An unatural diet-discussion

HEALTH, NUTRITION: THEORY > HUMAN DIET, INDUSTRIAL > LIVING UNNATURALLY-CONSEQUENCES

Opinion Piece Living unnaturally-reaping the consequences www.naturalhub.com http://www.naturalhub.com/opinion_wrong_food_for_the_human_animal_consequences.htm

[The Natural Food Hub] [the right food for the human animal]

Childhood 0-12 Teenage 13-19 early adulthood 20-30 middle age 30-50 late middle age 50-65 old age 65-85 very old age 85-100+ Rich industrial/technical societies - chiefly Western societies at this time, although other societies will follow the same path as they too become wealthy - eat furthest from a 'human natural' diet, and degenerative disease is a silent epidemic. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA. Sudden blood clots in arteries-strokes - occur in about 500,000 people a year in the United States and for about 150,000 of those people the stroke is fatal. About 2 million Americans daily life is affected by stroke - related disabilities. About 58 million people in the United States have hypertension - a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Nearly a million cancer cases are found in the people of the United States every year. Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes, the severest forms of which causes kidney damage, limb damage, and other cardiovascular damage. 34 million adults-and increasing numbers of children-are obese, a risk factor in coronary heart disease. 1.5 million broken bones a year have been identified as partially caused by weak and brittle bones due to osteoporosis. It is estimated 20 million Americans over the age of 45 are affected by osteoporosis. The American experience is the most extreme example of a people afflicted by degenerative disease. But the pattern is the same for all Western societies.

Most people would not contest that a sedentary lifestyle, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, and an insecure, high stress environment are part of the causation of this epidemic. The proportion of blame that can be attributed directly to the diet the West eats is difficult to quantify. But the evidence from studies on mice (breeds genetically prone to develop heart disease given food with or without important antioxidants) points starkly to the involvement of a highly modified techno-industrial diet in the cause of cardio vascular diseases. Studies on the particular diets of populations around the world and the incidence of degenerative disease in those populations points to diet and degenerative diseases being strongly linked .

"[Affluent populations] habitually consume a diet that was unknown to the human species a mere ten generations ago. Compared with the diet that fuelled human evolution, the so called "affluent" diet of today has twice the amount of fat, a much higher ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, a third of the former daily fibre intake, much more sugar and sodium, fewer complex carbohydrates, and a reduced intake of micro nutrients. World - wide, the adoption of this diet has been accompanied by a major increase in coronary heart disease, stroke, various cancers, diabetes and other chronic diseases"
- 'Conquering Suffering, Enriching Humanity, The World Health Report' - WHO, Geneva 1997.
One in 10 middle-aged black women is morbidly obese, more than 100
pounds overweight, explaining at least in part why black women are four
times as likely as white women to die young of heart disease.

Lack of exercise and malnutrition are disabling many of us, killing some of us prematurely.

Malnutrition conjures up visions of loose skin draped directly on bone, stick limbed, pot bellied children with big uncomprehending eyes. This is dramatic and absolute lack of food. But the West, the richest peoples in the world, are often mal-nutured. We have food in plenty, abundant, cheap. But we choose to eat so much highly processed food, rather than natural food, that we are very often deficient in some vitamins and minerals. Overall, very many of us eat calory rich, but nutrient poor.

Many of us do not meet even the rather mean, and in my opinion unrealistically low, minimum daily vitamin and mineral intake. Worse, we have such nutrient impoverished calorie laden food that there is no buffer of vitamin and mineral saturated body tissues to draw down in times of stress, when a higher supply of vitamins than normal is needed for the physiology of coping.

These are the trends, the big picture. This is what is happening to us, our families, our lives.

Luckily, we don't have to change society, we only have to make some changes to our daily life. The more we chose natural food and exert our bodies, the less chance of being hit with degenerative disease. It is not absolute, but we stack the deck very heavily in our favor by making these changes.

Childhood 0-12

Most children no longer walk to school. A very large percentage are now dropped off by parents. Few 'wild places' now exist for children to run and play in. Parents are too concerned about criminal behaviour to allow children to play in such places anyway. Play stations, TV, and computers command our childrens immobile attention. Which suits the busy working mother. But this sedentary lifestyle, coupled with reflex empty snack calories, has seen obesity in our children skyrocket - at least 25% of children in the United States are either overweight or obese. 7% of the kids age 10-14 in the playground right now - almost all of them obese - have 'multiple risk factors' for later (type II) diabetes. These three major risk factors are: high blood pressure, high triglyceride/low high density lipoprotein (HDL) blood fat profile, and high insulin. Children who aren't obese are 53 times less likely to have these three markers for early onset of type II diabetes.

An Agricultural Research Service survey of 10,000 children found children in the 90's are eating even more calories than the '70's, 20% of which come from snacks. Chillingly, nearly two-thirds failed to get the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for vitamin E and zinc.

"...vitamin E has a novel biological anti-inflammatory effect on this crucial enzyme [5-lipoxygenase, involved in the initiation of plaque in arteries] in cells that is more than just an antioxidant effect."

Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

""The body metabolizes zinc very rapidly, it doesn't hold much useful zinc in reserve." Zinc turns on metallothionein's ability to provide protection against infections, toxic chemicals and other stressors, according to earlier tests Cousins [Professor R.J. Cousins, professor of human nutrition] and other researchers conducted on animals."

News release, University of Florida

Half the children didn't meet the RDA for calcium, at a time when calcium for bone growth is essential; nearly one-third fell didn't meet the RDA for iron and vitamin B6.

Teenage 13-19

Most teenagers no longer walk to school. A very large percentage are now dropped off by parents, or have their own vehicles. Play stations, TV, and computers command our teenagers attention. The national average for TV watching alone in US children is 3 hours per day. But this sedentary lifestyle, coupled with reflex empty snack calories, has seen obesity in our teenagers skyrocket. And children who are overweight tend to turn into adults who are overweight. In several years time from now, a significant proportion of older teenagers (maybe 4% or so) will have type II diabetes.

NZ - a recent study shows that in a population of around 3.5 million, the reduction in motivation to walk, and the preference to drive even short distances on an errand, has resulted in an estimated 400,000 fewer 'walking events' per day in the general population than just ten years ago.

early adulthood 20-30

USA- 34 million adults are obese (21% of U.S. men and 27% of U.S. women are obese, across all age groups, including children.) Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Most of the 7% of people who were obese children ten years ago have now developed type II diabetes

USA-Studies in Arizona of middle-class patients attending a clinic for routine check-ups found 30 percent were 'low' in vitamin C and 6 percent were 'severely deficient'. This is likely to be typical for middle America, and much worse for those on low incomes. This low vitamin C status is an indicator of low fruit and vegetable intake. The poor blood levels of vitamin C may perhaps be exacerbated by stress (stress 'uses up' vitamin C abnormaly quickly), but whichever way you look at it, it is a form of mal-nutrition.. Fruit and vegetables have numerous protective substances that reduce our chances of developing cancer and heart disease. This result means more than 30% of us are preventably exposing ourselves to significantly increased cancer and heart disease risk.

USA-16 million of your fellow citizens are diabetic. By the time a child of yours born now reaches your age ( in about 30 years time) there will be 22 million diabetics in America (according to the United States Centre for Disease Control).

New Zealand-When you are old, at around 2050, your age group will make up about 25% of the population. Right now, old people are a mere 12% of the population. Right now, there are more children than old people. When you are old, there will be three times more old people than children! Resources to look after you will be thin. Go for a fit and healthy old age, starting now. Eat and live naturally is the single most important thing to do. It is also the least likely thing for anyone to do (especially male, who are most at risk), for societal and 'systematic' reasons.

You may be going into debt (in New Zealand) to pay for college (university) education. Debt burden to obtain a degree (which, unless it is directly vocational, is often never used, but simply a 'rite of initiation' required by employers) means you will have to work long hours to save enough to re-pay debt. Buying a home may not be possible for many years. Money is often scarce, and natural food is relatively expensive, except for seeds. Your dietary habits are likely to centre around fast food, browsing, and, unless you are living with your parents (in NZ 35% of 20-24 years now still live in the parental home, due to costs of education), you are rarely likely to prepare - or be interested in - natural food.

A recent study shows that the reduction in motivation to walk, and the preference to drive even short distances on an errand, has resulted in an estimated 400,000 fewer 'walking events' per day in the general population than just ten years ago.

middle age 30-50

Middle age is a time when health is generally very good, with relationships maturing at the younger end, and perhaps re-establishing after children have left home at the older end; in general there is more control over life than in younger years. It is now that exercise is but a distant memory, and general 'busyness' helps us put off starting an exercise programme.

Middle class and middle aged, but starting a family. This is the new pattern. In the space of a generation, the number of people in your age group having children has doubled. And you married later than a generation ago. There has been an increase in children born to the 40 year olds in 'second time round' families - new families formed after a divorce. But your parents are now in the old age group, and are increasingly suffering from degenerative diseases. You may be looking after young children, have a career to maintain an expensive mortgage, and looking after an aged parent - all at the same time. Older 'children' from the first marriage may be living with you while going to college. 'You', of course, means the female of the family. Arranging natural food for the children - who often resist it anyway - yourself and your partner, and possibly a dependant parent, is very challenging.

USA-Your children born now come into a world where there are around 35 million in the USA age 65 or older. By the time your kids reach 65, there will be more than double the number of folks age 65 or older - around 78 million people. Medical resources will be stretched, to say the least. The greatest investment you can make now is in teaching your children how to avoid degenerative disease by eating natural food.

USA-16 million of us have diabetes, either controlled by diet without insulin, or insulin dependent. More diabetes shows up in later adult life. From now through to old age, people we know in our age group will be diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

USA- 34 million adults are obese, across all age groups, and increasingly, including children. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

USA-Studies in Arizona of middle-class patients attending a clinic for routine check-ups found 30 percent were low in
vitamin C, and 6 percent were severely deficient. This is likely to be typical for middle America.This low vitamin C status is an indicator of low fruit and vegetable intake. The poor blood levels of vitamin C may perhaps be exacerbated by stress (stress 'uses up' vitamin C abnormaly quickly). Fruit and vegetables have numerous protective substances that reduce our chances of developing cancer and heart disease. This result means more than 30% of us are preventably exposing ourselves to significantly increased cancer and heart disease risk.

New Zealand-By 2025, when you can expect to retire, your age group will be larger than the number of children for the first time ever. What kind of shape will you be in when you ask them to look after you? Re - building health can start any time, but changes don't necessarily have to be dramatic. They can be daily small changes which increment positively over time. The earlier you start, the better the long term pay off. Simply walking to the store is important. A recent study shows that the reduction in motivation to walk, and the preference to drive even short distances on an errand, has resulted in an estimated 400,000 fewer 'walking events' per day in the general population than just ten years ago.

late middle age 50-65

It is generally only now that the effects of lifelong 'mal nutrition' start to show in symptoms of degenerative diseases. This is, of course, certainly not an inevitability, it depends on your lifelong food choices, exercise levels, genetics, stress levels, and luck. But for very many of us on the standard western diet, the statistics show we will be affected to greater or lesser degree.
If you are a woman, it is quite possible you are looking after a dependant relative of advanced age. You may still have 'adult children' at home. Your partner may be at relatively high risk for heart disease. Sometimes this can be the deciding factor in convincing family to start selecting more and more natural food.

It is never 'too late' to change eating habits. The Lyon Heart Study followed 400 people who, after their first heart attack made simple dietary changes eating a 'Mediterranean' diet based on including generous amounts of fish, beans, fruit, vegetables and monounsaturated oils such as olive oil. Those following this simple change in eating patterns reduced their risk of another heart attack by between 50 to 70 percent.

USA-half a million of us will 'have a stroke' this year, probably mostly in this age group and the next. How disabled we are by it depends on it's severity and location. Our partners, or our grown up family, will have to cope.
About 150,000 of us, mostly in this and the next age group, will die from it.

58 million Americans have hypertension-a risk factor for heart disease. And it is generally in late middle age that hypertension is first identified. For many, it is the start of long term symptom treatment through daily medication.

USA-11 million of us have diabetes, either controlled by diet without insulin, or insulin dependent.. From now through to old age, people we know in our age group will be diagnosed with diabetes. For some people with severe and longstanding diabetes, kidney damage will mean a lifetime of regular dialysis. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

USA- 34 million adults are obese, across all age groups. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

USA-20 million American citizens over the age of 45 are affected by osteoporosis. This causes 'brittle' bones that break easily relative to the unaffected.
The average 50-year old American woman runs a 17.5% chance of breaking her hip. Yet those women who eat more than 70 grams of animal protein (cheese, eggs, milk, fish, meat) per day have five times less risk than those who eat the least animal protein.

old age 65-85 The 'third age', the move from full time paid employment to 'a healthy and productive retirement'

A female born in the West can expect to live to about 80, on average. By 2030, the pundits say the average female life expectancy will be 87. Life expectancy is increasing. One researcher, at least, believes that "the average health of a future 85-year-old in the year 2040 [will] resembles that of a current 70-year-old with relatively modest needs for acute and long-term care." But the quality of life, in the sense of 'wellness', for the population as a whole is not necessarily increasing. But for that portion of the population eating naturally, general 'wellness' almost certainly is. Sensible natural living will make for a better old age. Numerous studies have shown improvement in the quality of life with the inclusion of vitamins and minerals to compensate for the deficient Western industrial diet, especially as digestive efficiency and appetite naturally become poorer with age.

But it is never 'too late' to change eating habits. The Lyon Heart Study followed 400 people who, after their first heart attack made simple dietary changes - eating a 'Mediterranean' diet based on including generous amounts of fish, beans, fruit, vegetables and monounsaturated oils such as olive oil. Those following this simple change in eating patterns reduced their risk of another heart attack by between 50 to 70 percent. Supplements such as omega-3, vitamin E, and lecithin can also help reduce the risk. And, incidentally, it was also found that the people in the Lyon Study had a 61 % reduced risk of cancer .

In New Zealand, our age group make up about 12% of the total population at this time.

USA-half a million of us will 'have a stroke' this year, probably mostly in this age group and in the late middle aged. How disabled we are by it depends on it's severity and location. Our partners, or our grown up family, will have to cope. If we are providing free child care to help our children hold a career, our children will suffer a double blow - managing a career while raising children, and doing as much as possible to help a now disabled parent.
About 150,000 of us will die from stroke. If we are left alone, we may need to look to live with our children or more suitable accomodation.

58 million Americans have hypertension-a risk factor for heart disease. For most of us, by old age daily medication for symptoms of hypertension, arthritis, and poor cardiovascular function has become the routine.

USA-11 million of us have diabetes, either controlled by diet without insulin, or insulin dependent. For some people with severe and longstanding diabetes, kidney damage will mean regular dialysis. Sadly, in a portion of these severe cases, sometimes the damage is too advanced for dialysis to be effective. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

USA- 34 million adults are obese, across all age groups. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

USA-20 million American citizens over the age of 45 are affected by osteoporosis. This causes 'brittle' bones that break easily relative to unaffected people. By the 'third age', if the diet hasn't been amended to do what can be done at this late stage to re-mineralize the bone structure, broken bones, including the debilitating effects of broken 'neck' of femur (the top of the thigh bone, near where it joins to the pelvis) become more common and more serious.

very old age 85-100+ The 'fourth age', dependant, many body systems affected by natural degeneration

Quality of life toward the end can be significantly influenced by nutritional status. The better prepared over the preceding decades, the better quality life, all other things being equal. Even with terminal illness, it has been found that enhanced nutritional status means better quality for longer, better coping with the illness.