low in key nutrients and that many people need to shift their approach to eating.
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Among the 195 countries surveyed, the United States came in at 43 for the proportion of its diet-related deaths.
The study also found heart disease was the leading diet-related cause of death globally, followed by some forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers recommend people eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and milk.
Foods to avoid include sugary drinks, processed meats and sodium.