American Diets in Crisis

Reports from the Fourth Annual Nutrition and Health Conference do not bode well for the American diet. For three days in San Diego, international industry leaders presented facts and figures that should send Americans running out to their health food stores in droves. Brad Lemley reported the following five facts that were presented at the conference, showing where Americans can improve their diets and overall health and wellness:

The typical American consumes three main forms of plant food: wheat, corn and soy. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Until you compare it with Australian outbackers whose diet includes 800 plant food varieties.

One third of the American population consumes 47 percent of their daily caloric intake from junk food.

On average, the typical American consumes 300 more calories on a daily basis than in 1985. The culprit? Added sweeteners and fats.

Since 1985, the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased by almost 40 percent, while the cost of soft drinks has decreased by 23 percent.

In the presentation, “Vitamin D Deficiency: The Cause of Everything” by Louise Gagne, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, health problems such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, stroke, and congestive heart failure were all linked to deficiencies in vitamin D.

But the news wasn’t all bad!

Michael Pollan, a professor at the University of California, Berkley, stated that there are a lot of, “hopeful trends, including the rise of alternative agriculture: organic, local, biodynamic...There are now over 4,000 farmers' markets in the U.S. The number has doubled in 10 years."

Remember, it is never too late to change your eating habits and reverse some of those damaging effects of processed vittles. Check the site, www.altmd.com, for vitamins, natural and alternative health options and healthy recipes that will energize your body and renew your spirit.