“If Healthy Food Was Cheap I’d Buy It!”

For so long people have been chanting the mantra, “If Healthy Food Was Cheap I’d Buy It and Eat It!” I’m not sure they would because:

• People seem to eat what they want

• They have never taken the time to calculate the cost difference

• Most people don’t eat for health; they eat for taste, fullness and emotional support

• It isn’t an important priority

• There is a belief that there isn’t enough time to prepare meals with all the responsibilities they have

These five bullet points are not stated in judgement; they are bullet points explaining what consumers have shared with me regarding their HONEST feelings about FOOD.

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Eating patterns and calorie consumption has dramatically changed over the last 45 years. People are eating less “real foods” and more “food substances.” Food substances are items that offer little, if any, nutritional value and taste good, in spite of being filled with dangerous chemicals, additives and preservatives. It is worth repeating that “food substances” lack nutritional value. This means we satisfy taste and the feeling of fullness with substances that slowly starve our bodies over time. In general, this starvation is relatively painlessly for many years. The results of this gradual starvation leads to health problems commonly maintained with medications that temporarily “plug the health leaks” within our bodies. These “health leaks” include: (1) High Cholesterol, (2) Diabetes, (3) Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (4) High Blood Pressure, (5) Cancer, etc…  The reason this starvation process is so prevalent and dangerous is because

we can’t feel it happening.

There is a belief that as long as we take our medication our problems will remain in check. This means we can continue to live the damaging lifestyles because the medication is controlling our problems.

THIS IS ENTIRELY UNTRUE!!

The medication we take today TEMPORARILY puts out constant “fires” we are creating with our choices of unhealthy lifestyles.

According to Dr. Robert Glatter, M.D. in an article written in Forbes Magazine on Sept. 8th, 2015:

“nearly 50% of adults living in the U.S. have diabetes or pre-diabetes”.

He based his conclusion using research found in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Reference  follows:) Prevalence and Trends in Diabetes Among Adults in the United States 1988-2012

That means diabetes or prediabetes is now expected in approximately:

1 in 2 adults

If we look at the prevalence of cancer in adults today we expect to see approximately

1 in 2 adults

So what dramatic changes have we incorporated into our lives to improve our odds? For most of us we haven’t accepted the reality of these odds and have made little, if any, changes to our lives. One of the biggest factors we can control that influences improving our outcome is NUTRITION.

“It’s just too expensive to eat healthy!”   REALLY? Let’s compare!

TYPICAL: Subway Hero (small)

6″ Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sub (from Subway- a “healthier” choice) with a cookie or chips and a soft drink  — COST $7.15-$7.65 (Approximately 800 calories, over 260 of these calories come from added sugar, approximately 1100mg of salt {daily averages should range no higher than 1300mg-2000mg}, 5gr of fiber {daily recommended is 25-35gr.})

Better Option: Quick Home Prepared Meal

Organic 9 grain bread with 3oz of fresh turkey, 1/4 of an avocado, 1 bowl of organic lentil soup, 3 cups of organic vegetables, 1 Chocolate Peanut Butter protein bar, and 20 oz. of water  — COST $7.79 (This is my ACTUAL cost for making this meal based on my grocery bill.) (Approximately 889 calories, 30 calories from added sugar,approximately 729 mg of salt, 24gr of fiber {daily recommended is 25-35gr.})

This is just an example. I know some people don’t like turkey or avocado, etc… I used this as an example of the BIG PICTURE. Eating ORGANIC and choosing real food as healthy options (while indulging in chocolate peanut butter protein bars for “dessert”) increased the cost by $0.14-$0.65. The example I provided also reduced salt by over 33%, sugar by over 88% and increased fiber by 79%. This meal would satiate for longer than the Subway lunch example and provide real nutrition REDUCING your chances of being the

1 in 2 for getting Diabetes Or Cancer!

I’m not saying every thing we eat must be organic. I wanted to show using the MOST EXPENSIVE options available today (ORGANIC) the cost difference in reality. It is more expensive to purchase healthier food items, but can we really compare the cost when we are comparing it to “food substances?” Is there truly a comparison when we compare it to foods that are destroying the quality of our lives and leaving us DISEASED and DEPRESSED in need of medication to maintain sub par or poor levels of health?

SOLUTION:

1. CHANGING BEHAVIOR: Changing behavior needs to become a process for it to become a new reality. Start by looking to see if your food choices have quality nutrition or are simply “food substance.” Real food does not list a slew of ingredients. Real food is usually limited to approximately 5 ingredients. Start searching the grocery stores for “REAL FOODS.”

2. BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION: Be honest with yourself and ask, What am I doing to reduce the 50% chance of developing Diabetes or Cancer? If the answer is “I don’t know” or worse, “nothing,” decide for yourself how important it is to avoid these diagnoses. Following the same damaging course in life is likely to lead to the same damaging outcome.

We doctors make money from the patient’s lack of awareness or willingness to participate in preventative health. If you, the patient, aren’t willing to care of yourself, what incentive does a doctor have to encourage healthy choices that will result in reduced sources of income from fewer patient visits and fewer prescriptions?

It is my opinion a good doctor prefers to MAINTAIN Good Health than MAINTAIN Chronic Disease. This can ONLY be achieved if the patient is willing to actively participate in maintaining good health!

3. IT’S NOT AN OBSTACLE: Don’t view the new paradigm as a hurdle to overcome. View it in a POSITIVE LIGHT to make the journey educational and enjoyable. After all, improving the quality of life, adding greater physical and mental function and reducing wasteful spending (on potentially unnecessary medications and “food substances”) can provide resources to to help achieve a healthier happier life.

4. UNDERSTAND THE DOCTOR’S ROLE: Recognize the reality that doctors will NEVER be able to help their patients achieve good health with pharmaceuticals, vitamins, chiropractic adjustments, accupuncture, homeopathic remedies, ayurvedic medicine, etc… if the patient is unwilling to feed their bodies REAL FOOD as the basis for their nutritional needs.

If this article has stimulated your thinking to begin a better approach to health, I would appreciate

YOUR HELP!

In the comment section, please list ideas you would consider introducing into your lives to prevent yourself from developing Diabetes or Cancer. Those who read YOUR COMMENTS can benefit from your ideas and help other people unsure where to begin. When they see they are among peers looking to make a positive difference, it helps reinforce self value and importance. Sometimes this small change in self perception is enough to help empower a person to take charge and control over their lives. Thank you for sharing your comments and helping others avoid becoming UNNECESSARY NEW STATISTICS for future cases of DIABETES and CANCER!

 

 

 

Tags: cancer, diabetes, diet, disease, doctor, health, lifestyle, processed food