Studies reveal longevity may be more related to social equality instead of food

Numerous research endeavors have attempted to compile comprehensive lists for the ingredients in popular diets from different countries deemed to have a variety of miraculous health benefits: the Mediterranean diet, Japanese diet, Nordic diet, etc.

The more studies delve into the relationship between health and specific dietary habits from around the world, the less clear that relationship becomes.

For example, France is known to have citizens who live long lives, among the longest lifespans on the planet. However, the typical French diet is relatively high in foods with saturated fat. Dietitians explain this paradox away with “red wine offers protection!”

However, Canadians and Germans are also known for having long lifespans but traditional dishes from these countries, such as schnitzel or poutine, are not recommended as health foods.

The automatic association between a long life and a certain type of diet is the perception that people are what they are, a fallacy that is present throughout the world, from Asia to America.

For example, in certain areas of Asia, tiger penises are perceived as virility boosters for men if they are consumed. American students identified theoretical tribes as having characteristics based on their diets: they described turtle-eating tribes as skilled swimmers, and boar-eating tribes as aggressive based on no other information aside from diet.

Social conditions may have more to do with long lifespans than what foods are being consumed

New evidence reveals that lifespan differences in various countries can be better understood as being impacted by social conditions as opposed to diet.

Sweden, Norway, and Japan are known for being “equal” nations and also brag the longest lifespans, with Italy, Greece and Spain shortly behind them.

If you take social quality as the reason for the overall good health of citizens within these countries, then it starts to become clear: Canada and Germany may not have the best diet food but they do have low levels of inequality.

Slimming World was the subject of criticism after initiating changes to their diet routine

A highly-regarded nutritionist said that the new programme is due to “damage our relationship with what we eat.”

Dieters who follow Slimming World’s plan are allowed select ‘free’ foods, but everything else must be considered in the ‘Syns’ count.

Until this change, ‘free’ foods had included select pasta meals and certain snacks.

A spokesperson for Slimming World said: “We frequently review the products we hold on our food databases.

“As part of this process, we’ve recently taken a closer look at the ever-growing range of pasta and noodle snack pots and sachets that are now readily available and decided that these are not filling and satisfying enough to be classified as Free Food on our Food Optimising eating plan.

“As a result, and to protect our members’ weight losses, some products that were previously free will now have a small Syn value – of between half Syn and three Syns.”

Member Response

Many members of Slimming World did not react well to this change, and a nutritionist even spoke out saying why she believes the programme is no longer advisable.

She said that by naming select foods as ‘Syns’, it contributes to the anxiety surrounding eating.

A leading nutritionist, Rhiannon Lambert, for Harley Street said to The Independent, “The diet industry just fuels feelings of guilt and shame, it’s no wonder we have an obesity problem and a rise in eating disorders!”

Lambert thinks that the company is “vilifying” these foods and classifying certain products as either bad or good

“Those lucky enough to have never strayed into eating disorders or struggled with their weight may not see it this way but for the ones who are supposed to benefit most from this Slimming World system, those who eat too much or not enough, labelling foods is a negative and guilt-ridden idea.”