Literature Review : My Healthy Food

Herman, D. R., Harrison, G. G., Afifi, A. A., & Jenks, E. (2008, January). Effect of a targeted subsidy on intake of fruits and vegetables among low-income women in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. American Journal of Public Health, 98(1), 98-106. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.079418

Eating healthy is important for many reasons, it will promote intellectual development in children and adolescents prevent major health problems from developing and ensure a long and healthy life style. This research paper will introduce the importance of forming a healthy eating habit from a young age onto the senior years and will also point out some of the negative effects not eating healthy can cause such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, iron deficiency anemia, dental caries, under-nutrition, and eating disorders.

Western culture has no more focused on the importance of food; rather it focuses on making money and providing large buffets that are easily accessible. However, it is not our fault, society has pushed Americans into believing that “healthy” foods are overpriced and are not much beneficial to you. Both statements are false; Pollan argues that healthy foods are too expensive because

Understanding the effects of poor and efficient eating habits and how to manage your health is crucial to the existence of a healthy population in the America. To understand these approaches, one has to understand some of the poor eating habits witnessed on most people in the United States. Paula (2015) states that only ten percent of the entire American population follow a daily diet consistent with the federal nutrient recommendations. Other than following the required nutrition, most people prefer meals rich in trans-fats, salt, saturated fat, and sugar and ignore fruits, vegetables, and fiber. The increased preference of poor nutrition contributes a total of four out of six in

According to America's Health Rankings 2017 Annual Report (2017), "the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study showed a 27 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality in those consuming fruits and vegetables three or more times daily compared with those eating them less than once daily" (p.95). However, the percentage of people who do not eat three or more fruits or vegetables per week increased from 75.7% in 2013 to 79% in 2016. The rate of people not exercising at all increased from 12.8% in 2013 to 24% in 2016 (Holy Redeemer Hospital 2016 community health needs assessment,

Individuals who live in low-income areas have to rely heavily on fast food and cheap food from convenience stores because it is the only food close and affordable to them. People in poor neighborhoods are, “Confronted with a high concentration of poor diet choices” and, “End up eating a less healthy diet” because, “Few markets” offer, “Fresh fruit and vegetables” (Cortright 1). Even if

Michael Pollan, the author of “In Defense of Food”, is a journalist, who is engrossed in nutritional science as well as its history. By writing this book, Pollan tries to undermine the food industries and health-claiming campaigns and inform us how they misled us about the way we should eat. The low-fat campaign is an example of this, and as said on page 43 of the book, “the low-fat campaign has been based on little scientific evidence and may have caused unintended health consequences.” In the book, Pollan speaks from the perspective of a journalist who wants to share his ideas and discoveries about nutrition. He sounds a little bemused and apprehensive at the same time. When talking about plant foods on page 64, he tries to understand what

When judging the authority of a document, it is important that individuals judge where the information is coming from. Not everyone is qualified to make certain claims or provide information on a topic. When judging the information that is found online, one must ensure that the author and publisher of the material is an expert in the field. It is critical to locate the author of a website’s article, although some not all credible articles carry an author’s name. When this is done, judging the authority of the article will be based on the publishers of the website. This article about healthy eating was taken from the HelpGuide website. The information in this article can be trusted because when judging the authority, all the necessary

The Quad Cities Area adult population generally fails to meet the USDA’s recommended dietary guideline of consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, with only 35.7% reporting meeting these guidelines (Professional Research Consultants, 2015). This policy analysis will review current community efforts within the Quad Cities area that are concentrating on improving fruit and vegetable consumption of area adults. Additional policy options to help increase access, knowledge and skills regarding fruit and vegetable consumption will also be reviewed in terms of strengths, weaknesses, feasibility, and economic impact.

For numerous amounts of people, fruits and vegetables may take a backseat to other foods such as junk food, but for many these healthy food choices are just not options. This is a very widespread issue that has swept the nation and the individual cities that formulate it. In particular, the lack of food security in Columbus, Ohio has had devastating effects for many residents, especially those who live in rural areas and the many underserved communities. These effects include being more prone to chronic diseases and unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements. For adults “Twenty-five percent of Franklin County, Ohio, adults say they don’t eat five servings of foods and vegetables each day” (NLC). The residents of Columbus City should be able

“Food is life. It is necessity and pleasure, family and community, culture and power.” Food is what lets us take a break during the day, and most importantly, healthy food gets us ready and energized for the busy day ahead. However, many Americans do not have access to healthy foods. Many low-income communities in the inner cities do not have access to healthy foods. Many of these communities live more than a mile away from a supermarket and transportation is often unavailable. Even when transportation is available, or one lives close to a supermarket, purchasing healthy food and fresh produce can be very expensive. Many people end up buying unhealthy food products from their local corner stores, which can’t afford to stock healthy fruits and vegetables like large grocery stores. Lack of access to healthy food is a race issue. Disproportionate access to healthy foods between whites and African Americans is extremely common. The data shows that African Americans have greater health issues and limited access to healthy food. Obesity rates are 50% higher for

In this case, socioeconomic factors, especially education and income, are key contributors to poor nutrition and lifestyle behaviors. Greg Critser points out studies which show that the effects of socioeconomic status on disparities are stronger than those of race and ethnicity . Regardless of which characteristic might be a stronger contributor to diet-related disparities, the significance of socioeconomic factors cannot be exaggerated. For example, level of education impacts knowledge of dietary recommendations and skills to make healthy food choices , while income influences whether a person have access to healthier foods at a price they can afford. When people move from middle to low socioeconomic status food choices shift toward cheaper, but more energy-dense foods. Low socioeconomic status leads to consuming high calorie food and avoiding physical

Throughout our entire lives, we have been convinced to eat “healthy” so that we can live a longer and happier life with low risks of diseases and cancers. However, what does it really mean to eat “healthy” since there are many health claims that are confusing us about what we should or shouldn’t eat. With the cloud of confusion revolving a “healthy” diet, Michael Pollan, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, writes “Unhappy Meals” detailing what it means to eat healthy. Although eating healthy is essential, there are factors that play a role into a person’s diet. For instance, in what ways does income affect an adult’s decision to eating “healthy?” Many people assume that a person’s ability to eat healthy is based on their

According to the study, it seems that both lower-income families, as well as families with high income, have been cutting down on calories, lately. While this is fantastic news, doctors say that there is still a lot more to carry

Over one-third or 78.6 million of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity and childhood obesity, in particular, are the focus of many public health efforts in the United States. New regulations have been implemented by the US Department of Agriculture for food packages in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded state- and community-level interventions, and there have been numerous reports and recommendations issued by the Institute of Medicine, the US Surgeon General, and the White House. According to Polis, Many people assert that unhealthy eating habits are the result of economic hardship. They say that healthful food is simply more expensive than unhealthful food. Now, science backs them up. The most comprehensive study of its kind indicates that yes, unhealthy food is about $1.50 cheaper per day, or about $550 per year, than healthy food. In a meta-review of 27 studies in 10 countries, researchers publishing in the British Medical Journal found that meats and proteins had the largest price differences, with healthier options costing an average $0.29 more per serving than less healthy options. Other categories such as snacks/sweets and grains also cost more for healthier options, at $0.12 and $0.03 respectively. No significant price differences were seen between healthier and less healthy soda and juices. Research and