Do Hungarians really eat unhealthier than people in the US?

According to the findings of a renowned biochemist from Cornell University, Hungarians eat less fibre than meat and consequently have a higher rate of heart attacks than people living in the US. Our famous paprikash sausages and duck-fat sandwiches could be the culprits? We thought to investigate the matter. 

The nutrition findings

In his best-selling book, The China study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health, T. Colin Campbell examined the link between the consumption of animal products and today’s most common chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer. Over a decade, he collected data from all around the world and then compared each country’s diets and eating habits. What he discovered is that in places where people ate less animal protein but more plant-based dishes, the rate of these deadly diseases was dramatically lower. Unfortunately, Hungary did not fare well in the global comparison. Our excessive love for meaty dishes may cost our health.

Read more: Brace yourself: pizza prices will skyrocket in Hungary!

National figures

Cardiovascular disease and different types of cancers have been the leading causes of death in Hungary for long decades. According to European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, in 2014, these two chronic illnesses accounted for the deaths of 35,000 women (55 percent of all deaths) and over 27,000 men (45 percent of all deaths). When it comes to life expectancy, Hungary is down at the bottom in Europe. Only Romania, Lathia, Bulgaria, and Lithuania lag behind us, countries that are also known for a meat-heavy diet. Eurostat‘s data also shows that a vast majority of Hungarians fall behind the federal dietary recommendations of eating 4 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Based on their numbers, only 59.5 percent of women and 53.7 percent of men eat enough of the healthy stuff, while 36.3 percent of Hungarians go for days without any fibrous food on their plates. Not surprisingly, the “blue zones” where the world’s healthiest and oldest people live are all found in regions such as Japan and rural China as well as the Mediterranean (Greece and Sardinia) where plant-based meals most often outweigh the meaty dishes. 

Words of wisdom

For a long time, we were conditioned to believe that our hearty, homecooked meals serve our well-being the best or at least do not do as much harm as the typical American fast food diet. As science evolves, sooner or later we have to realise that a meat-rich diet may not be the right choice if we aim for optimal health, no matter if we keep hearing the popular marketing slogan “eat more meat to become strong”. The truth is that meat – whether it is beef, pork, chicken or fish – causes arterial plaque due to its high saturated fat content, which then boosts bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. Clogged arteries cannot deliver a sufficient amount of blood to your vital organs, such as the heart or brain, and thus, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Even one serving of meat per day can increase the risk of a heart attack by 22 percent. While, according to a Harvard study, dietary fiber has an important role in preventing heart failure by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol as well as improving insulin sensitivity. Besides, fiber fills you up like no other food component, and as a result, it helps you eat less and perhaps lose weight. 

So next time, you prepare the Sunday meal, make sure to place a huge bowl of salad on the family table!

Read more: The 5 most disgusting Hungarian dishes according to foreigners

Source: ec.europa.eu/eurostat, health.harvard.edu, thetimes.co.uk/