Is American Food That Bad for Health - Essay Example

Lecturer: Argument of American Food Usually Bad For Health Introduction American food has become the cause for the increased diseases and health deterioration for many Americans. The research indicates that at least one of every six deaths in the US is linked to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles. The average American is about and likely to die from a disease related to diet especially junk foods. Eating junk food is one of the reasons for the increased diseases and higher rates of death, in America. Over a million of Americans have been diagnosed of poor diet related diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancers, stroke, obesity and high blood pressure. The rates of food related diseases such as obesity have doubled among children and adults, as well as, tripled in youths since the year 1970s, which is surprising. Junk foods have high calories, fats and calories; thus, the need to offer health education programs in order to reduce diet related health issues. Today’s food industries produce diverse food, which they offer in the market with too much sugar, fats and sodium levels. They offer these foods in the market with the intention of making Americans to eat healthy. However, people should be aware of such food industries because such types of food brought into the market being claimed to be men, women or children’s health foods have been the cause for increased food related diseases, in America. Thesis: Although poor eating habits is the cause for poor health, the increased American fast food production industries are the major cause for increased health related diseases in America. Discussions Poor eating habits have been one of the major reasons for increased health related diseases and health complications across the globe. Eating healthfully may be one of the luxuries that human being cannot afford. According to Sato (56), poor eating habit and lack of physical activities contributes to health risks and high death rates in the society. Sato carried out research analysis in five countries in order to determine the way eating habits have been the cause for increased health complication. Thus, the he found that the weight problems and health complication were more than 20% higher in children and adults in different five countries (Sat 57). The research also compared the health eating habits and income levels in different countries and found that those countries with lower income earners were highly exposed to health risks. This is because “income level increases as the obesity decreases”; thus, many low-income states are experiencing higher health problems than their counterparts with higher income levels (Sato, 61). The increased fast food industries in American have significantly changed the eating habits and lifestyles of many Americans. The junk foods produced from fast food manufacturing industries have been the cause for increased health issues and high death rate in the American society. The research study indicates that the number of people being diagnosed with diet health related diseases have been rampart across the state (Doeg 79). The number of diabetes, hypertension and cancer among diet related diseases increases annually. This has contributed to increased government spending power on maintaining a health nation through implementing health care reform policies. The CRC Press release provided statistical analysis indicating the way obesity issues is increasing by 2 % every year, in the states (Lelieveld, Mostert and Holah 29). It also revealed the way the government has started increasing their spending power with an aim of maintaining a health nation due to increased cases of food related diseases. Thus, there is need to regulate and ban those industries producing fast foods, which have been known for the cause for the contribution and increased health issues, in the state. Blaxland (121) argues that the American fast foods are bad for health because they contain high glucose, fat and high-fructose, which drives obesity and other diseases rates high. The research further indicates that the fast food products are cheaper and others are sweeter; hence regulating appetite to the body. For instance, many beverages industries such as Coca Cola among others produce beverages that contain fructose, which affects brain region. For instance, the sweet and queen cakes contain high sugar level, which makes them sweet; thus contributing to high level of body appetite. The sweet are known for regulating hunger-related signals to the brain; thus contributing to poor eating habits (Lelieveld, Mostert and Holah 141). They also have high calories and high sugar level intake, which contributes to high blood pressure. Hence, the nutritionists recommend people to deviate from consuming food and beverages containing high fructose and instead consume those with high glucose. This is because high-fructose food and beverages are difficult to regulate one’s appetite and this may lead to health risks such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and many other diseases that may result from being overweight. Although the food production industries are profit oriented business, there is need for them to tailor their products in a manner that can meet the health benefits of people. Fast food industries have become the competitive industries; thus, many of their food products are usually bad for health. The marketers have introduced varied marketing strategies for capturing the attention of customer such as “men’s health or women’s health food” advertisement (Blaxland 51). These have contributed to increased consumption level; thus, there is need for educating the public about health eating habits. Educating people on the way they can select healthier foods and avoid being swept away by media adverts that aim to increase sales is crucial. This can enable them to make healthier consumption choices; thus reducing the incidence of health diet related diseases. The study reveals that Seventh-Day Adventists (SDAs), whose religion advocates abstinence from poultry, meat, coffee and tobacco have been offered valuable evidence about lifestyle and health. The study revealed that about half of the Americans SDAs are vegetarian; thus, they tend to be physically active more than the non-vegetarian Americans (Schlosser 34). The research further indicated that the disease related to a diet in America contributes to skyrocketing health-care costs. The annual costs of coronary bypass operations in costly estimated $ 50 million and heart disease drugs increasing to $ 15 billion (Schlosser 35). Furthermore, spending on hypertension, diabetes, stroke and cancer treatment add additional billions. Eating a lot of plant-based diet would not eliminate all these costs, but would lead to the right direction of reducing the costs associated with health problems. One of the research study estimated that being a vegetarian would save the state government from the money spent on health care provision to the public. For instance, in case obesity, which is less common in vegetarian than other non-vegetarian region, could be eliminated, the state could save more than $73 billion per annum. Although the fast foods are bad for health, lack of physical exercises is the cause of poor health and increased diseases across the state. The great deal of research reveals that people have unrealistically optimistic and skewed prospects towards a healthy lifestyle (Sato 23). Living a healthy lifestyle is not only by consuming balanced diet, but also practicing physical exercise is crucial. Many tend to forget that physical exercise or activities are crucial for the health living. Thus, there is need to educate people on the significant health living through increasing physical exercise in order to regulate body weight. Schlosser (32) argues that physical exercise is significant or maintaining the physical fitness is vital. This is because it can maintain a healthy weight, building strong muscles and health bone density. Therefore, there is need for public health care providers to raise awareness or educate the community to increase physical exercise levels. This can be done through employing effective intervention programs and carrying out campaigning programs in order to address the issue of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In conclusion, although poor eating habits is the cause for poor health, the increased American fast food production industries are the major cause for increased health related diseases in America. Many arguments have been raised on the bad health risk arising due to bad food consumption. One of the arguments is the increases consumption level of junk food from fast food production industries. This contributes to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and other diet related diseases. The increased fast food industries in American have significantly changed the eating habits and lifestyles of many Americans. Poor eating habits have been also among of the major reasons for increased health related diseases and health complications across the globe. Though the fast foods are bad for health, lack of physical exercises is the cause of poor health and increased diseases across the state. Although the fast foods are bad for health, lack of physical exercises is the cause of poor health and increased diseases across the state; thus, there is need for educating the public about living a healthy lifestyle. Work Cited Blaxland, Wendy. American Food. Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2012. Print. Doeg, Colin. Crisis Management in the Food and Drinks Industry: A Practical Approach. New York: Springer, 2005. . Lelieveld, H. L. M., M. A. Mostert, and J. T. Holah. Handbook of Hygiene Control in the Food Industry. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2005. Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print. Sato, Hajime. Management of Health Risks from Environment and Food: Policy and Politics of Health Risk Management in Five Countries : Asbestos and Bse. Dordrecht: Springer, 2010. 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