The American diet has become very unhealthy and not just the food choices made, but the lifestyle decisions that are made on a daily basis. Recently, diet styles have taken a turn for the worst. Americans today are making horrible decisions on what they eat and when they eat which can eventually turn into bad habits and later affect their overall health, but there are plenty of ways to overcome those bad habits. “The average American should eat according to the age, gender, height, and level of activeness the person maintains (Avena),” but in today’s society that is not always the way people eat. According to many food labels the total set number of calorie intake per person should be around two thousand, but that can vary from person to person. Avena states “the average American consumes around 2,700 calories per day.” This being said, the reasons so many people today are consuming such a high intake of calories is due to the types of food available and the price of food is ridiculously high. Although the calorie intake plays a huge part in the american diet, it is what those calories make up. Aitken says, “The Standard American Diet usually consists of a myriad of processed carbs (cereals, breads, pasta, cookies, cakes etc.), processed meat products, and a few fruits and veggies.” People today eat way more fast foods and carbs instead of fruits and vegetables, which in turn makes the diet frowned upon by most other countries. Many Americans are always looking for the “easy” way out, something cheap and “on-the-go” which makes it harder for people to choose healthy choices and be more nutritious. The fastest way to get food now days is through the drive thru which is cheap and quick, but the thing about these meals is it is... ... middle of paper ... ...eople shorten the portion sizes, eat less fatty/ fried foods, and choose healthier side item choices than Americans today have a better chance of overcoming those bad habits. Americans today have horrible eating habits and alot of that has to do with the food consumed. Not only do people need to cut back on less fast foods, but also less carbs in the food. As long as people will choose healthier options and go with less portions than people can get rid of the bad reputation Americans have for their diet. Works Cited Aitken, Sarah. “Is the standard American diet bad for your health?” Naturalnews.com. 6 December 2007. Avena, Nicole. “The American Diet.” Psychologytoday.com. web. 19 August 2013 Lee, Mathew. “Statistics of health risks from eating fast foods.” Sfgate.com. Web “Two Foods” Twofoods.com. Aspen Labs. web. 2013 “What is Diabetes?” jdrf.org. web. 2009
In recent studies, it was discovered that most of the foods that Americans consumed are foods which had gone through so many processes and thereby losing most of its nutritional values. Unhealthy nutrients are also been added to foods as additive during production to either preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance. An individual cannot simply trust what he or she is consuming at a fast food restaurant or even a cheap prepared meal at a grocery store. Processed food or western diet needs to be replaced and totally taken out of the American life and diet; this will help the Americans to live a healthier life, and spend less on medical bills.
In “Bad Food? Tax it, and Subsidize Vegetables”, Mark Bittman suggests that the people of America should stop eating unhealthy foods so often. In the article, Bittman tells his audience that people have “heart disease, diabetes and cancer are all in large part caused by the standard American Diet” (page 35). He also states that eating healthy can result to a better health care system saving millions of lives. The big issue is Americans eating unhealthy every day, but proposing a plan to help stop it from happening.
For some time, scholars and writers have continuously debated as to what constitutes or defines the idea of healthy eating, mainly because of the increase in the number of people diagnosed with ailments associated with bad eating habits. It has quickly become the forefront of issue, particularly in the United States. In recognition of this on-going debate, this composition seeks to compare and contrast two well-known authors concerning how we think about and consume food. In Michael Pollan’s discussion, “Escape from the Western Diet,” he discusses the negative sides of nutrition science, including conflicting theories surrounding the elements of healthy food consumption and why solutions are essential for the Western diet and lifestyle. “Escape from the Western Diet,’’ is among the articles that talks about the eating habits of individuals in the society. In the article, Pollan points out not only the numerous conflicts concerning what types of diets – including carbohydrate-based, the inclusion of omega-3s, other nutrition-specific needs - that are believed to directly affect general health or specific illnesses, but also how western nutritionism compares to other countries diets affect longevity outcomes. In the end, Pollan suggests that the United States must seek solutions that move towards more natural, unprocessed, plant-based lifestyles that ensure that individuals are making what they consume a primary
In his essay “The American Paradox”, Michael Pollan illustrates his conclusion that Americans who focus on nutrition have a higher probability of decreasing their well-being. Pollan defines the American paradox as “a notably unhealthy population preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthily.” For most of our human history, our parents and culture have influenced our diet. However, today the idea of what to eat has been based on the opinions of scientists, food markets, and nutritionists. I agree with Pollan’s argument that being preoccupied with what we eat makes us unhealthy, however, we need a balance and a sense of responsibility in what we eat.
When it comes to the topic of nutrition and eating habits, most of us will readily agree with Pollan in the instance that we as Americans are perhaps the worst offenders. To be honest, it’s quite hard to disagree with him here. Whether stereotypical or not, staples of the Western diet emit a worldwide assumption that we are a burger-eating, soda-drinking, donut-devouring nation; all unhealthy foods might I add. Is this the case for everyone? Of course not, but that’s one of the ways citizens of the United States are negatively perceived.
Some evidence points out too much food and not enough exercise as one of the main causes. According to the publichealth.org website, “Americans are notorious for their fast-food consumption ― such food makes up about 11% of the average American diet. Another study demonstrates the full effect added sugars from soda and energy drinks are wreaking havoc on American waistlines.” So it is not just how much we eat, but what we eat? On the other hand, Americans spent more than $50 billion annually on quick diet scheme, books, and work-out videos to lose weight. Most especially as a New Year’s resolution wish having had too much holiday dinners and parties. The irony of the mixed messages on health, and food consumption in America could send anyone to a therapist chair on conflicting emotions about food and
The typical American diet is about 50% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 35% fat, which is over the dietary guidelines for the amount of fat (below 30%), below the guidelines for carbohydrate (above 55%), and at the upper end of the guidelines for the amount of protein (below 15%) recommended in the diet. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_pattern_diet). Not only is the Standard American Diet completely lacking in terms of the quantity of macronutrients being consumed, but the quality of the foods that most Americans are eating is extremely poor as well. The Standard American Diet is high in animal fats, low in fiber, low in complex carbohydrates, and low in plant-based
The Western Diet mainly consists of fried foods, refined grains, sugar, high carbohydrate and fats, and meats (3). It has been hypothesized that having a Western Diet increases one’s chances for developing depression. There has been a great deal of research into why the western diet increase’s one chance of having depression. A common sense reason maybe that the Western Diet consisted of large amounts carbohydrates, fats and sugars which promotes obesity and then causes depression (1). More scientific evidence suggest that having a improper diet like the Western Diet negatively affects peripheral and central dopamine, which are neurotransmitters (chemical which transmit signals across the synapse from the nerve cell to the target cell) directly linked to the mental health of the brain and are negatively affected by high fat diets (4). Research has also suggested that having a poor nutrition status such as lacking folate (a natural water form of vitamin bg which is crucial for many of the bodies processes) and key vitamins like vitamin b12 significantly increases the risk of depression in elderly people (5). Research into the topic of dietary habits and mental health is very crucial with the growing rates of obesity and depression in the United States compared to the rest of the world. Thus, does having poor dietary habits increase the likelihood of having depression? The likelihood of developing depression has been linked to the type of diet one consumes such as the Western Diet, Diets Low in Fat and Carbohydrates and weight control diets like binge eating.
When you eat do you think about the food you consume? Many times people eat and do not think about what health conditions can be caused by the food that they eat. Maintaining your health is very important and beneficial. Many ingredients in the food we consume can lead up to long lasting health problems. There are many problems that Americans add to their menus that are harmful and solutions that will reduce these harmful risk factors.
This concedes that now America is creating health issues from consuming unhealthy foods. According to, “The battle against fast food beings in the home”, by Daniel Weintraub, “Kids eat unhealthy food and sit in front of the television or computer for hours at a time”. The article states that now obesity has affected many kids in America. Due to obesity affecting many kids in America the argument here is that, parents are not thinking about their child’s health and how it affects their body. Their main worry if the food is cheap and that it’s reasonable to buy for their family; which is understandable. Thus, many kids health are in danger from the lack of a nutritious diet. At the same time, fast food companies believe that it’s not their fault. According to Daniels Weintraub’s article, it states that “ It’s the parents, not the government, not the fast food companies who are responsible for teaching kids unhealthy habits” (Weintraub 1). The argument here is that parents need to try to feed their kids much healthier diets such as vegetables. Feeding them fast food is going to wreck their health. For this reason, fast food companies should try to sell healthier food for a reasonable price. Having produce companies sell more affordable fruits and vegetables will clear this problem. This will allow people who don’t have much money be able to provide a healthy dish
Eating is extremely important, it is also important to eat healthy. Most Americans eat without any concerns; they are not questioning or researching what they are feeding themselves or their family. A lot of that has to do with their financial stability, not having the time to prepare a meal due to their time-consuming work schedule, also lack of knowledge and education on what they are consuming. In this bibliography, I will go over all three articles and explain what they are about.
It could also completely crush the stereotypes of Americans who are “all overweight and obese”. It could also set this country up for a healthier, and more fit generation. But, it also doesn’t have to be done all at once. Not every American can just be thrown into eating right. “Government intervention on our nutrition may not be as controlling as we think. Simply reducing the amount of vending machines on college campuses, or portion sizes in high school cafeterias are small acts that can do a great deal in the long run.” (Knell). This shows that the government could slowly infuse slight changes over period of time to help every American to get into the right pace of eating healthy. But it’s not just eating healthy in general that turns many people away: it’s the insane cost of healthy food. “Over the course of a year, $1.50/day more for eating a healthy diet would increase food costs for one person by about $550 per year.” (Dwyer). The government should make it so that unhealthier foods are more expensive so that more people are not inclined to buy them and are more inclined to by the cheaper and healthier
The essay Junking Junk Food written by Judith Warner, brings to the audiences attention the wicked problem of how there has been a decline in Americans health. Warner’s information speaks loudly about being forced into a healthy lifestyle by the Obama administration. The Obama administration tried to enforce a healthy lifestyle among the citizens by focusing on the youth and taking away sugar options for them. Warner, puts her voice into this by mentioning the system during the world war when the soldiers had to eat overseas so there was less food consumption in America, which helped stop over consumption of food. Back then food was also much healthier thought, with less hormones, chemicals and less options of fast food. Again making it easier
As Americans, we all take our own approach to food, but most of us have the same initial feeling about it. And that is that we live and eat an unhealthy lifestyle to one that is leading to the increase of obesity and other diseases. In just 28years the rate of obesity in children has raised from 6.9% to 19.6%. We take that childhood obesity into our adulthood with us. Not only is the obesity rates increasing, but so is our chance of developing diabetes along with hypertension, high cholesterol and heart disease. People want to comment and have a say about the situation. But very few people want to take action and change the way our food today is processed and made accessible to us. The major argument people have is that they do not have the money for a healthier lifestyle. But,
As Americans, we’re always on the go. When hungry and have no time there are many fast and healthy items available. Many people who say that fast food chains is the main cause of obesity in America because there are plenty of fast food restaurants on every block with very few healthy options ("Do Fast Food Restaurants Contribute to Obesity?"). Fast food business are very easy to find and offer quick service, but there are other options that are healthy, especially in urban areas. Restaurants such as Panera offer a range of items that are healthy and offer a quick service for those on a schedule. In addition to these healthier options, it is also possible to pack their own snack or meal. People often become lazy when it comes to just cooking their meals at home. This choice allows the customer, to control what they eat.