I need to eat more fruit
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325584)
Rockingham, Australia
March 13, 2016 8:13pm CST
James Higgins (@JamesHxstatic) wrote about the state of health in Oregon. You can read about it here: http://www.mylot.com/post/2903224/the-state-of-health-in-the-50-united-states. So I thought I'd check up on how Western Australia fares compared to the other Australian states.
As a state, we have the second highest proportion of overweight people (66%). In 2010, our life expectancy was among the highest in the world, the age for women being 84.3 and for men 79.7. Leading causes of potentially avoidable deaths are heart disease and lung cancer.
We drink at risky levels, don't eat enough fruit and vegetables and spend too long in the sun. Over a quarter of the population drink at levels likely to put them at risk of developing long-term health problems. WA has the second highest level of skin cancer. Only 6% eat enough fruit and vegetables and over 50% do not exercise enough.
The proportion of smokers is falling but diseases of the respiratory system are second in the 'chronic illness' stakes. We also have a growing elderly population (of which I am one) and this will continue to put strains on our health system. How does your state compare with others in the health stakes? And I'm just leaving for a moment to grab a banana!
32 people like this
28 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@JudyEv If I ate the number of servings of each item they recommend, I would explode. I eat nowhere near enough, but am not underweight. RAther than count each item, I just plan my food intake by Dr. Michael Pollen's plan, eat real food, not too much, mostly plants. Easy.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
14 Mar 16
@JudyEv It is good that you have decided to eat more fruits.I take fruits,as I like to eat fruits.Out of the fruits that you
eat, which is your favorite?
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv Mango,green grapes (seedless).Pineapple(juice),and bananas.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Mar 16
@silvermist I know many people love mangoes but they are not one of my favourite fruits.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Mar 16
I had to scroll up to see what the negatives were! The 'we' was West Oz rather than Vince and I (I wouldn't want you to think we drink too much!). I think we eat reasonably healthily, we take care in the sun and we exercise moderately I guess. If I inherit Mum's genes I'm in for a long life but I don't want to go to 104. That's ridiculous. 
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Mar 16
Thank you for the mention! Obesity is huge problem in the US for sure. I noticed in the US survey that smoking increased in some states. I do not understand that at all in the face of the facts about the risks of smoking.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv There are few public places that people can smoke here. It is forbidden in restaurants, bars and taverns and work places are smoke free as well.
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv Yes each state is quite different. I am lucky to be in Oregon.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Mar 16
@JamesHxstatic I guess each State is different though with its rules?
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@LeaPea2417 (36428)
• Toccoa, Georgia
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv Yes, it is a healthy snack.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
14 Mar 16
kinda scary, aint it? the state i hang my hat'n didn't've many bright stars. we ranked #37.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Mar 16
@crazyhorseladycx Any improvement has to be good.
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@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Mar 16
In the USA what's bad is that an apple is no longer a healthy fruit @JudyEv . Know why? The skin is sprayed with WAX so that it is pretty. Your body cannot digest wax. It used to be that the skin was the healthiest part of the apple. With all the chemicals and pesticides that are sprayed on fruits AND vegetables, nothing is healthy any more.
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@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv And they wonder why cancer rates are up.
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@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
14 Mar 16
Most of these issues are under our control. I like to read lists like this, because they point out what we should avoid. Often the articles even tell us how to do so.
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@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv I have seen those. It's good common sense information.
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@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
14 Mar 16
Hope you enjoyed that banana. Overweight, drink too much, smoking, you name it...the population is not healthy.
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@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
14 Mar 16
@JudyEv selling prom dress to teens gave me a good indication on size. There seemed to be, super tiny, some average and then obese. The slightly overweight were not that common.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 16
@Morleyhunt Yes, I think that is true here. The overweight really are obese.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 16
Obesity I think is the most observable although the city streets are awash with over-imbibers at night. (Good pun, don't you think? ) There seems to be many more young mums and teenage girls who are grossly overweight than there ever used to be.
) There seems to be many more young mums and teenage girls who are grossly overweight than there ever used to be.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 16
There is no vegetable that tastes like chocolate, is there? But are you sure you've tried all the vegetable choices?
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I am not sure of statistics.
I eat a fair amount of fruit.
I cant eat a lot due to a health condition that will not allow em to eat say oranges as the acidic levels bring about a flare.
Apples are okay for me though.
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@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv Yes grapes are okay not acidic and bananas seem to be okay..just so expensive here.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
14 Mar 16
I live in Connecticut which is ranked #6 so one of the better states.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@JudyEv We are one of the most affluent areas.
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@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun 16
Lately I've been cutting up a banana and an apple and mixing them in a tablespoon or two of yoghurt. That's a nice snack.
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 16
Probably most of us need to pay more attention to what our bodies need.
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
15 Mar 16
Fruits are good, but doctors also warn some of them may contain too much sugar and should be eaten in moderation. In our country, I noticed a lot of obese children maybe due to lack of physical activity because many of them just sit all day in front of computer or gadgets specially when they have no classes(school).
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 16
You're right. Children should be out running around and playing, not stuck on their gadgets all day.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Mar 16
I need to eat more fruit. Especially bananas.
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@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Mar 16
@JudyEv - I've always went on that assumption.
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