Literally 40 years under our side was a unique experiment of the Finns with food. At that time we lived in ignorance, in Finland could increase life expectancy by 13 years and reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease in 7 times! Finally, the results are amazing research became available to the public. We hasten to share with you.
In the early 1960-ies the average life expectancy of a Finn was 68 years of age, by 2010 it had risen to 81 years. Also during this time period in more than 7-fold decrease in the mortality from cardiovascular disease.
In the early 60s Russia, a neighbor of Finland, was with her on equal terms: the life expectancy is 66 years. Today the average Russian dies at 68 years old. As for heart disease, Russia only gained momentum with 52% of deaths in our country are due to CVD.
Почему одна страна повышает уровень жизни, а в другой наблюдается ухудшение? Ответ на этот вопрос состоит всего из трех слов: проект «North Karelia». Этот проект – не программа экономического развития, не дотации на проведение сложных кардиопроцедур и даже не борьба с курением и алкоголем.
The essence of the project consisted in the study and solution of the problem of high mortality from strokes and heart attacks. Thus, in the process, scientists figured out a pattern: early mortality and development of heart disease is affected by food.
Today, "North Karelia" became known worldwide. Example of Finns followed by millions of Europeans and Americans. It is time for us finally, to remove the veil of secrecy from that most important discoveries and make conclusions for themselves.
The mystery of the high CVD mortality among physically active Finnish
The project "Northern Karelia" was started, like most large-scale experiments, with a little research. Demographer, Vaino Kannisto in his thesis raised the issue of mortality in Finland. He pointed out that in the Eastern regions of the country the mortality rate of the working population is higher than in the southern regions, and the main cause of death is cardiovascular disease.
Moreover, according to the same statistics, Finland was ranked as the mortality from CVD among European countries. It is known that in the Eastern regions of the country at that time the leading industry was the forest industry. It would seem that physical effort and active lifestyle needs, on the contrary, to improve the health and prolong the years, but in practice was only the sad picture of early death from heart attack or stroke.
To solve the mystery of rapid extinction woodsmen took a young physiologist M. Karvonen, who realized that the cause must be sought not in working condition, but in a slightly different direction. His meeting with A. Kazam, Director of the laboratory of physiological hygiene University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 1952 marked the beginning of the experiment "North Karelia". From case Karvonen learned quite unexpected for that time, the information that the causes of CVD is atherosclerosis caused by high cholesterol level in the blood plasma. In turn, raising the level of cholesterol was associated with the adoption of the by eating large amounts of fatty foods.
From here it was possible to draw a simple conclusion: fatty foods has contributed to the development of CVD and early death. For this reason, in the project "Northern Karelia" has highlighted research related to norms of consumption of various products, and after the introduction of new functional foods, which will be discussed further.
Start Of The North Karelia"
For realization of the project "Northern Karelia" was chosen as the region of Finland – the area that borders Russia. This area was home to about 180 thousand people, which 60 years engaged primarily in the forestry and agricultural industry, and then shifted to other industries and services.
Initially, North Karelia was the region with the lowest socio-economic status in the country, and the problem of the incidence of cardiac pathologies here was expressed most vividly. The experimenters believed that if you can achieve positive results in North Karelia and in other areas of the country will succeed.
As we have said before, the project started small and was calculated only for 5 years – from 1967 to 1972. But when this period came to an end, it became clear that the work has only just begun. The project lasted until 1997, and during this time he acquired the status of national demonstration projects and model programs.
The main focus was on indicators such as the level of cholesterol in the blood and blood pressure. Scientists have accepted that the normal cholesterol concentration is 5 mmol/l and below. At the beginning of the experiment the average level of cholesterol in blood of inhabitants of North Karelia was of 6.92 mmol/L. the mean systolic blood pressure was 148.6 mm Hg. article
For reference: people with systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg. article and total cholesterol over 6 mmol/l have the highest risk factor of CVD.
Having such statistics, doctors involved in the project, sounded the bell. As informed by the American physiologist has already been suggested a link between CVD and food, she decided to try it. And that's what happened.
As proper nutrition saved Finns from extinction
"The thinner the waist, the longer the life," says the French proverb. Over the past 60 years the people of Finland on their own experience that food is the key to health and longevity. But in order to make the right conclusion, they had to sacrifice a lot and be at the edge of the abyss.
To the editor of the "North Karelia" has regularly received letters:
"I lost my husband, who died of a heart attack, but I want to save the children..."
"My brother died of heart disease at 52 years old, father had several heart attacks and the rest of his life devoted to the treatment..."
"My husband 30 years and we have 3-4 years high blood pressure, how to handle it?"
Such appeals were thousands of people realized the problem and wanted to solve it.
During mass, we found that the diet of Finns, 23% consisted of saturated fat, whereas it should be used in an amount of not more than 10% of daily calories. Such a "diet" conducive to the early development of atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. A huge number of atherogenic saturated fat people get from animal products, primarily butter, whole milk, meat and fat. As for fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and unsaturated fats, or vegetable oils, it in the diet of Finnish was too little.
In addition, the Finns used the 14-16 g of salt a day, which is 40-60% higher than the daily rate and provoked elevation of blood pressure.
The scientists raised the question: how to get people on the right diet? The decision was obvious, it was to replace fatty dairy products to the alternative – margarine and skim milk.
The transition from fat to skimmed went smoothly, and smoothly change the results of the medical examination. For 20 years between 1960 to 1980 the consumption of saturated fat decreased by 3%, the average total cholesterol fell to 6.3 mmol/l, the pressure decreased by 4 mm Hg. article
Between 1982 and 1987 an interesting phenomenon was observed. People who seemingly refused greasy foods, and improved their performance back to old habits. That is why in these years formed the so-called plateau, expressed only a small improvement.
As it turned out, to slip to the initial results, the Finns gave the following fact: in those years in the sale beginning to enter the functional food. These are products with a pronounced prophylactic effect, and which contain no cholesterol, saturated fats but enriched with vegetable unsaturated fats, b vitamins and selenium. Along with the traditional milk kitchen growing consumption of functional products, and they do their job.
After 1990, functional food has become familiar and popular in Finland, it is almost completely supplanted outdated traditions and stereotypes. According to the survey, Finns have completely changed their habits:
1. In 1972, 86% of men and 82% of women ate sandwiches with butter; in 2000 only 10% of men and 4% of women remained loyal to this product. We will add that in the 21st century, almost every second finlander instead of butter was spread on bread spread with low fat.
2. In 1976, only 2% of the population cooked in vegetable oil. In 2000, more than 40%.
3. For almost 30 years, the population of Finland is fully switched from whole milk to skim and "low-fat" milk.
4. During these same 30 years has increased the consumption of vegetables (excluding potatoes). Men increased their consumption of vegetables from 10% to 26%, women – from 12% to 47%.
5. By 2000 year, the consumption of salt and sugar have fallen on average by 40-50%.
According to statistics, 70% of people have changed their dietary patterns. Thus, the consumption of saturated fat decreased from 23% in 1960 to 12% (2007).
If previously the role of whole milk and butter was essential, today it was replaced in favor of low-fat milk, yoghurts, spreads and cheese. In other words, the Finns stopped to eat dairy products that have not undergone functional processing.
The results of the project "Northern Karelia": are Finns healthier?
"Chickens", considered to be in the fall, has exceeded all expectations. If earlier it was planned to reduce CVD mortality and improve the health of the local population, the program even exceeded their objectives.
For 40 years, project participants were able to lower cholesterol levels among residents of North Karelia from 6.92 mmol/l to 5.45 mmol/L. the Average for the country by the end of the project amounted to 5.4 mmol/l If previously mean arterial pressure Finn was 148 mm Hg. the article, by this time it fell to 138 mm Hg. tbsp., that has become normal.
Life expectancy Finn increased by 12 years. Mortality from CVD has fallen by 7 times! Significantly improved the quality of life of people of retirement and pre-retirement age.
The reduction in the number of cardiovascular diseases have a positive impact on the state economy and the prosperity of each family. People have clearly shown that it is better to pay enough attention to prevention than to deal with the consequences of the disease.
Today products low in saturated fats and vegetable component is used not only in Finland but also in Europe, Japan, Canada, USA. Such products have already reached our shelves.
Although in our country the project "Northern Karelia", no one forbids us to adopt useful experience of our neighbours. As the saying goes, a wise man learns from others ' mistakes, smart – its, the fool – do not learn. Who to be in this situation, we decide for ourselves.
Source – national research center “Healthy nutrition”.
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