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As millions of Brits strive for longer, healthier lives, a new survey shows that men and women put off simple changes until the next day. The research of men and women over 35 years of age was carried out to highlight why people find it so hard to change their diet and lifestyle for the better, despite being aware of the health benefits that, without change, could lead to long-term health complications.
As an example, a diagnosis of prediabetes gives patients a window to take action. But 20 percent of prediabetics go on to develop diabetes within five years. Often patients are told to change their diet and exercise more – but compliance is generally low, and many fail to bring their blood sugar levels back under control.
The survey, carried out by Attest, found that most people put off going on a diet as events get in the way which causes the “there’s always tomorrow” mentality (26.4 percent).
Other popular reasons for not complying with health guidance was because diet changes often focus too much on what “I can’t have”, rather than what “I can have” (19.5 percent). Other reasons included “I don’t have time” (11.9 percent) and “it’s too difficult” (11.5 percent).
The data showed that as we age, the struggle with diet and lifestyle changes shifts to diets focus too much on what “I can’t have”, rather than what “I can have” (voted by 30.5 percent of age 65+ respondents) and not surprisingly the emphasis on “I don’t have time” dropped to as little as 6.1 percent.
This shows the preference for the older generation wanting to be reinforced with positive diet and lifestyle changes, rather than restricting them and telling them things they can’t do.
The survey was commissioned by SmarterNaturally, who produce a “super soup” made from a special type of broccoli which is rich in glucoraphanin – a natural health-boosting molecule that research suggests can help lower blood sugar, a key risk factor for type-2 diabetes.
A spokesperson for SmarterNaturally said: “Again and again, scientific research into our health is showing us that diet and exercise play a huge role in our health, and that eating a large variety of fruits and vegetables in our diet is critically important – particularly as we get older. In fact, recent research has suggested that the previous recommendation to eat five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day, should actually be 10, which is overwhelming many and causing them to put it off until ‘tomorrow’. The other extreme is that people are constantly told what they can’t or shouldn’t eat which can become very restrictive and unsustainable over time.
“That’s one reason we created SmarterNaturally’s ‘Super Soup’. A tasty instant broccoli soup that is something simple and easy that consumers can add into their life to improve their health. Clinical trials have shown that it only needs to be consumed once a week to help make a difference to one’s health. What makes the soup unique is that it is naturally rich in an active molecule called glucoraphanin, which turns on antioxidant genes in our cells to keep the metabolism healthy and working efficiently. An ageing metabolism puts us at a greater risk of all kinds of diseases, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer, so we’re really excited by the potential of our soup to help support health as we age.”
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