Fruits and Vegetables as an Alternative - Essay Example

Increase of fruit and vegetable consumption by promoting them as an alternative to less healthy snacks. Introduction Several foods and nutrients have been implicated in the development of health related problems. With the advancement of science and technology, scientists are revealing new diseases caused by lack of and excess intake of healthy foods. Varied dietary patterns at workplace and indulging in instant food supplements have led a couple of people to believe that women were prone to colon and rectal cancers. "Fung, Hu, Fuchs, Gioannucci, Hunter, Stampfer, Colditz, and Willet in "Programs in Nutrition", Simmons College, have in a major discovery found that several foods and nutrients have been implicated in the development of colon and rectal cancers. Using dietary information collected in 1984, 1986, 1990, and 1994 from 76 402 women aged 38 to 63 years without a history of cancer in 1984, they conducted factor analysis and classified then into 2 distinct dietary patterns: Prudent Western They calculated factor scores for each participant and examined prospectively the associations between their dietary patterns and colon and rectal cancer risks. Quite astonishingly, the results were quite alarming. The prudent pattern was characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains, while the Western pattern, was characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meats, sweets and desserts, French fries, and refined grains. During 12 years of follow-up, they identified 445 cases of colon cancer and 101 cases of rectal cancer. After adjusting for potential confounders, they observed a relative risk for colon cancer of 1.46 (95% confidence interval, 0.97-2.19) when comparing the highest with the lowest quintiles of the Western pattern (P value for trend across quintiles, .02). The prudent pattern had a non-significant inverse association with colon cancer (relative risk for fifth quintile compared with the first, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-1.00; P for trend across quintiles, .31). They did not observe any significant association between dietary patterns and rectal cancer. They concluded saying that they found a significant positive association between the Western dietary pattern and the risk of colon cancer."( Fung, Hu, Fuchs, Gioannucci, Hunter, Stampfer, Colditz, and Willet, Programs in Nutrition, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA. fung@simmons.edu).1 This paper is targeted at the time-starved office-goers and health conscious people. African Americans have a higher risk for almost all heart-related diseases compared to the native whites for the simple reason that they consume less to moderate amount of fruits and vegetables. Heart disease, obesity, blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes are common forms of disease that can affect them more. Fruits and vegetables provide abundant vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy body. There are distinct advantages in consuming fruits and vegetables compared to the less healthy snacks. Phy-to-chemicals Despite the fact that we come across food that fills our palate and is easy on the pocket at every street corner, it must be said that most of these food supplements may not be as healthy as one would expect it to be. Fast foods are a mixture of fatty and less healthy substances. This does not in any way take away the gullible replenishment of the youth and office goers. Life on the fast track can be unforgiving. Where does one have the time and inclination to spend time looking for a health specific menu when time is their biggest enemy Walking up to a restaurant to grab a quick bite may sound a tempting proposition, but the fact remains that not all these food are as healthy and nourishing as we think. The gradual side effects could be more harmful and painful than a more planned intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. A growing body of research proved that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. In fact, fruits and vegetables should be the foundation of a healthy diet. Most people need to double the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat every day. "Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. Because they're low in calories and high in fiber, fruits and vegetables can help control weight. Our hectic schedule requires food that's nutritious, energizing, and easy to eat on-the-go. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients to keep going. Phytochemicals help "fight" external foreign bodies that attack vital organs of the body. Phytochemicals are usually related to color. Fruits and vegetables that are green, yellow-orange, red, blue-purple, and white contain their own combination of phytochemicals and nutrients that work together to promote good health. A phytochemical can act as an antioxidant, stimulate detoxification enzymes, stimulate the immune system, positively affect hormones, and act as an antibacterial or antiviral agents" (The Power of Phytochemicals, http://www.5aday.gov)2 Carbohydrates are obtained mainly from plant sources like wheat, maize, potatoes, and fruits. The three type of carbohydrates starch, sugar and cellulose provide energy but cellulose also called roughages, are a fibrous substance found in raw vegetables and fruits. It helps in retaining water in the body and prevents constipation. Fats are obtained from butter, ghee, cheese, egg yoke, meat, nuts, and so on. Fats provide more energy when compared to carbohydrates. The body needs minerals for normal growth and good health. Minerals are derived from green leafy vegetables, whole gram, cereals, and groundnuts. What's New What do we do when the stomach revolts Run to the nearest fast food restaurant and take a quick bite. Cheeseburgers, fried fish sandwiches, French fries, pastries, and shakes welcome us with a temptation. Rarely do we think of the consequences of over-indulging. After all they come cheap, and why not For the man on the move, time he has none to think about his next bite. So over-indulging becomes a necessity. Pause for a moment and think of the amount of calories consumed. How do we burn the excess calorie Exercise of course! Do we have the time to exercise when every single minute is precious and accountable But does fast food really have to mean a not-so-healthy meal Fast food has become a regular part of our fast-paced, convenience driven culture. Fast food can fit into a healthy lifestyle. The secret is to know what to choose. "Fast food is easy, and as long as you can resist the tactics they use to encourage you to overeat, such as meal deals, super-sizing and two for one offers, its advantages can help you to eat better", says Warshaw (Keeping Healthy in the Fast Lane- How to Make Better Fast Food Choices)3 He tips people on what they should do to avoid obesity and maintain good health: Practice portion control--choose small, regular, junior or single sizes. Make special requests to avoid hidden calories such as mayonnaise and "special sauces." Split and share with no extra charges. No hard-to-resist high-calorie "nibbles" greet you at the table. AvoidDessert is not a focal point of the menu. Nutrition information is available. Hope S.Warshaw further says that there is no harm in eating fast food as long as one is aware of the nutritional information. Pick and choose can be a laborious task considering the time available at one's disposal. It would be rather taxing to go through pages and pages of the menu sorting out the right dish that could be right for the occasion. The basic idea of a fast food is thus lost. This is fine when one has the time to relax after a hard day's work. In any event, nothing can substitute fine vegetables and fruits to keep one healthy and fit. The Campaign "African American 5 a Day Holds Meetings to Empower Local Residents" cried, last months edition of Fresh Facts, through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program, the campaign was targeted at the local African Americans to eat healthy food. "The California African American 5 a Day Campaign empowered local residents to eat healthy and get active during a series of regional Black History Month Consumer Empowerment Forums last month. The forums were organized in low-income neighborhoods in San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, the Bay Area and San Bernardino after a recent survey in these regions found 84 percent of African Americans did not meet the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetable intake"(Fresh Facts, African American 5 a Day Holds Meetings to Empower Local Residents)4. Major disparities in cardiovascular disease risk exist among population groups. An unhealthy trend in death and disability from cardiovascular disease can be found in minority and low-income populations. This is due to their eating habits. Differences also exist in the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors. An observation made was that racial and ethnic minorities suffered from hypertension, they tend to develop hypertension at earlier ages, and were less likely to undergo treatment to control their high blood pressure. The same could be said of cholesterol too, with some racial and ethnic minorities showing high level. Consistent with Healthy People 2010, eliminating racial and ethnic differences in health will require enhanced efforts by the agencies to prevent diseases promote health and deliver appropriate care. This will be by no means an easy task. Educating the uneducated and the ethnic minorities is indeed a challenge that may require the whole support of the community that we live in. "The age adjusted 1999 death rate from cardiovascular disease in New York for Blacks was 381 per 100,000. This by far exceeded that of Whites by about 4% at 367 per 100,000. The most pronounced differences in cardiovascular disease death rates were seen among those aged between 35 and 74 years. The death rate for Blacks in this age group exceeded that of Whites by almost 30% at 320 to 247 per 100,000. This was about three times that of the other race groups at 320 to 103 per 100,000." (Special Populations, Cardiovascular Health in New York State: A Plan for 2004-2010).5 It can thus be seen that major players are coming forward to create and implement schemes that will not only enhance longevity and good health of the ethnic minorities and African Americans, but also educate these people on the importance of good eating habits. The department of health reckons that low Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation could lead to a loss in federal dollars spent in communities, a decrease in local economic activity and general fund revenue, and an increase in health costs associated with nutrition-related problems. "Oregon State was declared as the best state for implementing the FSP in 2003. If similar performance is registered in California, it would help reduce the local exchequer of $8.4 billion a year spent on health care and lost productivity associated with nutrition related problems such as obesity"(Despite Increase in Food Insecurity, Food Stamp Program Experiences Decrease in Participation, Fresh Facts, March 2006).6 The campaign needs to gain ground. This can be done by developing a scheme to implement this project at all major and minor cities and towns. Community services will have to be introduced to include all citizens of the country. Planning and Execution of Strategy The first step to implement such a project would be to begin at the grass-root level. This would include bringing programs under the umbrella of "Health is Wealth". Cultural programs and events that attract kids and elders alike could be staged at prominent spots within the city at a convenient time. Hospitals and Institutions can be included to sponsor such programs that will give impetus to the scheme. Office-goers can be targeted at street level as well. All-in-all, the program will gather momentum and grow in popularity. The caption of health is wealth will attract the common man. Medical bills will fall, more time for a happy and healthy working atmosphere will accrue, and income level of the common will rise. In all a happy picture for the nation at large. Schools should be the first target. Educating them could lead to a strong foundation that can help save the nation billions of dollars in the years to come. Children can help spread the word of good health among family and friends. This will mitigate the work of social organizations. How can schools be targeted Have celebrities take the cue from here. "Jerry Rice, NFL Hall of Fame, and recent contestant on the popular ABC reality series "Dancing with the Stars", spoke to students about the importance of eating healthy and staying active at a recent Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) event on January 25. Rice helped kick off the LAUSD "Focus on Fitness Week," a week dedicated to helping students gain a deeper level of understanding about the importance of being active, maintaining healthy eating habits and developing positive social skills that will enable them to enjoy a lifelong physically active lifestyle. He spoke about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and getting 60 minutes of "power play" everyday. Rice even treated them to a few quick dance moves to highlight that being active could be fun" (Former NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice Kicks off the LAUSD's "Focus on Fitness" Week, Fresh Facts, March 2006).7 Conclusion The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has long spearheaded initiatives to motivate Americans of all ages to become more active, and eat healthier foods and adopt healthier behaviors. It has instigated efforts and resources of many public and private health organizations, institutions, the media, the food industry and many other individuals to promote healthier lifestyle. Sesame workshop, the fresh fruits and vegetables association, Lifetime Television and celebrities like jerry Rice have come forward to inculcate the message of healthy eating. With continued public support, new campaign launches, program monitoring and evaluation efforts, the healthy lifestyle should continue for years to come. One media campaign, regardless of its innovativeness, is not sufficient to raise public awareness of the importance of eating healthy food. Effective health prevention strategies and health communications must be varied, highly visible and repeated frequently. With a broad-based and integrated effort across both public and private sectors, building and maintaining healthier lifestyle should be the expected social norm and not the exception of Americans in the 21st century. Reference Major dietary patterns and the risk of colorectal cancer in women, Fung T, Hu FB, Fuchs C, Giovannucci E, Hunter DJ, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Programs in Nutrition, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA., fung@simmons.edu, http://scholar.google.com-Entrez PunMed The Power of Phytochemicals, http://www.5aday.gov Hope S. Warshaw, Keeping Healthy in the Fast Lane- How to Make Better Fast Food Choices, http://www.diabetesdigest.com Fresh Facts, African American 5 a Day Holds Meetings to Empower Local Residents, www.dhs.ca.gov-Five a Day Special Populations, Cardiovascular Health in New York State: A Plan for 2004-2010, www.health.state.ny.us www.smallstep.gov/pdf/obesity_whitepaperfinal_71205.pdf Read More