Your Diet & You

Have you ever given much thought to what you’re eating?

Ever hear of the phrase “you are what you eat?” I hope you answered “yes” to at least one of those questions. Let’s start by listing a few facts about our country and our diet.

As of now, 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese. That is more than 1 out of every 3 Americans. Not one state reached the 2010 Healthy People goal.

The percentages of obesity in 2010 ranged from 21% in Colorado to 34% in Mississippi. Not one state had a percentage below 20%. The 12 states above 30% are West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Alabama.

By the year 2050, it is estimated from Harvard researchers that obesity in the U.S. will be 42%. That is almost 1 in 2.

How did we get here?

There are many reasons. First, our lives are hectic and stressful, including the need to be careful about our expenses. More often than not, our jobs don’t allow us to be home at a reasonable hour.

They stress us out, so we look for something quick and easy. That’s where processed, easy-to-make food comes in. Just pop them in the microwave, and BAM!

Easy right?

Although it may be easier to do, it is nutritionally void of nutrients, not to mention what the Microwave does to the food. Microwaving cooks your food by creating friction with molecules. This friction destroys the essential parts of vitamins and minerals.

In fact, a study found that up to 97% of the vitamins and minerals are destroyed when using a Microwave. When you cook healthy food in the microwave, you are destroying almost all important vitamins and minerals. It is no surprise then that people have gotten unhealthier and larger since the advent of the microwave.

What about Microwavable popcorn?

While delicious, think about what is getting mixed in with the popcorn from the paper-containing bag. The bag, to prevent grease and moisture soaking the bag, has to be lined with something. That something is called perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified this as a likely carcinogen. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) studied how much PFOA made it into the popcorn. They came out with “a relatively small amount.”

However, the FDA found that PFOA in blood samples accounted for 20% of PFOA from Microwave Popcorn. In other words, people are getting PFOA from other sources as well. Not to mention the trans-fatty acids in popcorn and an ingredient called Diacetyl.

Diacetyl is also in many foods like beer, wine, chocolate, and cheese-flavored products. Diacetyl is a chemical compound giving artificial butter its flavor and odor. Two dozen workers at a Microwavable popcorn factory developed a disease that destroys lung tissue.

It turns out that when Diacetyl is breathed in, damage to lung tissue ensues. However, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes Microwave popcorn is safe for people to eat. In conclusion, please be warier of what you put into your bodies.

Our bodies are the temple for our soul. Why not nourish our temples with the best diet possible to operate at 100% efficiency? Our diet plays a major role in overall health, along with exercise, nutrition, emotional health,  physical health, and Chiropractic Care.

REFERENCES:

Dr. Benjamin J. Myerowitz D.C.

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