Is Business Travel Hurting Your Health?

There is a new diet pattern making news in health studies -- the “social business diet.” This diet describes the eating habits commonly found in individuals who travel frequently for business. Since this lifestyle lacks home-cooked meals, the result is often a diet that is heavy in red meats, processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol.

Recently, researchers studied the effects the “social business diet” has on cardiovascular health in middle-aged adults. After comparing this diet to the Standard American Diet (high in red and processed meats, refined grains, butter and high-fat dairy products) and the Mediterranean Diet (high in produce, whole grains, nuts and legumes), they found that those who followed the “social business diet” had a significantly higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, including an increased chance of developing atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in the arteries) — even more so than those who ate the Standard American Diet.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has established diet and lifestyle recommendations to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Their diet recommendations almost mimic the Mediterranean Diet and stress limiting saturated fat, sodium, alcohol, red meat and sweets — foods that are often consumed in the “social business” and Standard American diets. The AHA also emphasizes daily calorie balance and staying physically active 75-150 minutes a week.

Bottom Line: Cardiovascular disease still leads as the nation’s number one cause of death, so following the AHA diet and lifestyle recommendations can be an extremely helpful resource to those at risk. If you travel for business, remember not to treat it like a vacation — eat and drink as you would at home. Take advantage of the gym at your hotel, choose heart-healthy options from restaurants, and avoid processed or packaged foods. For more information about the AHA guidelines, visit their website.

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs