The Western Diet is making the world sick

bullzak,
I agree with much of what you said, but I wouldn't throw rice and potatoes in the same grouping, necessarily. Not if they are cooked in a healthy way. The issue with potato consumption is that for many Americans it means fried and with no skins. Potatoes, skin on, baked are actually good. I think that if you had whole roasted/baked potatoes, and non bleached rices, as a part of a natural diet, they have their place. I think Japan, as a country has the highest life expectancy, and I hear they eat a good bit of rice.

 

This thread has inspired me to go to Chick-Fil-A and get the jumbo size sandwich and fries. And the vat of Dr. Pepper. I love food that is bad for you.

 

You have to take the good with the bad. The good is Westerners no longer suffer from lack of vitamins and starvation. They grow to be much taller than they did a century ago. It is safer than ever. Food is really cheap and is a tiny portion of people's budgets.

 

Why did this thread become a discussion of what you need to do be and eat healthy. I think this is all known. Point is the trend in diabetes and obesity. Looking at that chart posted is just staggering. 30.6% obesity level in US is 6% higher than the 2nd highest which is Mexico.

 

Polynesian people that live of the fruit of the land are some of the healthiest people in the world. They eat a very high fat diet. Coconut is very high in fat, good fat, lauric acid. The medium chain fatty acids in coconut go straight to your liver to be burned as energy. Copconut oil was common in the US til WWII. Thats when we came up with vegetable oils, we couldnt get coconuts. When the war was over, big money had so much invested that they started a war on fats, all fats. So coconut oil and BUTTER became bad. People ignored the fact that butter and coconut oil had been around for centuries, did no reasearch on their own and started buying margarine and vegetable oil. It is no coincidence that since that time, hearty disease, obesity, and diabetes have become epidemic. Heart disease was almost non-existent at the turn of the century. Our body was not made to eat man made chemicals and processed foods. Most of the illneses today are caused by our diet. A few rules I live by:

If the FDA had to approve it, thats a red flag. I'm sure big money was involved. Aspartame and HFCS ring a bell?

If you cant pronounce it, dont eat it.

The more ingredients it has, put it back on the shelf.

Eat natural foods, frozen or fresh veggies and lots of fruits.

Remember, diets dont work. You need to change your eating habits.

Everything in moderation.

Stop eating with a third grade mentality: I see it, I want it, good health be damed, I'll take a pill to make me feel better.

Remember, ALL medications have side effects. It may help one thing, but your body has to deal with it, and it WILL cause problems elsewhere. Dont kid yourself.

I went from 300lbs to about 175lbs in 2 years and have maintained it for about 4 years now. I am almost 60 and got off all medication. I jog 3-5 miles everyday. I have the time and you do too. Its just a matter of taking the time.

 

I forgot,

Grass fed beef. Cattle was made to eat grass, not grain. When they eat grain, they get sick. We give them shots and then we eat them. Sound good??

 

Exactly not you are getting on track with where the discussion should be. It is not just what you eat but it is how it is made or produced. The beef industry and the industrial farming industry are the biggest problems.

 

Dio posted:

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Tell you what, I'll start now.

 

Agssuck: good for you on the weight loss and dropping the meds. I love to hear stories like that, and you're right: if we just commit to a little time and make exercise a priority, the payoff is huge. I'm sometimes amazed at how good I feel after a run.