Americans pride themselves of being the best-fed nation on earth. But they are paying a high price for the privilege, in needless disease, disability and premature death.
What are they doing wrong?
Americans and an increasing number of people in developing countries are eating too much of nearly everything, too much sugar, fat, cholesterol and salt, and they eat them too often. Such abundance has helped lay the foundation for coronary artery disease, stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis, adylt-onset diabetes, obesity and several forms of cancer. These diseases will be responsible for three out of four deaths worldwide by the year 2020. They are related to lifestyle, especially how people eat.
Here are some of our health problems:
Sugar: Devoid of fibre and nutrients, refined sugars are empty, or naked, calories, but because of their caloric density, they are well suited to promote obesity.
Refined Foods: People used to think that refinement was good because it got rid of useless roughage. Now we're learning how fibre is in protecting us from certain cancers, stabilizing blood sugar, controlling weight and protecting gastrointestinal problems such as gallstones, haemorrhoids, diverticulisis and constipation.
Salt: Most people consume 10 to 15 grams (2 to 3 table spoon) of salt a day, this is much more than is actually needed and contributes prominently to high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney disease.
Fat: Most people don't realize that they are consuming two to three times more fat, oil and grease than is optimal for good health. As a result, blood vessels plug up, impotence sets in, and hearts and brains suffer. A high fat diet also contributes to overweight, adult diabetes and certain cancers.
Protein: A diet with meat and animal products provides more protein, fat and cholesterol that the body can use. Scientists now recognize that a more natural, traditional diet containing less animal protein and much less fat and cholesterol is essential for improved health and longevity.
Beverages: People don't drink enough water, instead, many now drink more soft drinks, beer, coffee, tea, and sweet drinks everyday. Because most of these drinks are loaded with calories from sugar and alcohol, they can play havoc with blood sugar levels and sabotage weight-control efforts. Caffeine, phosphates and other chemicals found in beverages pose additional health risks.
Snacks: Engineered taste sensations are taking the place of real food, it has become fashionable for schools, day-care centers, even hospitals to make snacks available. Coffee breaks are becoming the standard at work, and snacks reign supreme after school and at home. Snacks attacks disrupts digestion, overburden the stomach and are a frequent cause of bloating and indigestion.
Instead of all these, go for fruits many varieties, spectacular colours, every imaginable texture and flavour. Go for vegetables, potatoes and yams. Include legumes, all kinds of beans, lentils, chickpeas. And don't forget the grains like weat, oats, and millet.
Eating a variety of a whole plant foods will furnish all the fat, protein, fibre and nutrients the body needs.
Too much and too many! Too much sugar, salt, fat, protein and too many beverages and snacks in our diet. It's a deadly mix! Only by eating less of these substances and eating more whole plant foods can we enjoy optimum health and energy.
HEALTH BY CHOICE NOT CHANCE.