According to the Nutrition Education Network of Washington the life o fmale truck drivers is shorter than the life of the rest of men in the United States.
The average for men is 76 years but for truckers is fifteen years less: 61 years. The reason: lifestyle.
Having a truck driver life style is a paradoxical situation. You are moving every day but you do not move; just your truck; inactivity -which is dangerous by itself- is combined with poor diets and bad habits.
A poor diet is not the one with low quantities, is the one with low nutritional values. It is not new that the traditional type of food that truckers eat contains a lot of grease and salt. Truckers do not have time to eat a complete meal on the road. Hunger could attack them in any part of the travel; truck stops are the most frequent answer for the hungry ones.
Truck stops are facilities specially made for the transport professionals. These places have parking areas for trucks, fuel stations, stores, showers and even motels; they also have diner restaurants and fast food establishments or food courts. Heavy, fried, greasy meals are the most common option that truckers have.
A survey made by Danepak Company found three types of truck drivers: the "fuel tanker" driver who is the trucker with muscles and tough appearance that likes to eat until he is full. They were 43% of these truckers.
The snack attackers are 39 % of the truck drivers; they rather pick up some fast meals during the travel because they do not have time and 15% try to eat high nutritional food.
Vegetables and fruits are absent in the diet of most truckers resulting in a lack of vitamin A, B, C and Calcium.
The lack of vitamin A could cause poor night vision, frequent colds or dry flaky skin. When Thiamine or vitamin B1 is not present some signs are tender muscles and poor concentration. No presence of vitamin B5 causes muscle cramps and exhaustion after light exercise. Arthritis, aching joints and high blood pressure are the consequences of the lack of calcium.
Constipation is a consequence of bad eating habits; the lack of fiber on hamburgers, fries and other fast food meals causes this disease.
The Nutrition Education Network of Washington showed that 54% of truck drivers smoke.
Most truck drivers are not used to drink water. This is not a healthy habit because water (or fluids) purifies the body from toxins.
Vitamins are not only in pills. You can find vitamin A in liver, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes or sweet potatoes. Thiamine can be found in milk, asparagus and wheat germ. Vitamin B5 is present in peas, lentils, strawberries, eggs and avocados. Calcium is present in cheddar cheese, prunes, almonds and parsley.