deficiency diseases to diseases of abundance

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How Did Things Get This Way?
From deficiency diseases to diseases of abundance
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Last month we took a look at what has happened to the way we eat over the past 100 years. This month we'll examine what the Standard American Diet with its chemical additives, highly processed convenience foods, and fast food restaurants has done to the health of the generations of Americans who have been eating that way? Unfortunately, for those of us who were born in the first half of the 20th century, the result has been an epidemic increase in the incidence of degenerative diseases (cancer, heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis, type II diabetes, high blood pressure).
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In the first half of the 20th century we were able to practically eradicate deficiency diseases by adjusting our diets, specifically by paying attention to the recently discovered dietary components called vitamins. Our knowledge of nutrition was not very sophisticated at the turn of the century. Although various food elements such as proteins, fats, some minerals and carbohydrates had been identified during the 19th century, it was not until the early 20th that the amino acids in protein were isolated and their specific roles in the body began to be identified. All of this led to a new way of looking at nutrition with the understanding that a diet lacking in certain substances could lead to poor health and even death. Since these discoveries were made, with the use of fortified foods and vitamin supplements, deficiency diseases have been virtually eliminated. But in their place is a plethora of new health problems that were once rare among our children, like asthma and allergies and immune deficiency disorders,
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As for the diet of the present generation of children -it is unfortunately poorer than ever. The main plant food in the diet of the typical American school-aged child is french fries. And remember that 65 lbs. of sugar per year that Americans were eating in 1900? Well, by 1975, with the success of the processed food industry, it had nearly doubled to 118 lbs. and by 1990 it was a whopping 137.5 pounds per year. Almost all processed foods contain refined sugar. The labels may say, sucrose, dextrose or high fructose corn syrup but it's all pure sugar. Refined white flour is almost as bad, acting in our bodies much like white sugar - empty calories with little nutritional value and none of the necessary fiber provided by whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.
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This nutritionally poor diet is apparently affecting the physical, mental and spiritual health of America's children.
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Although not all of our problems can be attributed to poor nutrition it is interesting to note that studies of primitive societies that adopt the western diet have revealed the sudden development of the same kinds of physical, social and emotional problems that plague our society.
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The following grim statistics exemplify what is happening to the health of America's children.
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Lung disease:
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Over 5 million children in the United States suffer from asthma. It is the third most common cause of permanent disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. Asthma, by the way is an allergic reaction to substances in the air or the diet.
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There is also an increase in the number of children and young adults being diagnosed with lung cancer.
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Obesity:
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Studies show that 1/4 to 1/3 of all children in the United States are overweight Obesity can and often does, lead to significant health problems including diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and diminished self-esteem.
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Diabetes:
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Nearly 16 million American have diabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Almost 20% of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes in children are type II diabetes. That means that it is the result of lifestyle, not heredity, and most specifically, diet. Type II diabetes in children was almost unheard of even ten years ago.
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Cholesterol and Heart Disease:
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Elevated cholesterol levels often start in childhood and these elevated levels in childhood increase the risk of atherosclerosis, the cause of heart attacks and strokes. Atherosclerosis has been found in children as young as 2 years old and research has shown that 2% of young men between the ages of 15 and 19 have advanced coronary artery disease.
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Cancer:
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Cancer is the third most common cause of death among children 18 years and younger, led only by injuries and homicides. It is the leading cause of death from disease in children age 1 through 19. The incidence rate of all childhood cancers combined has increased since the early 1970's when rates were first measured by the National Cancer Institute, although death rates have declined due to improved treatment techniques. From: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures 2000
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Depression:
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Once thought of strictly as an adult illness, depression now affects 3 to 6 million children in America. Although diet is undoubtedly not the only contributing factor, some strong correlations have been made between mood disorders and sensitivities to refined products in the diet.
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Attention Deficit Disorder:
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This condition affects from 3 to 10 percent of American children. It may be referred to as hyperactivity, minimal brain dysfunction, minimal brain damage and hyperkinetic syndrome. ADD is a child's inability to concentrate, learn and maintain a normal level of activity. Some strong ties have been made between diet and Attention Deficit Disorder.
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Several months ago the cover article in Time Magazine was about early puberty in American girls. A significant percentage (especially in the African American population) of girls in this country are going into puberty by the age of 8 and many even younger. One of the leading suspects as to the cause of this condition is the hormones in our meat and dairy products.
(Note: This article was published in March 2001)
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These are some of the devastating ways in which our processed, refined, sugar and fat- laden diet is affecting our children. Maybe it's time we took back control of the way we eat and what we feed our children.
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This article is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this publication is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or health-care provider before starting any new diet or procedure involving your health. Prompt professional medical guidance is recommended for any health problem.