Diet

You may think it is to the advantage of the health care system – and therefore to the society as a whole – to promote a healthy diet.

Alas, don’t be too confident yet.

Well, yes, there’s overwhelming evidence that obesity is becoming an epidemic and diseases related to atherosclerosis are now top killers of our society. There are also convincing data on use of a healthy diet in alleviating high blood pressure, obesity, and major vascular diseases. (In fact, the term coronary artery disease was not yet included in medical textbooks a hundred years ago. Epidemiological data on heart diseases in those days mostly referred to rheumatic heart disease.)

In other words, with effective public programs for promoting a healthy diet, we would reasonably expect our life expectancy would increase, and we would live healthier.

But, is that what we want ?

From the society point of view, NO.

I could hear you scream.

Let me take you through the slightly convoluted explanation tomorrow.

PS. As a starter, please note that I said from a society point of view. Translating into ordinary day English, it means I want myself to life longer and healthier, but not (most of) the others.