What (and How) We Should Eat

What (and How) We Should Eat

It is no surprise that with the increased popularity in fast food chains, America's obesity rate has dramatically increased. In a survey done by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), obesity is the number two cause of preventable death, with approximately sixty-two percent of American adults overweight, up from thirty- two percent in 1994 (Profiling Food Consumption in America). In Susan Brink and Elizabeth Querna's article "Eat This Now", they discuss how this generation will be affected by increasing obesity rates. The increased rate of child and teen obesity shows that the average lifespan is predicted to drop from an average of 77 years to 71 years ("Eat This Now"). The way and what American's are eating have harmful effects that can change people's lives drastically. With the excessive numbers of calorie and sugar intake, people slowly conform to the unhealthy lifestyle. It is important daily to eat each food group, control portion sizes, and limit processed foods. There is a method to controlling eating with it still being enjoyable, and shrinking the waistline. The first step is to be informed.

To live a healthy lifestyle, it is important to be informed on what the average person should consume. A popular chart, known as the food pyramid gives a guideline to the intake by category on what portions should be eaten daily. According to the USDA's 2010 dietary guideline it is vital to consume up to two to three cups of fruit and vegetables, three to four ounces of whole grain, five to six ounces of proteins, three cups of dairy, and five to seven teaspoons of oil (fats) (Food Group Overview). Do not forget about the water! Any easy way to remember what and how much needs to be consumed is shown on a plate chart created by the USDA. One should fill half of their plate with vegetable and fruit, and the other half with proteins and grains with a side of milk. As impossible as it may seem, meeting these requirements leaves the body feeling energized and happy. Daily, one should strive to reach this goal, but it can lead to overeating, having negative effects on the body.

To maintain a healthy diet, it is essential to watch what one consumes. Graham Ulmer MS specializes in Exercise Science and Certified Strength Conditioning. He reveals in his article that the average healthy adult needs between 1,800 to 2,000 calories per day to support their energy levels (Caloric Intake of a Normal Person). Many choose to ignore this number. In her revealing article, Michelle Kulas, a SEO expert, nurse and dental assistant she exposes the true amount of calories eaten daily by Americans. The average American eats approximately 2,700 calories daily, this is an increase by twenty-five percent since the 1970's (How Many Calories Does the Average American Eat?). "Food is comforting", is the common excuse people use when eating excessive numbers of calories. Even though many believe this to be a fact, it simply only hurts one's body in the long run. A huge, unhealthy calorie consumption factor comes from processed foods.

It is important to maintain a healthy diet, but sometimes watching what we eat can be a challenge. Almost every food today is processed in some way. Dr. Lisa Ford, who has been a family practitioner for twelve years, defines what processed foods are. "Processed foods are foods that have been tainted by hormones, preservatives, unnatural genetic material, additives, and chemical or heat treatments. This removes the natural, healthy products like enzymes,