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.
There are many reasons for this. Perhaps the most important driver has been busy schedules leading consumers to search out convenient meals ranging from takeout to processed foods. What is a processed food? It is the opposite of a whole food, meaning anything that comes in a separate package with an ingredient label. Some aren't all that bad, it depends on the actual ingredients, however, many processed foods are filled with salt, sugar, fat, preservatives, and other harmful chemical concoctions that are foreign to the human body, or at least they should be. One doesn't have to look long to see a dramatic increase in so many serious illnesses.
The processed foods that carry these health risks are not dangerous only because of their lack of nutritional content or the chemical exposure, but also because they can be addicting as well. Some of the artificial sweeteners are so strong that our brains can't handle the impact. They can also have a damaging effect on the brain such as neurotoxicity, as well as other troublesome conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's.
Why are these chemicals in our food supply to begin with? Despite the mainstream belief that the FDA oversees the approval of chemicals that go into our food supply, nothing could be farther from the truth. Chemical companies approve their own chemicals with the FDA having virtually zero legal ability to limit the use of any food additive. These companies do not even need to inform the FDA that new ingredients have been brought to market. It is a ludicrous process.
Given the lack of research surrounding long-term risks, avoiding foods created by a scientist is probably the best way to go. I prefer to eat only organic, whole foods. I choose not to poison myself. I don't know why so many other Americans choose to do so. Perhaps it is a lack of knowledge or a focus on short-term pleasure rather than pain. I don't know the answer, but I do know we need to be more aware of the chemicals in our food. We also should do our own homework and not blindly accept the next food craze or superfood as gospel when the companies telling us about them are the ones that profit from them.
It is imperative that you read food ingredient labels and understand what's in your food. Ideally, a diet consisting of organic whole foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats is the healthiest approach to eating and avoiding dangerous chemicals and future illnesses and other health conditions.
There are many reasons for this. Perhaps the most important driver has been busy schedules leading consumers to search out convenient meals ranging from takeout to processed foods. What is a processed food? It is the opposite of a whole food, meaning anything that comes in a separate package with an ingredient label. Some aren't all that bad, it depends on the actual ingredients, however, many processed foods are filled with salt, sugar, fat, preservatives, and other harmful chemical concoctions that are foreign to the human body, or at least they should be. One doesn't have to look long to see a dramatic increase in so many serious illnesses.
The processed foods that carry these health risks are not dangerous only because of their lack of nutritional content or the chemical exposure, but also because they can be addicting as well. Some of the artificial sweeteners are so strong that our brains can't handle the impact. They can also have a damaging effect on the brain such as neurotoxicity, as well as other troublesome conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's.
Why are these chemicals in our food supply to begin with? Despite the mainstream belief that the FDA oversees the approval of chemicals that go into our food supply, nothing could be farther from the truth. Chemical companies approve their own chemicals with the FDA having virtually zero legal ability to limit the use of any food additive. These companies do not even need to inform the FDA that new ingredients have been brought to market. It is a ludicrous process.
Given the lack of research surrounding long-term risks, avoiding foods created by a scientist is probably the best way to go. I prefer to eat only organic, whole foods. I choose not to poison myself. I don't know why so many other Americans choose to do so. Perhaps it is a lack of knowledge or a focus on short-term pleasure rather than pain. I don't know the answer, but I do know we need to be more aware of the chemicals in our food. We also should do our own homework and not blindly accept the next food craze or superfood as gospel when the companies telling us about them are the ones that profit from them.
It is imperative that you read food ingredient labels and understand what's in your food. Ideally, a diet consisting of organic whole foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats is the healthiest approach to eating and avoiding dangerous chemicals and future illnesses and other health conditions.
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