 |
|||
| |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
America Health Watch
America loves fast food. Last year, consumers spent billions of dollars on the hamburger industry alone. Corporate giants such as McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King all boast of multi-million dollar incomes each year. Why? Because their foods are delicious! Americans everywhere love the rich flavors of gigantic Big Macs and king-sized Whoppers. Our mouths water and noses flare at the enticing smell of a Bacon Double Burger Classic- a popular burger layered with melted cheese and tender bacon strips. Add a large batch of hot, sizzling French fries, and you have a combo meal worth billions of dollars to the American public. Indeed many of us love fast food! But what has our country gained from its huge appetite for greasy foods? I can think of three problems-three problems that have stood coldly on America's doorstep. These problems have destroyed the lives of millions of Americans over the past decade. They are: 1) Obesity 2) High Blood Pressure and 3) Heart Disease. Strangely enough, American consumers will continue to satisfy their appetites for greasy chicken dinners, colossal burgers, salty French fries, and dozens of other fast foods. But the biggest threat is that these three health problems, if left unchecked, will bring more pain, more suffering, and higher death rates to the American population. Obesity: Numerous studies have pointed to what causes obesity (condition of being overweight). Two major causes are: 1) over eating of high-fat foods, and 2) lack of exercise. With our country's yearly spending on fast food, it is no surprise that more than 60% of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight. Obesity has also been found to cause diabetes. Though the condition has been proven a hereditary disease, physicians agree that diabetes is often triggered by the patient's choice of foods. In 2002, treatment of diabetes totaled 23.2 billion U.S. dollars. But being overweight can cause more health problems than just diabetes. Obesity is also a leading cause of high blood pressure. High Blood Pressure (HBP): Over the years, tests have shown that most diets high in salt lead to cases of high blood pressure. At the turn of this century,this condition was listed as the main cause of death in 227,000 cases. Extra salt on our fries may seem tempting. But a less tempting thought is that high blood pressure contributes to 75% of all strokes and heart attacks. The danger with this condition is that many Americans are unaware that they have high blood pressure. Still, HBP is lethally harmful to anyone who has it. If left untreated, the condition may lead to heart disease. Heart Disease: This disease is currently the single leading cause of death in America. Years of study have shown obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels as causes of heart disease. Freshly fried chicken, large hamburger meals, hot bags of salted fries-all of these menu items pull at the wallets and purses of American consumers. But what does it cost to satisfy our appetites again and again? In 2001 heart disease was responsible for over half a million deaths in the U.S. It accounted for over 17.6 billion U.S. dollars-in medical treatment- in 2002. Is the cost really worth it? As a nation, we are just now beginning to realize the long term effects of an unbalanced diet. This is, however, a good step towards improving America's overall health condition. We can not afford to lose millions of lives from diseases that can be controlled, or even avoided. There are many alternatives to eating fast food. For example, delicious fruits such as apples, oranges, pears, grapes, and grapefruits, are all low in cholesterol and high in nutritional value. They also help the body fight cancer. Meats such as grilled shrimp, baked chicken, and broiled fish are low in cholesterol but high in proteins and other useful nutrients for the body. Finally, garden peas, collard greens, lima beans, and baked potatoes, are all excellent substitutes for a greasy bag of salted fries. You can find additional information on foods and food servings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The information can be found at your local library, bookstores, online, and a variety of other sources. Indeed America has many opportunities to grow as a healthy nation. It is time to address the health problems that lie at our country's doorstep. It is our time-America's time to eat smart. About The Author Daryl Dudley is the author of "America Health Watch." He is currently a senior English major at Savannah State University. For FREE information on healthier eating and exercise visit Daryl at: http://www.webspawner.com/users/ddudley
MORE RESOURCES:
Weight-Loss - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Slimming Down Can Add More Cash in Your Wallets Are you unhappy with your current weight but aren't "motivated" enough to do something about it?Well then.. First Component of Weight Loss Any true body transformation starts with self-discovery. It is an inside-out approach method. A Warning of the Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it smaller and reattaching the small intestine to bypass a portion responsible for the majority of calorie and nutrient absorption.The procedure is only available to the morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds overweight) who have been obese for more than 5 years and shown a serious effort to lose their excess weight through not surgical methods such as diet and exercise. Weight Loss: Secrets To Losing Weight Without Much Efforts Are you overweight?Most people are afraid to admit they are.It may not be a crime to be overweight, but it can be harmful to your health and life, if you fail to take action to reduce your weight. Weight Loss Discipline Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep it off? We haveall heard that weight loss is just a matter of taking inless calories than we expend. That certainly sounds verylogical, but is it really that simple?For example, I had an intention of only eating fruits andvegetables for a day or two, to counteract the recent 'junk'food I had been enjoying. Diets, Diets, Diets?Do They Work? Almost everyone has attempted to follow diets and weight loss programs at some time in their lives. The trouble with so many diets and low fat diets is that they are hard to follow. Fast Weight Loss -- The Healthiest Fast Weight Loss Plan In general, fast weight loss is not healthy. The faster you lose weight, the faster you'll gain it back. Lose Fat by Choosing The Best Weight Loss Plan For You Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products really work? The fact is, most of them do. It's simply a matter of finding what works for you. The Secret To Permanent Weight Loss AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. The secret is simple and basic. Can Water Really Help You Lose Weight? I believe that water not only helps with weight loss, but is also one of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to lose weight. Here are just some of the reasons why everyone should be drinking at least eight glasses of water day. Is Obesity a Disease? And What Should Be Done About It? You have noticed your obese friend suddenly slimmer. You want to know what she's doing, but you don't want surgery or side effects. Atkins Diet Plan - What's it All About? A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of bacon, two or more eggs and coffee. A snack would maybe be chunks of cheese and a cup of coffee with cream. Low Salt Diet Tips for Kids and Adults Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for proper nutrition. But the fact is that we all, including our children, consume way more salt -or rather, the sodium - than we should. How to Lose Weight: Food for Thought When it comes to weight loss, most of us would like to engage in what psychologists call "magical thinking." We'd like to believe that some easy trick or ritual would allow us to shed pounds while eating anything we liked. Safe and Permanent Weight Loss Cannot Be Achieved in the Fed State Weight Loss Axiom Number ThreeInsulin and GlucagonThese are the two major hormones that control energy metabolism in the human. They are much like yin andyang, hot and cold or happy and sad. The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 5 - Perspectives Toward Food! Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of it that works, but the basic principle of any good eating program, no matter how sugarcoated, centers around calories IN- calories OUT.The eating "only one type of food diets" will not be effective, and such a restricted diet defeats you mentally. Low Fat versus Low Carb Diets Diets, diets, diets.. Diet or Lifestyle? "I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many times have we said or heard these words? What do these words mean to you? For most of us it means a period of time in which we will subject ourselves to torture in order to lose a few pounds. Weight Loss With Water It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained - yet few people follow the old fashioned advice to drink eight glasses of water a day.Most people drink when they are thirsty, but usually not enough and certainly not when trying to lose weight. 7 Tips to Help You Beat Your Sugar Habit Are you often overcome with an urge to splurge on candy, cookies, and cake - and do you then hate yourself for caving into your cravings?Do you pop by the drug store for paper goods but always leave with junk food, too? And do you feel like an incurable sugar addict with zero will power?Take heart. You can quit (or at least cut back on) both sweets and processed, "much-like-sugar carbs" such as white bread, white rice, and pasta.
|
| Arcade Games | site map |
| © copyright NextAge Technologies Ltd @ 2006 |
