According to a USDA report assessing the healthiness of consumers' at-home eating choices, the average American is failing with regards to nutrition. As troublesome as this is, it's even worse when you consider the fact that it is more difficult to eat healthy when outside of the home, and more than 40% of Americans eat fast food and roughly 25% of Americans eat out at least once a week, according to numerous research studies.
So why is this? Well, convenience and affordability have driven a huge increase in the consumption of processed foods. Any food that has a label and comes in a bag, box, can, or jar is considered processed. Some products are minimally processed and contain only a handful of ingredients (like canned or frozen vegetables), whereas others are pumped full of sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and dangerous chemicals in quantities that our bodies just cannot handle without major health issues arising. Just look at the massive increases we've seen in diabetes and obesity over the past few decades.
There are many problems with processed foods, particularly those that are high in saturated fat, sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners and flavors, and preservatives. They are not only unhealthy, but can be addicting as well. Some of the artificial ingredients can be so potent that our brains begin to crave them. Unhealthy and addicting is a poor combination as far as our health is concerned. Some of the most abundantly used food additives cause or are linked to serious medical conditions like autism and diabetes, and can impact brain and reproductive health.
It begs the question as to how these chemicals made it into our food? Although many believe that the government provides solid oversight of the chemicals used in our food and consumer products, that is not the case at all. The current structure basically allows the food manufacturer or chemical company to greenlight its own formulations and gives little power to the FDA to stop them, even when significant risks arise. The process makes zero sense and puts us all at risk.
As much as technology has evolved over the past few decades, I'm likely to remain old fashioned when it comes to my food. I want whole foods grown on a farm not in a beaker. The risks related to processed foods and the current food additive approval process should be an eye opener to everyone. I'm not sure why Americans continue to poison themselves. Is the truth too hidden? Are we too busy to find out or put in the extra time to make a clean, healthy meal? I'm not sure what the answer is, but I do know that we need to pay closer attention to the food supply and the dangerous chemicals being added to it every day. The corporations will continue to make hefty profits from these additives and processed foods for as long as we allow them to. We have to stop making poor choices.
Reading food labels is a great way to start so that you can truly see what you're eating on a daily basis. Eating organic, whole foods, coupled with lean proteins and essential fats is the best way to avoid harmful chemicals and future illness.
So why is this? Well, convenience and affordability have driven a huge increase in the consumption of processed foods. Any food that has a label and comes in a bag, box, can, or jar is considered processed. Some products are minimally processed and contain only a handful of ingredients (like canned or frozen vegetables), whereas others are pumped full of sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and dangerous chemicals in quantities that our bodies just cannot handle without major health issues arising. Just look at the massive increases we've seen in diabetes and obesity over the past few decades.
There are many problems with processed foods, particularly those that are high in saturated fat, sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners and flavors, and preservatives. They are not only unhealthy, but can be addicting as well. Some of the artificial ingredients can be so potent that our brains begin to crave them. Unhealthy and addicting is a poor combination as far as our health is concerned. Some of the most abundantly used food additives cause or are linked to serious medical conditions like autism and diabetes, and can impact brain and reproductive health.
It begs the question as to how these chemicals made it into our food? Although many believe that the government provides solid oversight of the chemicals used in our food and consumer products, that is not the case at all. The current structure basically allows the food manufacturer or chemical company to greenlight its own formulations and gives little power to the FDA to stop them, even when significant risks arise. The process makes zero sense and puts us all at risk.
As much as technology has evolved over the past few decades, I'm likely to remain old fashioned when it comes to my food. I want whole foods grown on a farm not in a beaker. The risks related to processed foods and the current food additive approval process should be an eye opener to everyone. I'm not sure why Americans continue to poison themselves. Is the truth too hidden? Are we too busy to find out or put in the extra time to make a clean, healthy meal? I'm not sure what the answer is, but I do know that we need to pay closer attention to the food supply and the dangerous chemicals being added to it every day. The corporations will continue to make hefty profits from these additives and processed foods for as long as we allow them to. We have to stop making poor choices.
Reading food labels is a great way to start so that you can truly see what you're eating on a daily basis. Eating organic, whole foods, coupled with lean proteins and essential fats is the best way to avoid harmful chemicals and future illness.