Processed Foods – A country’s destruction
In 1940, a group of islands in the South Pacific were considered some of the healthiest people in the world. Their obesity rates were non-existent, cancer and other diseases were rare. They led very happy, healthy and simple lives. They ate pork, fish, island vegetables and coconuts.
Then World War II began. America began using several islands in the South Pacific as stopping points where they would re-fuel and feed our men in the military. The islands simply could not produce enough traditional island food for our military. So America decided to help.
We began shipping large quantities of rice, flour, sugar, tobacco and beer. The islands were now able to feed our military. Unfortunately the island natives began eating this way. Today…
Today…’Sad’ is the only word I can think of. When I discovered this group of islands and their story, I was shocked. After I learned what we were responsible for I was disturbed. America changed their eating habits.
They went from eating natural foods to our processed staples which have a very long shelf life and are inexpensive…flour, sugar, white rice, tobacco, beer. And now their obesity rates are around 80%, type 2 diabetes hovers around 60%. Children as young as 10 years old are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Folks, type 2 diabetes usually occurs around age 40. This is ‘self-induced’ diabetes which occurs due to diet…not genetics. Type 1 Diabetes is Juvenile diabetes and occurs within the first few years of life. Cancer and other diseases (syndrome X) have exploded through the roof.
Just Google ‘Pacific Islands Obesity’ and you will see the proof.
So, let’s look at another source of my research. Weston Price was a dentist who traveled around the world as a missionary about 100 years ago. He became very curious as he noticed some civilizations were extremely healthy while others were not. In 1939 Price published a book detailing his global travels studying the diets and nutrition of various cultures, coming to the conclusion that so-called Western diet was the cause of many diseases and consequently physical health was heavily influenced by nutritional factors. Basically Price says this ‘Countries who eat natural foods, fats, meats, vegetables, nuts, etc, are healthy while countries who eat processed food, sugar (or sugar derivatives like fructose in a lot of fruits) and most of the grains tend to experience obesity and health problems’.
These are not ‘group studies’ observed over 20 days or even 12 months. These are civilizations with hundreds or thousands of years with historical trends. Think about this…here’s a guy in 1939 who has simply made observations in his journal. Nothing to sell, TV was not around so fame was not a motive. Nothing to prove, no one to argue or debate with. Nothing to gain.
Again, just simple observations. Price also noted that the healthiest people around the world ate animal fat. What? Huh? Wait! You say…”But that’s saturated animal fat!”. That cannot be so.
Ahhh, but it is. I highly recommend you visiting The Weston A Price foundation website. It’s informative and life changing.
Something to think about…before 1960, America was healthy with very little obesity. Processed food was rare and sugar was rarely consumed. I grew up in the 60’s and recall eating candy about once a week or every other week. A coke (soda pop) was a weekly or monthly treat. Lean Cuisines, Special K, Dannon Yogurt, Trail mix…none of these ‘healthy foods’ were around.
When I speak to large groups I use an illustration which shocks everyone. It goes something like this…The typical female believes that a bowl of Special K in skim milk, a 12oz glass of OJ and yogurt is the ultimate all American healthy breakfast. Then I ask them “Which has more sugar…this breakfast or 3 cans of coke?”. When I tell them they are literally the same there’s a long silence of disbelief. I then show them the labels on a big screen and every single time there’s a gasp followed by a bunch of whispering.
Here are the facts:
Skim Milk & Special K Cereal = 48g of sugar
12oz Orange Juice = 33g of sugar
Lucerne low fat yogurt = 32g sugar
America’s ‘Healthy’ breakfast – 113g sugar
Compare to 3 – 12oz sodas – 114g sugar
The lesson here? Since 1970, America’s obesity has been blamed on fat and ‘calories’. Yet there’s no proof that either are valid. Our consumption of processed starches and sugar (and sugar derivatives like fructose, corn derivatives, etc.) has skyrocketed.
Being a businessman I have learned that big money is like a big train. You get in front of it…you get crushed. If anyone accuses Kraft, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Nabisco, Conagra, Coca Cola, etc, etc. of being responsible in part for our obesity, they have the resources to diffuse the rumor and crush the whistle blowing source. No, I do not believe in conspiracies but this train has been on the wrong track for 35 years now. It’s going to take a movement to get us on the right track. A movement by our culture for our children. A movement back to simple foods like we use in Personal Trainer Food.
Our food is not rocket science nor does it have fat fairy dust sprinkled on it. It’s just simple, basic, great tasting food which is affordable for everyone and simple enough to change your life.
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