Nutrition And Health In The United States

"Survey Finds Americans Lack Basic Nutrition Information." The PhysiciansCommittee. N.p., 04 June 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2017.

Improving the health conditions of the American population ensures the increased quality of life. People eat for various reasons with the fundamental reason being for survival purposes. However, the issue of eating to live and living to eat affects people in different manners as most people develop poor eating habits that affect the body’s nutritional intake and affects their health. Being healthy involves careful considerations of what one is eating and engaging in activities that contribute to better healthy lives that do not imply daily prescriptions or

After reading chapters 15 and 21 in our Current Issues and Enduring Questions book and viewing Forks Over Knives, I am afraid I do not see this worrisome food issue in America improving in the near future. Obesity is a known epidemic and it is widespread throughout the entire country. According to the documentary film, Forks Over Knives, “We spend $2.2 trillion a year on healthcare: over five times more than the defense budget.” This quote reveals the issue regarding the state of health and by maintaining a healthier diet not only do people benefit, but the government does as well. The current relationship between food and health industries brings an uncertainty that should be seen as a critical concern to the eyes of the public. Too many people

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

Nutrition is the science of our intake and utilization of food. Proper nutrition can help prevent or lessen the instances of disease. Improper nutrition can lead to a weakened immune system and even disease. In fact, A poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are known to be risk factors for life-threatening chronic diseases such as cardiovascular (heart) disease, hypertension, diabetes,

The real conflict behind the standard American poor diet are mostly about the habit of eating fast food, refined and processed food which are all high-fat, empty carbohydrate, reduced nutrients and lack of fiber which lead to slowed digestion. As the number one rank country for obesity in the whole wide world, medication finance is also a problem, there are more than estimated 25 billion dollars being spent for medical charges and lost productivity for

For such a long time, hunger still remains a complicated issue in America. Unlike other countries, hunger in America is not just getting enough food, but rather getting the right food and making the right choices. This project is a perfect example of how difficult it is to create a balance and nutritional meal on a tight budget. For starter, individuals who are under this program might have to sacrifice for some of the less nutritional food if they want to stay under the budget, which might results in some long term effects on the individual’s health. Instead of being able to purchase fresh fruits and leaner cuts of meat every day, I was forced to purchase cheap products that are nowhere close to today’s nutritional standards. Now, it wouldn’t

America is a developed, first world nation. The United States as a whole has had access to an ample supply of most healthy food staples since the end of rationing after World War II. ("World War II on the home front: Rationing") Since 1960, however, a health concern has taken a stronghold in America that is just as life-threatening as the food shortages of the 1930s and 40s: obesity. ("Publication of "Health, United States, 2002 With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans"", p. 29) Americans are obese in greater numbers today than at any time in history. Access to food is greater than ever, yet, access to benefits like the federal government’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and local food sources have done little to solve the problem. (McWilliams) With attention to overcoming food deserts in inner cities, availability of food

It is also clear that there is evidence that shows a great need in improving people of low-socioeconomic status health because the government has been making efforts. However, what have not been addressed are the barriers that people in low-income communities still face even with government resources. Furthermore, it is also clear that the government saw the importance of making sure that low income families had access to health care when they created Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. While access to health care is also a very important piece to a healthy lifestyle, it also becomes counterproductive when people still continue to have a poor diet and end up having to seek medical help at some point. Giving people the chance to have a better nutrition would also help decrease the number of doctor visits for those who do seek medical attention, and for those who don’t seek medical attention it would at least keep them

Block, J. P., & Subramanian, S. V. (2015). Moving Beyond "Food Deserts": Reorienting United States Policies to Reduce Disparities in Diet Quality. Plos Medicine, 12(12), 1-9. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001914

The average American does not get enough exercise or eat the proper amount of nutrients that the body needs. These days most people eat unhealthy, processed, and sodium-filled foods that, according to the Daily Mail, are shortening American citizens’ life spans with every new generation (“Being Overweight at 40…”). Because America looks at fast food as an easy and quick option, people eat excessive amounts of this unhealthy food. Because of this, Americans

The nutrients in food are something that a human cannot live without, yet so many people are deprived of a nutritious diet. Healthy eating habits are hard for many to obtain with the economy being as bad as it is. Healthy food is pricey and many low income families cannot afford the correct groceries. A healthy diet is not only costly money wise but health wise as well. Quick unhealthy meals can cause very pricey health problems. Even with assistance, finding the funds to support a nutritional diet in the United States is very difficult. Obtaining and keeping a healthy diet in the United States seams merely impossible to most citizens, with no change looking bright in the future.

The reality is that food (nutrition) is the primary factor in disease prevention and treatment, but America as a whole has forgotten that. We view food as a pleasure center, not a life giving substance. We value taste and presentation over content. We laugh at true free range pastured eggs being healthier than factory produced soy and corn fed egg products. Our recipes are full of psuedo foods that have been taken apart and recombined to please the pallet instead of feed the body.

It is not always easy to access healthier food choices due to location or cost for some of the struggling families in the United States. The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors addresses the need for a “population-bases public health strategy” that will reach everyone in the community (Why We Need). In the article “Why we need Public Health to Improve Healthcare,” the National Association of Chronic Disease Directions give 6 “Keys to Progress.” Theses keys are health in all policies, health promotion to ensure better choices, working with all ages, procced based on science, address disparities, and adjust proportion of the issues for

According to the World Health Organization, “Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs. Good nutrition – an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity – is a cornerstone of good health. Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity. (World Health Organization, 2012) ”