Based on a report by the USDA, most of us would receive failing grades if our grocery food shopping was assessed for healthiness. What's more, eating healthy at home is easier than when we're eating out. Statistics indicate almost half of Americans eat fast food while one in four dine out once a week or more.
Unfortunately, Americans have chosen fast and cheap over quality. This means highly processed foods with low-cost, unhealthy ingredients with long shelf lives. The most concerning processed foods are those with dangerous chemicals added to them to add flavor, texture, sweetness, or to preserve the so-called integrity of the product. The typical processed food contains unhealthy amounts of fat, sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other dangerous ingredients, many of which we don't know the long-term risks about. It is easy to see something has gone wrong when you look at the substantial rise in health issues among Americans in recent years.
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.
How did this happen? How are these dangerous chemicals in our food supply? While the public appears to believe that the FDA has significant power over food additives similar to the pharmaceutical industry, it is an unfortunate mistake. The FDA actually has very little legal authority over chemical companies, who basically approve their own additives and chemicals, and are not even required to notify the FDA when new ingredients are being added to food products. It is a broken system.
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.
Unfortunately, Americans have chosen fast and cheap over quality. This means highly processed foods with low-cost, unhealthy ingredients with long shelf lives. The most concerning processed foods are those with dangerous chemicals added to them to add flavor, texture, sweetness, or to preserve the so-called integrity of the product. The typical processed food contains unhealthy amounts of fat, sodium, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other dangerous ingredients, many of which we don't know the long-term risks about. It is easy to see something has gone wrong when you look at the substantial rise in health issues among Americans in recent years.
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.
How did this happen? How are these dangerous chemicals in our food supply? While the public appears to believe that the FDA has significant power over food additives similar to the pharmaceutical industry, it is an unfortunate mistake. The FDA actually has very little legal authority over chemical companies, who basically approve their own additives and chemicals, and are not even required to notify the FDA when new ingredients are being added to food products. It is a broken system.
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.
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