We're not sure which statistic is more startling:
• The average American eats around 100 pounds of pork and beef every year, as well as an enormous amount of processed meats. Did you know it's estimated Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs annually?
• Almost 40 million Americans will have diabetes by 2030. That's a public health crisis and an individual health burden for a lot of people and their families.
But we're not pessimistic. There are so many lifestyle adjustments you can make to reduce your risk for diabetes, and we're uncovering more all the time.
Take the latest study in The Lancet Planetary Health that found that if Americans reduced their intake of red and processed meat by 30%, it would prevent more than 1 million cases of diabetes over a 10-year stretch.
And the benefits don't stop there. It also would lead to 382,400 fewer cases of heart disease and 84,400 fewer cases of colon cancer.
See how powerful it can be to make small adjustments to your daily habits?
Making bigger changes produces even bigger rewards. If you give up red and processed meats entirely and embrace a goal of 10,000 steps a day, smart stress management, eating a plant-based diet, and cultivating a supportive posse and a purpose, you’ll cut your cancer risk by at least 40% — and you're looking at a much longer, healthier, happier life.