A new survey has revealed the healthiest city in the UK to be Norwich in East Anglia. Yahoo News reports that the medieval Norfolk city topped a poll of over 2,000 people across 17 major UK cities. The residents were asked questions about their diet, lifestyle and exercise habits.
Low UPF consumption
The survey found that 24 per cent of residents of Norwich eat ultra-processed foods (UPFs) just once a week, which is well below the national average. UPFs are foods that have undergone some form of mass industrial processing to make them more palatable to consumers, or/and to extend the shelf life of the product.
There’s no exact official definition of UPFs, but they generally contain ingredients such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and artificial colours. They also tend to have higher levels of fat, sugar and salt and a lower nutritional value than less processed foods. Examples of UPFs include sliced bread, sliced ham, biscuits and crisps.
What are the risks of UPFs?
A diet that is high in UPFs has been linked to higher incidences of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. It’s also associated with higher levels of obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. For men, all of these conditions are high risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED).
Therefore men who visit their GP about this problem will often be advised about healthy eating and tested for any underlying conditions. They may also need to take medication such as Viagra (cheap to buy as sildenafil).
High rates of physical activity and low alcohol consumption
According to the survey, Norwich residents exercise more regularly than citizens of most other UK cities: 47 per cent of respondents said that they exercised four to seven times a week.
Furthermore, 20 per cent of respondents said that they did not drink alcohol at all, and of the respondents who consumed alcohol, 40 per cent had fewer than three drinks in one session. Nottingham and Southampton also ranked highly in the study, while Liverpool came in at the bottom of the table.
The UK’s first Blue Zone?
Blue Zones are regions of the world that are noted for the exceptional good health and longevity of the residents. For example, places such as Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California, USA) have very low rates of chronic disease and an above-average number of residents over the age of 100.
The UK does not currently have any Blue Zone regions, but maybe East Anglia will be the first. Obviously, the study was on a small scale, and more in-depth research will need to be carried out first.
What do Blue Zone regions have in common?
Blue Zones have naturally been an area of interest for medical researchers, healthcare professionals and social scientists. They have identified common lifestyle factors that contribute to outstanding levels of good health.
These include a diet that is largely plant-based, with a low consumption of meat and UPFs. They also include high levels of physical activity (not necessarily structured gym routines, but natural movement levels within daily activities, such as walking and gardening).
Further common factors include strong social connections, lower levels of stress, moderate alcohol consumption, and a sense of purpose.
Speaking to Yahoo News, Dr Merrifield highlights the relatively low-stress levels in Blue Zone regions. ‘Essentially, people that live in Blue Zones have created a lifestyle that is centred around being healthy, both physically and mentally.’
‘It’s something that may seem far removed from our culture here in the UK, as most of us live an extremely fast-paced lifestyle – putting work and money first ahead of our own health and relationships. It’s not a coincidence that people living in these Blue Zone regions live longer because they are less stressed, and prioritise their health above all else.’
While it may not be possible to change where you live, adopting some of the good lifestyle habits of Blue Zone residents might help you to live a longer and happier life.
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