It’s hard to resist a bucket of fried chicken or sweet tea on a sweltering summer day, but new research from the University of Alabama says there’s one reason why you should–it could increase your risk of death by 50 percent.
Their latest study, now published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, says those who had chronic kidney disease who ate a Southern-style diet–a diet typically high in sweetened and fried foods–were twice as likely to die from complications over a 6.5 year period.
However, those who ate a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains did not face an increased risk of death.
The study was led by Dr. Orlando Gutierrez, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“This is the first study to identify a regionally specific diet pattern that is highly associated with adverse outcomes among persons with kidney disease,” says Gutierrez. “It’s well known that the Southern region has poor health outcomes in a number of different areas including stroke, heart disease and sepsis, and that the style of diet plays a role.”
Identifying 3,972 participants from the Reason for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, Gutierrez specifically looked for people who were in stage 3 to 5 of chronic kidney disease, a condition where kidney function slows and eventually results in kidney failure. While nothing can stop chronic kidney disease from advancing to kidney failure, its progress can be slowed through a number of healthy lifestyle measures. However, Gutierrez wanted to see if certain diets could alter this process.
To analyze which diets either improved or worsened their prognosis, he analyzed their diets closely–and then compared it to the amount of deaths reported among participants during a 6.5 year period.
At the end of his analysis, he found something not all too surprising: Eating foods commonplace among Southern-style diets, such as pan-fried chicken, cornbread, and bread pudding, led to a 50 percent increased risk of dying over a 6.5 year period. However, those who ate a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and minimally-processed foods did not face a greater risk of death–though strangely Gutierrez notes that it didn’t actually decrease their risk of death.
“This doesn’t mean that eating a healthy diet doesn’t help, but it suggests that healthy lifestyle overall–not smoking, exercising and eating right–the combination of these things is more important for kidney health,” says Gutierrez.
Overall, this study shows how important it is to change your entire lifestyle when battling chronic kidney disease. Continuing to eat highly processed foods or foods high in fat or sugar can dramatically affect your survival outcome, but this isn’t the only lifestyle habit that can increase or decrease your risk of death.
Readers: How often do you eat “bad” foods? How do avoid eating these foods in your diet?
Sources:
Southern Diet May Dramatically Increase Risk of Death Among Those With Chronic Kidney Disease – Kidney.org
Eating Southern-Style Foods May Kill You Faster if You Have Chronic Kidney Disease – MedicalNewsToday.com
About The Author: Zero to Hero Fitness
Our mission at Zero to Hero Fitness is to help you to finally lose the weight and keep it off, strengthen your body and mind, and experience naturally high levels of energy throughout the day. We believe everyone, regardless of your past or current struggles with your health or fitness, can greatly improve on your existing condition and live life in your best body possible.