Our diet holds the answer to many of our medical problems. The wrong mix of nutrients leads to many metabolic problems, whether the nutrients are good or bad in excess. Most, if not all of us have acquired our eating habits by watching and imitating our parents’ eating habits. And, over time, we developed and modified those habits based on what we consciously or subconsciously desired.
These habits are a health issue for almost one-third of the US population. From a geographic perspective, the overweight and obesity issue is concentrated in the Deep South, from Texas and extends up through the northeast part of the country, with a few pockets in the north central portions. So, for a lot of the population, this is not an issue; however, where it does become an issue is in the economic burden on our healthcare system. Medical expenses accounted for close to 10% of total US medical expenditures, with a dollar value of over $100 billion. When we breakdown these numbers further, we see that while adults are going from overweight to obese at a rate of 6%, the children are becoming obese at a rate of 12-14%. This is a disturbing trend and one that must be addressed quickly before it is too late.
As parents or role models for the younger generation, we need to set a good example for them to follow. This is easier said than done, but there is help out there to guide us through this. It’s the best guide I know of: the food pyramid, modified for sweets where I put in a number. (The official pyramid has “limited” for this category).
| Food Type | # of servings daily |
|---|---|
| Bread and grains | 6 – 11 |
| Vegetables | 3 – 5 |
| Fruits | 2 – 4 |
| Meat, Fish & Poultry | 2 – 3 |
| Dairy | 2 – 3 |
| Fats, Oils, Meats | 1* |
This pyramid is only half the battle. The other half involves figuring out what our daily caloric intake is supposed to be. This is easily figured out by calculating our daily energy requirements by using a “basal energy expenditure” calculator. This medical calculator is freely available on the internet. By putting in sex, height, weight and age, it calculates how many calories need to be eaten to maintain that body weight entered. By knowing how many calories are needed every day, and in what portions they are to be divided, our dietary roadmap is clear.
I hope this helps to provide a plan to guide you to start eating a healthier diet.
Until next month, be well.
Dion