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by Darrell Miller
Even though we are supposedly living in a health conscious society,
there are more overweight and obese people than ever before. Since many
of us are trying to change our diet and live a healthier lifestyle, we
buy health books and magazines and find ways to cook more balanced
meals. We also limit our sugar and fat intake and become increasingly
aware of nutritional labels and the vitamins and minerals that we need.
Others, however, are suspicious of what they believe is a "health
craze", due to the contradictory information we receive about salt,
sugar, red meat, and many other things. So what exactly is a healthy
diet and can it actually be done? The answer is yes. By changing dietary
habits in the four areas Americans have problems in their diet (sugar,
bread, water, and artificial foods); one can experience a change in
their health, energy, and overall well-being. The changes are not
complicated or difficult and can be applied at your own pace without
stress or guilt.
The first problem Americans face in their diet is sugar as we (as a
country) are consuming over 120 pounds per person, per year. Even though
there are natural sugars in fruits and vegetables, the problems with
Americans' sugar intake is that the majority of it is refined sugar.
Refined sugar does not have the vitamins or minerals that are needed by
the body for burning and storing it, as sugar cane and sugar beets do.
Therefore, the body must burn the sugar by tapping into its internal
stores of nutrients, which can often lead to stress on the body. High
intake of refined white sugar can suppress the immune system.
The next problem is America's bread. Because almost every bread item
in the grocery store uses refined and enriched flour, the bread we eat
lacks important nutrients, especially fiber. The best solution to this
problem is to find a grocery or health food store that carries unrefined
products, made with whole grains preferably organic sources. This means
not just breads, but pastas, cereals, and any other grain dishes.
The third problem deals with water, a basic necessity to life. The
issue is not about pure water, but rather what's in it and how it is
purified. Since our own sewage is dumped directly into our rivers from
every city in the nation, chlorine and other chemical agents are put
into the water to kill the bacteria in the water. However it's a
loose-loose situation, as we either drink the parasites or the harmful
chlorine and bromine used to kill them. When at home, a ultra-violet
only and combined UV-ozonating treatment units are the best bet as a
water purifier. Although there is no ideal solution for our water
problem, any steps taken to protect yourself are better than not knowing
the dangers you face daily when drinking tap water. Bottled water may be
the only option for some but 99% of all bottled water comes in plastic
containers. In the past plastic has been known to leach into the water
its holding which is undesirable and not healthy. Manufactures today
claim that the plastic they use does not leach into the water, but one
doesn't know for sure unless they have the water tested for plastic
polymers. Fortunately some people have well water they drink from which
is generally healthier due to the fact that the water in your well has
to go through 50 - 100 feet of dirt and this dirt cleanses the water
purifying it. Clean water is critical for good health.
The final issue with the American diet is artificial substances and
processes. Almost every food label mentions numerous colors, flavors,
and preservatives. It is hard to believe that these functions are simply
for marketing, not nutritional purposes. We should take some degree of
caution when eating a product with many artificial ingredients. It is
simply adding more chemicals in your diet to be ingested into your body
and harm your health. Although the solution to this problem is a bit
more difficult, as we are surrounded by artificially made foods,
drinking soy milk instead of regular milk and eating fruit instead of
the usual processed snack is a good start. Starting a garden in your
back yard and sticking with natural and organic foods can go a long way
for better health even though buying organic is a bit more expensive can
you really put a price on good health? By taking a few of the steps
listed above you can be well on your way to a better healthier life
style.
About the Author
More information can be found on the website http://vitanetonline.com/
where advice on a wide range of vitamins, herbs, and organic foods can
be found.
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