The American diet underwent a major change in the 1970s. Food turned into Industrialized products, such as potatoes becoming chips. And the consumption of meat greatly increased—slow food became fast food with convenience, taste and availability making it almost irresistible. Today only seven percent of our calories are provided by foods-as-grown, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. The rest comes from refined and prepackaged foods (51%), and dairy and animal products (42%).
Changing attitudes
As people learn that refinement robs food of most of its fiber and nutrients, and processing adds calories, subtracts nutrition and contributes scores of chemical additives, many are willing to make changes.
People are also realizing that meat and dairy products should be used sparingly. While they carry nutrients, most of them are too high in fat, cholesterol, animal protein and calories. And often they are loaded with hormones and pesticides, and they contain virtually no fiber.
Changing dietary choices
Intelligent people are increasingly giving up their preoccupation with rich animal products and processed foods. Instead, they are eating more unrefined complex carbohydrates—whole plant foods, such as legumes and whole grains, rich in fiber, high in nutrients yet low in calories and price.
Better health
Many people know it, and science confirms it. The road to better health and longer life detours around fast-food outlets, feedlot animals, and shops full of contrived and depleted foods. Instead, the road to better health leads back to the gardens and farmlands, to the fresh fruits and crisp vegetables, and to the kernels of golden grain.
Application
Some 100 years ago very few Americans suffered from coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer or diabetes. Today these lifestyle-related diseases account for the majority of deaths in North America. The good news is that you don’t have to become a statistic. By adopting a simpler diet and wiser lifestyle habits you can live longer and enjoy a healthier, more productive life.
Simply eating a simple, more traditional diet of foods-as-grown and walking at least 10,000 steps a day offer you the same freedom from coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer that your ancestors enjoyed. But, you will need these three essentials—
Desire: To modify a habit you must want to change. Established patterns are comfortable. To break their grip you will need a strong desire to energize yourself.
Knowledge: Desire alone can’t change entrenched lifestyle patterns. You must also know what to change and understand why you should change it. For instance, although most people want to avoid clogged arteries, achieving this is impossible without a knowledge of the harmful effects of excess cholesterol, fat and animal protein in the diet.
Skill: Just knowing what to do isn’t enough. You need to know how to do it. And then you need to practice it until the new behavior becomes automatic. Skills that promote health include learning how to cook cholesterol-free, low-fat meals, developing a program of regular exercise, reading food labels to avoid highly salted products, and becoming skilled at choosing more natural, traditional food at food outlets.
Try this simple experiment. Eat one or two servings of fresh fruit every morning for the next three weeks. Eat as many different kinds as you can find.
Your Fresh Fruit List: (Write them down in this space)
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
4. ____________________________
5. ____________________________
6. ____________________________