Most people are concerned these days about keeping their weight down. While obesity is greatly on the rise, even people who are not overweight need to be concerned about what they are eating. I fall into the category of not being overweight, but finding that my weight is creeping up each year. And I'm finding that I'm beginning to have health issues related to our poor diet here in America.
One of the single easiest things to point in the American diet to is white bread. As a child of the 70s and 80s, I grew up eating PB&J and grilled cheese all made on white bread. Add to that sub rolls, hot dog/hamburger buns, french baguette, etc., and you have a plethora of breads that are devoid of much nutrition. And I know this is the case, yet if given a choice I will intrisically crave the white bread and opt for that.
But now that white bread and other processed foods are beginning to affect my health in ways other than just my weight......
For starters, I have high cholesterol. But now I frequently am having gastrointestinal problems which I've suddenly discovered may actually be due to low stomach acid. Meaning, I'm not digesting foods properly. After so many years eating processed foods, now as I try to eat more whole foods, my body isn't so well tuned to deal with them, is my guess. And other symptoms I've been having are consistent with having too much simple carbohydrate in my diet. I'm not a big cookie and snack eater, but bread has always been a weakness for me, as is pizza and pasta. And that weakness is coming back to bite me on the ass at the age of 34.
So with all the news of global warming, Bush policies reaking havoc, and violence and war across the globe, add to that my own health concerns and the knowledge that health insurance companies are out to make more money while cutting the coverage of average people....and that makes me not exactly all bright and cheery this morning.
However, I keep trying to push back all the clouds and focus on improving my future by attempting to improve my diet, which while better than many people, simply isn't good enough. Luckily, I love veggies, fruits and nuts. Fish, I'm not so fond of, but I'll just have to keep working on that. I just need to make a greater effort to expand upon the types of meals I know how to make. And get more disciplined about planning meals further in advance.
But the beef I have to bring up in this diary is that we, as a country, fail to teach our children and even adults proper nutrition in this country. Where I once considered my diet to be pretty good compared to many other people I have witnessed, it still ain't good enough. It still is lacking in some areas. (Yet I gain weight!) And while there are a plethora of fad diets out there, none work long term. It's yet another area while this capitalistic society seeks to make money from well-meaning people. And these people not only put out money, they are not getting the service they are seeking. They end up gaining weight.
There clearly is a huge problem with our diet in this country when so many people in this country who want to lose weight have such a difficult time doing so and keeping it off. Simply not eating chips and cookies is not enough to keep us healthy, especially when things that we consider a food staple, like bread, are just as much to blame as the 'junk food'. It's sick that people are having to resort to stomach reduction surgeries in order to save themselves from diseases like diabetes. Something is seriously wrong when even our schools allow the sales of sodas and snacks via vending machines. We are failing our children, our future, by not teaching them proper nutrition. The saddest thing I saw in this regard was a mother who was having trouble making ends meet, asking on our freecycle list for fast food coupons so that she could feed her children!
And the whole idea of a balanced diet is up for debate when you have the US Department of Agriculture determing the food pyramid instead of the Department of Health. Their food pyramid just doesn't cut it, when it suggests so many servings of breads. It does suggest substituting at least half of your breads as whole grain. But 3 cups of milk a day for a person my age with only 2.5 cups of veggies and 1.5 cups of fruits???? You can't tell me that the dairy industry isn't playing a role in making these guidelines.....
I'll let you chew on that this morning. ;)
I will add that currently I'm reading Ultrametabolism by Dr. Mark Hyman. (Note: My link brings you to his recipes page....) I'm trying to implemenet the suggestions in that book as I do believe that what things we eat can affect gene expresion in our bodies which in turn affects how we feel and how are bodies burn calories. I'm only part of the way through, but I have found his suggestions are definitely sending me in the right direction toward eating healthier and can hopefully help me to combat the health issue I am starting to see in myself.
I will end this diary by asking what do you find to be you best and worst eating habits and ask if you have made a particular effort to improve your diet? Do you have any great recipes to pass along to those of us trying to cook healthier meals?
Thanks for reading and responding.....I really think this is an issue of great imortance that effects us all on a daily basis.