Online Grocery Shopping May Be Key to Better Nutrition Habits
When we were younger, we were told that the key to a healthy diet was eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, since we know that a poor diet is the biggest risk factor for death globally, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of what to eat.
As it turns out, simply increasing the amount of fresh produce available is not the solution to getting people to eat healthier diets; rather, educating people on better nutrition habits is a more effective way of getting people to eat healthier. To add onto this, a 2022 study found that people improved their diets when given access to online tools that guided their nutrition choices on top of receiving education about good nutrition habits
The study specifically studies a nutrition marker known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, which measures how well a person eats according to the DASH diet. The DASH diet encourages people to eat more minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, while avoiding foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and sugars. The aim is to treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). A higher DASH score means that a person is sticking closely to the DASH diet, while a lower score means that a person should change their eating habits more to fit the DASH diet.
As it turns out, simply increasing the amount of fresh produce available is not the solution to getting people to eat healthier diets; rather, educating people on better nutrition habits is a more effective way of getting people to eat healthier. To add onto this, a 2022 study found that people improved their diets when given access to online tools that guided their nutrition choices on top of receiving education about good nutrition habits
The study specifically studies a nutrition marker known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, which measures how well a person eats according to the DASH diet. The DASH diet encourages people to eat more minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, while avoiding foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and sugars. The aim is to treat or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). A higher DASH score means that a person is sticking closely to the DASH diet, while a lower score means that a person should change their eating habits more to fit the DASH diet.
Online grocery shopping may become more popular in the future
Image Source: athree23
The study examined people who were given personalized nutrition advice from dietitians and compared them to people who were also given online tools that guided grocery shopping, healthier purchasing decisions, and meal planning, and allowed for easier home delivery access on top of the nutrition advice. The study found that the group with access to online tools had increased their DASH score by 3.8 points more than those receiving nutritional advice without online tools, which is a significant improvement. Dieticians have found that any improvement to DASH scores have led to significant lifestyle improvements.
Although the study was on a smaller scale, and mainly studied predominantly middle-aged female participants who were living with a partner, it revealed the potential of online grocery. It showed the benefits of shopping in terms of allowing people to make more educated decisions and giving more people the opportunity to get fresh groceries despite busy schedules, lack of transportation, distance to the nearest grocery store, disabilities, and more.
Not only will online grocery shopping create a more convenient option for those who may not have the time or ability to shop in person, it also helps educate more people about making healthier choices and may, over time, lead to people eating healthier diets. Even though grocery shopping hasn’t reached the same level of online shopping popularity as clothes shopping, there may be benefits for additional use in the future.
Although the study was on a smaller scale, and mainly studied predominantly middle-aged female participants who were living with a partner, it revealed the potential of online grocery. It showed the benefits of shopping in terms of allowing people to make more educated decisions and giving more people the opportunity to get fresh groceries despite busy schedules, lack of transportation, distance to the nearest grocery store, disabilities, and more.
Not only will online grocery shopping create a more convenient option for those who may not have the time or ability to shop in person, it also helps educate more people about making healthier choices and may, over time, lead to people eating healthier diets. Even though grocery shopping hasn’t reached the same level of online shopping popularity as clothes shopping, there may be benefits for additional use in the future.
Featured Image Source: stevepb
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