The statistics show that South Africans, between the ages of 30 and 70 have a 26 percent probability of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer or diabetes.

"We tend to live in a culture of fast food and convenience because we're stressed and we do not have time to prepare food," said Giulia Criscuolo, a health expert.

"It's absolutely alarming. It's not just in Africa, it's the whole world.

"Instead of seeing it as doom and gloom and something negative let's use it as a wake-up call to say what are we doing, what are we putting into our mouths?

"I see it as something positive to make some changes in our lifestyles," Criscuolo added.

eNCA