American Diet Research Paper

The world’s dietary functionality differs from region to region, but a consensus remains constant; americans have an unfulfilling diet overall. In other countries the have their diet scheduled for three structured meals for each day, whereas americans eat whenever their minds tell them that they are hungry. The problem with the american way is when americans eat, they eat food that is filling to the brain but not to the stomach. Americans are always on the run, therefore there is not sufficient time to prepare a structured meals; instead americans rely on fast food. This method of nourishment comes with its own set of issues, food is of a lower quality than that of a home-cooked meal. Along with that comes poor beverage quality instituted

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans,2010 contains recommendations for healthy food choices and physical activity for the nation. This report is updated and issued every 5 years by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The information that is presented is fostered by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee which consists of scientific experts. The goal of the document is to increase knowledge and to put what is learned into action by facilitating heathy eating as well as regular physical activity, with its latter purpose of improving the health of all Americans ages two years and older.

Proper nutrition is important in maintaining a long and healthy life. Most Americans are rushed due to their busy work schedules, and do not take the time to plan their diets properly. Like me, most Americans are unaware of the importance of eating a healthy diet and consume too many foods without the proper nutrients. Throughout my life I have been fortunate. I have not had any major health problems, and have been able to consume most foods without having to worry about gaining weight. These last two years, however, I started to gain weight and have become concerned with my diet. Changing my poor eating habits has been difficult for me, however, having this assignment has taught me that it is not as difficult as I previously

As much problems Americans tend to face with the diet, there are multiple solutions to help the situation. Starting with less processed

One of the most unhealthy diets in the world is that of an American. It is made up of processed foods and a good amount of television. America easily has the most fast food restaurants in the entire world. Leave it to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King or any other fast-food restaurant to serve extremely cheap and even unhealthier food at any time during the day or night. ”It tastes good so why not?” That seems to be the question many people are asking now-a-days. Because it is so easily accessible and processed, it is made to be very tasty and extremely unhealthy. Many Americans find his or herself indulging on the these fatty foods of America on a day-to-day basis. While it may taste good at the time, it has a terrible effect on your body

“Dietary patterns of Americans differ widely, but most Americans eat a diet that could best be described as in need of improvement”. Compared to other countries, the American diet is very different. I have first hand experienced how much different Americans eat from other countries. For a brief, but very beneficial and productive time, I lived in Barcelona, Spain with my host family. Over in Spain, they eat much more fresh, organic food. There was a lot more seafood in the average diet. The meal configuration over there is also different than ours. Lunch is the largest meal eaten every day; different than America, where dinner is the largest.

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)

We live in a society that is crazed in following latest diets whether it be the Mediterranean diet, the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet etc. Each day there are new discoveries displayed throughout the media regarding diets and lifestyles, yet for a society so obsessed in the healthiest trend our statistics tend to show the flying numbers at which the population is diagnosed with chronic diseases related to nutritional factors. Thus a sound nutrition is more essential than ever. In the United States at least 4 of the 10 leading causes of are directly linked to what we eat. Majority if not all of the chronic diseases have a nutritional/lifestyle component that if caught in time can be reversed. Therefore the focus of the meal plan project was to gain an understanding of one’s own personal nutritional intake by measuring calories consumed throughout the course of one week. In doing so the individual is made aware of any nutritional deficiencies or food excesses by the choices made when selecting food. The individual is able to fully grasp their individual needs by analyzing the data collected over their consumption of essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids, water and proteins. In the midst of attending class, work and club schedules, as well as inadequate sleep I hypothesize that my overall nutrition will look be a downward spiral with insufficient calories and deficiencies in minerals.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a growing concern due to its negative effect on Americans’ weight status. In The Okinawa Diet Plan: Get Leaner, Live Longer, and Never Feel Hungry Again, the Okinawa diet is suggested to be a large contributor to the low rates of obesity among centenarians living in Okinawa, Japan. In overweight adults, how does following the diet principles of the elderly people of Okinawa, Japan affect weight loss compared to following the Standard American Diet?

In a time where more and more people are cautious of their health, and are searching for a master plan to stay healthy, it is interesting to find that there has been a region that might have found that master plan, and has been living by it for years. The Mediterranean region, with their high consumption of vegetables and grains, and low consumption of meats and dairy, have created a population that have lived longer, and have suffered from less chronic diseases than any other region in the world (Nestle, 1995). On the contrary, the Western diet, with its high consumption of meats, refined sugars, and saturated fats, has influenced cultures into a way of life that has increased chronic diseases and obesity, and has made humans adapt to an environment that influences unhealthy, heavily processed foods that are negatively affecting their health (Cordain, Eaton, Sebastian, Mann, Lindeberg, Watkins, O’Keefe, Brand-Miller, 2005). These two ways of life have coexisted over the years, but have begun to influence each other, creating both positive and negative effects. The Mediterranean

Consumption of a diet with high amounts of dietary fats in mice minimizes the expression of CLOCK protein and disrupts the sleep cycle.

Realizing that it 's necessary to eat a spread of nutrient-dense food and drinks among the fundamental food teams whereas selecting food that limit the intake of saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, additional sugar and salt, in my daily diet I endeavor to consume the maximum amount as potential in line with federal recommendation. My inconsistencies are with milk and vegetables. I typically try to avoid the bad foods but I have a hard time getting quality food because it 's so expensive. As a result i 'm unable to maintain a healthy consumption habit which ends up in some deficiencies like light servings of vegetables daily, typically too much carbohydrates together tends to substitute food, excessive proteins and no carbs.

At this point, you may be asking yourself various questions on nutrition and wellness. I’m sure you know how hard it is to get a balanced diet if you have ever tried. A variation in the business of your schedule is perhaps a villain when trying to get appropriate nutrition. The bridge between this particular gap is completed through scientific research. Complexities in the science of the human body are easiest described as organized chaos. Doctors and scientists found that they would never be able to get people to take the correct amount of each food group, and even if someone did, the overall convenience would be at an all-time low. Facts such as this one led to the merging of scientists, doctors, and wellness enthusiasts to create a convenient way to achieve an easier way

The consumption of nutrient rich foods and beverages in moderation, along with the incorporation of physical activity are the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (The Academy) refers to this as the total diet approach to healthy eating. This approach is based on the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The total diet is defined as, “the combination of foods and beverages that provide energy and nutrients and constitute an individual 's complete dietary intake, on average, over time.”1 The total diet approach emphasizes that all foods can be included in a healthy diet, as long as they are in moderation and fall within their caloric limits. Under the total diet approach, foods should not be labeled as good or bad. Giving such label to a food tends to create a black or white thinking when it comes to eating healthy and ultimately resulting in an emphasis placed on individual foods or nutrients. When the isolation happens, this can lead to confusion in the consumer ultimately hindering, instead of facilitating healthy dietary patterns. Having this black or white approach is like same as having a quick fix or a magic bullet approach to weight control. As long as one stays on the diet (target behavior), the person feels in control (self-efficacy) and accomplishment. However, when the person is

“A good nutrition starts with the basics: a well-rounded diet, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and high sources of protein” I totally agree with this fact. Our overall eating pattern plays a vital role in reflecting our health. So focussing on my 7 day meal, I can say that intake of 2 fruits/day (apple,kiwi,banana,pear,orange,cantaloupe) have really helped me in providing fiber and vitamin C,A to my body. They have been my strengths and a fact that I know is that they have been helpful in maintaining my skin and hair. The level of Sodium was maintained pretty well. Drinking water in right amount is necessary as it does contain sodium depending on the source but it was one of my strength. I try to have 6-8 glasses of water everyday. It controls the way our muscles and nerves work and helps in controlling the fluid balance when body needs salts. I try my best to have control on cholesterol and sugar as everyone in my family is suffering from hereditary problems. One of the mistake I have been doing is taking in less grains. And as a result of that I’m not able to make out more calories and lacking in providing enough proteins to my muscles. Food such as quinoa,whole wheat bread/ roti, cornflakes, milk, sprouts, broccoli, carrot, beans, chopped salad, peanut butter, tofu, leafy greens seemed to be helpful but I was not able to meet the recommended target. I have decided to increase the intake of “good carbs”, fats and protein. I did not find any of the nutrients