Welcome to Plant Based Health Online (PBHO) – a brand new online healthcare platform and the first of its kind in the UK.
Perhaps you are wondering if our services are relevant to you. Or if there really is a need for another healthcare service?
PBHO is different. We are dedicated to addressing the root cause of chronic disease so you can achieve true health and wellness. We use a ‘lifestyle first’ approach because we recognise that approximately 80% of chronic disease and premature death could be prevented by adopting four healthy lifestyle factors
- a healthy diet
- regular physical activity
- not smoking tobacco
- sensible use of alcohol.
What are the risks associated with unhealthy lifestyle habits?
Unhealthy lifestyle habits increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, high gluccose levels and cholesterol. These are the leading risk factors for the development of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and dementia.
Although we may be living longer, in the UK we are spending on average 12 of these extra years in ill health. At PBHO we want to help you live a long and healthy life.
What does the research on healthy habits tell us?
There are five regions of the world termed ‘The Blue Zones’. Here, people live the longest and healthiest lives and are more likely to live to 100 years than anywhere else. They share in common several lifestyle habits:
- regular physical activity
- a plant-predominant diet
- a strong family unit and community life
- having a sense of purpose
- managing stress.
A study from the United States, involving more than 170,000 men and women, examined the impact of 5 healthy lifestyle factors; healthy diet, never smoked, normal body mass index, moderate and not excess alcohol consumption and more than 30 minutes of moderate/vigorous activity per day.
Those participants who had adopted 5 healthy lifestyle factors reduced their risk of dying by 74%, had a 65% reduced risk of dying from cancer and an 82% reduced risk of dying heart disease.
These 5 healthy lifestyle factors led to an increased life expectancy spent in good health, with women living 14 years longer and men 12 years longer.
A similar study from the UK, looked at 4 unhealthy behaviours; smoking, low fruit and vegetable consumption, minimal physical activity and high alcohol consumption.
Over the 20 years of the study, each unhealthy lifestyle factor led to a significant increased risk of dying, including from heart disease and cancer. Those with all 4 unhealthy behaviours had a 12-year reduction in life expectancy.
There is plenty more research on healthy lifestyle habits. At PBHO, our team keep up to date with all the evidence so that we can help you to translate it into every day life.
We began this independent service during the COVID pandemic and regret we’re now in the process of winding down the online service and not taking any new appointments.