The American Diet: Nutritional Famine in Spite of a Feast of Health Foods Stores
The common American diet is deficient in necessary vitamins and minerals because of the poor choices made by many Americans, not because of limited food options. The irony is that while other nations suffer from malnourishment due to the privations of famine and drought; Americans often suffer from a lack of nutritional balance because of poor dietary choices. In many cases, American’s avoid health foods stores out of sheer principle.
With abundant resources and a wealth of food options, residents of the United States enjoy many food options unavailable in other parts of the world. The importation of produce from all over the planet to the United States provide a host of options and an abundance of nutritional riches, from Australian kiwi fruit high in vitamin C to beta carotene-rich mangoes from Thailand. Even tourists visiting from other countries take advantage of the amazing bounty that can be found in the average American supermarket; every week, busloads of Japanese tourists happily consume fruits foreign to American soil while visiting California.
Despite the surfeit of delectable available food choices, many Americans would rather pop a pill once a day than sit down and eat a fruit salad. While natural herbs and vitamins can be helpful to aid in nutrition, consumption of fruits and vegetables is the best way to absorb important minerals and nutrients.
Many of the nutritional components that we require to maintain good health and biological function are most easily accessed through eating. Supplements should not be used as meal replacements; rather they should complement a diet that already contains a good variety of foods. Although vitamin E, for instance, can be found in many natural vitamin stores, it is most readily available in fresh avocados. Additionally, avocados also contain monounsaturated fats that help reduce the risk of heart disease, and contain fiber, which many American diets lack. Mega-dosing on vitamin C is a popular choice, but the body most easily absorbs it by eating tangerines, oranges, or even tomatoes. While vitamin A can only be found naturally in animal sources, it can be manufactured by the body by consuming vegetables rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots or red bell peppers.
Having access to so many delectable fruits and vegetables is only the beginning. Americans must begin to make healthier decisions in their food choices. In a country of such vast wealth, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are the top killers in the United States. Fortunately, all of these can be controlled through diet and exercise. Implementing a fitness routine and adding discount herbal supplements to the daily regiment, in addition to educating oneself about nutrition, are vital steps toward improving the lives and well-being of most Americans. Understanding how vitamins and health go hand-in-hand can spark better decisions in food choices and a better appreciation for the amazing machine that is the human body.
