Why is obesity, diabetes increasing so rapidly in the US? Why, despite, mammoth funding, do we make so little progress in the war on cancer? Why are the incidences of these chronic diseases so much higher in countries where processed food is a staple of the human diet? Why is heart disease so common, even in children? Many believe our diet to be the leading cause.
Sorry to say most of the beef, pork and chicken, dairy and many other foods we find in the grocery store are laced with hormones, antibiotics and chemicals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is often in a cozy relationship with the large food companies so only the most obvious of health hazards, such as bacterial contamination, is regulated. Other subtle, but just as insidious factors, such as added chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, irradiation are largely ignored. This may be causing a syndrome of undesirable health effects in the US and other developed countries. Consider the following:
- Antibiotics: Given to cattle, pigs and chicken on a regular basis antibiotics have resulted in a rapid increase in antibiotic resistant pathogens: The World Health Organization has concluded that antibiotic resistance is a leading threat to human health. More than 65,000 people died from drug resistant infections last year, more than prostrate and breast cancer combined. (St. Petersburg Times, Dec. 29, 2009).
- Hormones: Synthetic sex and other hormones such as estradiol and progestins are given to virtually all feedlot cattle in increase growth rates. These hormones can disrupt our natural hormone system and cause cancer. Children are the most susceptible and may cause girls to reach puberty sooner. Europe has banned American beef because of hormones.
- Irradiation of Beef: Radiation is used on meat to kill bacteria but it may also induce genetic damage and increase cancer risk (see here). It can also "kill" essential nutrients.
- Mad Cow Disease: This highly feared disease causes your brain to rapidly degenerate. Fortunately, it is not common. Cattle become infected from being fed other infected animal parts.
- Added Chemicals: High Fructose Corn Syrup Syrup (HFCS) is linked to obesity (see here), aspartame to many ill effects including cancer (see here).
- Avoid soda and deep fried items. You will then be largely shielded from trans-fats and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
- When buying sweeteners consider stevia which does not stimulate the insulin response.
- When grocery shopping buy "all natural" labeled items. This won't keep you away from sugar but will keep you away from the HFCS, aspartame and factory manufactured chemicals.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables carefully to remove residual herbicides and pesticides.
- Buy only lean organic meats. In the case of beef eat only grass-fed beef.
- Look at the list of ingredients. The longer it is the more the food is processed. Avoid foods with a long ingredient list.
- Buy fresh rather than processed foods.
