Britain has the worst diet in Europe
Britain has the unhealthiest diet in Europe, reports the I Newspaper, with ‘ultra-processed’ junk food making up just over half (50.7%) of the meals consumed in the average British household.
Unprocessed foods including fruit, vegetables and meat make up 28.6% of the average UK diet, with processed foods such as cheese and bread contributing 10% and a further 10% coming from sugar, oils, fats and salts used to season the unprocessed and minimally processed food.
The article draws upon research from São Paulo University and reveals that Britain’s consumption of this ultra processed food, is almost five times higher than that of Portugal (10.2%) and nearly four times as great as in France, Greece and Italy. This high proportion of processed food could significantly increase the nation’s risk of obesity, heart attacks and strokes.
Victoria Taylor from the British Heart Foundation, noted that as a nation, the UK should eat less processed food and choose a ‘well-balanced diet’ with plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and beans and pulses to help us protect our hearts.
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