The way you eat may have an impact on your heart health, but have you ever thought about how what you eat affects your heart health? Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), has published a study that found a link between dining alone in old age and heart health.
Data from the 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was utilized in this cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between eating alone and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
They evaluated the nutritional status and health behaviors of women who ate alone with those who ate with others, using data from over 600 menopausal females over the age of 65.
Previous studies have shown that people tend to eat faster and more frequently when they are alone. Eating alone has also been associated with an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, poor mental health, and depression, all of which have been connected to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease on their own.
Women who eat alone are more likely to suffer from angina, a type of chest pain that can be an indication of coronary artery disease, in this study, according to the researchers.
“There is a higher risk of heart disease in older women who dine alone. Those who are widowed or have low incomes and poor nutrition are more prevalent among them “The medical director of NAMS, Stephanie Faubion, M.D., MBA, said A lower socioeconomic position and isolation are linked to lower quality of life, higher incidence of depression, and poorer health, according to this study.
Our health may be affected in yet another way because of loneliness, according to new research. Loneliness has been related to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in previous research, and loneliness may even alter inflammation, according to specialists. People who live alone may be more prone to suffer from poor mental health in general, according to a study published in 2019.
As people get older, they may have a greater sense of isolation, and eating alone may just be a symptom of this. There is a strong case that can be made for the importance of social connections in a person’s lifespan. Moais is a cultural practice in Ogimi, a hamlet on the island of Okinawa, Japan, where there are the most centenarians per square mile.
It’s fairly uncommon for moais to involve ritualistic relationships that are both stable and close-knit, with members sharing an interest but not necessarily a common professional identity, according to doctor and longevity researcher Makoto Suzuki, M.D., Ph.D. Moais are more than just a group of friends; they are backed by institutions that keep their members linked.
Social systems that prioritize connections throughout a person’s life can improve public health and well-being, such as Ogimi.
For the benefit of their own health and the health of their companions, older persons who are living alone or who dine alone on a daily basis should prioritize good nutrition and make more preparations for mealtimes with others.