According to the World Health Organization, people who live in high-income countries and middle-income countries predominantly die of chronic "lifestyle" diseases or "diseases of civilization"(Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, asthma, cancer, chronic liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, diverticulitis, gallstones, and obesity). In low-income countries, people predominantly die of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and influenza. we’ve come so far in learning how to prevent infectious diseases. We should all be very grateful that we don’t have to contend with malaria on a daily basis – that we wake up and have little chance of contracting whooping cough. But what have we traded this for? We have all the information we need to prevent 80% of premature deaths and we do nothing. For what?
Diseases of Civilization (aka "Lifestyle Diseases")
Since discovering the germ theory of disease, we’ve come so far in preventing infectious diseases, particularly in so-called developed nations, but we've traded it for affluent lifestyles that are literally killing us.
Dec 11, 2008

Food for Thought with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Practical, joyful, real-world inspiration for living sustainably, healthfully, and compassionately—for humankind, animalkind, and the ecosystems we all depend on. Tools, tips, stories, and resources on plant-based eating, wellness, wildlife, biodiversity, conservation, zero-waste living, travel, animals, history, etymology, and so much more hosted by author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau since 2006.
Practical, joyful, real-world inspiration for living sustainably, healthfully, and compassionately—for humankind, animalkind, and the ecosystems we all depend on. Tools, tips, stories, and resources on plant-based eating, wellness, wildlife, biodiversity, conservation, zero-waste living, travel, animals, history, etymology, and so much more hosted by author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau since 2006.Listen on
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