Regrettably, the processed food industry wastes over $33 billion per year in
advertising to lure people to consume sugar-laden, fast, junk foods. These processed foods
are overloaded with hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and
trans fats. While lacking in necessary nutrition, processed foods' main ingredients are
nutrient empty sugar, water, fat, flour, starch, artificial colorings and flavors. In 2002
alone, the processed food industry sold over $174 billion worth of this adulterated
combination by fabricating thousands of cookies, crackers, puddings, cakes, soft drinks,
and other concoctions.
The ensuing outcome is America has
become a factory of wide spread obesity
and chronic disease where a huge number of Americans are then sent on to the highly
profitable pharmaceutical industry. In 2007, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health warned: if not halted, the ever-increasing obesity crisis will explode by 2015 to
24% of children and adolescents being overweight
or obese, and 75% of adults being overweight with 41% being obese.
Currently over fifty percent of people with severe weight problems have diabetes alone. At this time, the CDC
and NIH have estimated over 7% of our population has a form of diabetes for a total of
over 21 million people but nearly a third are undiagnosed. In 2007, indirect and direct
medical cost of diabetes is estimated at over $174 billion. Presently these numbers are
exploding daily and tangible statistics are difficult to obtain to keep up with the
reality of our diabetes epidemic.
It is very distressing that American society has chosen this lifestyle in view of the fact
that 1970's nutritional experts' research data revealed patterns of eating has a direct
influence on illnesses. By the 1980's publicized research revealed populations consuming
more fruits, vegetables, and high
fiber foods experienced lower disease rates. Two well-researched examples are the whole
grains, nuts, seeds, fresh fruits
and vegetables, and olive oil rich Mediterranean diet, and the South Pacific diets with copious amounts of coconut
oil. Even something as simple as water
has a profound affect on health. Last year, Loma Linda University research revealed
something as uncomplicated as 5 glasses of water per day reduces the risk of our number
one cause of death heart attack by 50%. Since we have three decades worth of proven
research on the benefits of a healthy
diet, but are not applying this knowledge, one has to contemplate just what our goals
are as a society.
Experts have estimated twice the current acreage would have to be planted for farms to
grow the amount of fruits and
vegetables necessary for Americans to consume healthy diets. Deplorably, American
politicians stubbornly continue to pander to lobbied interests and subsidize the processed foods industries
while blatantly disregarding the health and well being of American citizens. The ever
mutating Amended H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act, otherwise known as the
Farm Bill, is supposed to provide for the continuation of our country's agricultural
programs through 2012. For months the Senate and House have been wrangling over our
country's next five-year plan but when they finally agree on it, President Bush will
probably veto it due to disagreements regarding crop subsidies. The Citizens Against
Government Waste states there is no significant reform in HR 2419 and are encouraging the
President to stick with his veto threat. The result of all this is our nation has a
completely out of balance healthcare and agricultural economics policy which is now
affecting the rest of the planet.
Debby is a Registered Nurse, and a free-lance journalist. The best method of achieving wellness and optimal weight is by eating healthy and exercising. Debby educates the public about a preventative-based healthy lifestyle and operates an on-line business offering gardening information at Gardening for Joy. Gardening contributes to saving the planet and your health. (naturalnews, 6.18.2008, Debby Bolen (see all articles by this author) | Key concepts: processed foods, America and processed food) http://www.naturalnews.com/023459.html