Access to Food as Preventative Medicine & Weight Loss

Many of my blogs discuss the topic of choosing organic
and eating foods that are non-GMOs (genetically modified organisms). For many,
eating 100% organic may create a financial strain. This is due to the fact that
the government subsidizes mostly corn, wheat, and processed foods. The result
is that buying wholesome foods that promote wellness are more expensive. In
fact, almost one in three Americans have problems paying for food, medications,
or both.

This makes access to natural medicine solutions a social
issue. However, for those who can afford to, continuing to vote with their
pocketbook by purchasing whole, organic foods as often as possible is an
important step. For many, a perspective shift on re-prioritizing their expenditures
could also make this option more purse friendly and reasonable.

For example consider a dinner party. However, it has to
be with people you enjoy and who want to value health like you do. 😉 Read my
homepage to find out why. These gatherings could replace trips to expensive
restaurants with poor quality foods. It would also slim one’s waistline and
promotes wellness in the following ways:

1. Being with friends and dining would combine the
benefit of social connections while optimizing food choices. The result is the
release of harmonious chemicals in the body, such as oxytocin, that have a
stress-busting, blood sugar, and hormonal balancing effect. This would result
in a trimmer body and happier mind. (For more details, see my homepage).

2. It would prevent illness by decreasing exposure to
chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones in unknown foods sources.

3. It would end the restaurant and take out food
merry-go-round of dieter’s remorse. Many are unaware that most foods that processed
or in restaurants are trumping their willpower to stay slim and healthy. In
fact, manufactures of certain food companies hire scientists to formulate the
perfect blend of a chemical soup which combines addictive tastes of sugary,
fat, and salty to override satiety cues. The result is that you buy and eat
more. (You can find out how with this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp2p4TdLn_8).

The
Larger Scale

Here are more ideas I personally do myself which aren’t
calling for a radical revolution, but a consciousness of everyday choices to
bring about a shift in what’s available and more accessible for all, while
decreasing the impact of our obesity epidemic:

·Making conscious efforts to support local
farmers by enrolling in Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), shopping at
farmer’s markets, or buying locally grown at the market

·Starting a garden or helping a friend with
theirs

·Supplying food banks with organic options

·Buying organic and bypassing the processed
junk foods to increase demand and decrease prices

·Eating as a family to increase social ties
and instill healthier food choices

oStudies also find that kids who have better
diets and participate in family dinners do better in school and are less likely
to have behavioral problems.

The implications of allowing for healthier options
through governmental support programs for those in need is beyond the scope of
this blog, but definitely worth considering if preventative medicine is the way
of the future. However, starting with our own little neck of the woods could
create a shift in what crops the government choices to subsidize.

References:

Marcus, E. Access to Good
Food as Preventive Medicine. The Atlantic. April 7, 2014.

Parker ED, Widome R,
Nettleton JA, Pereira MA. Food security and metabolic syndrome in U.S. adults
and adolescents: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey, 1999-2006 (abstract). Ann Epidemiol.
2010 May;20(5):364-70. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2010.02.009.

Sam Dickman, David Himmelstein,
Danny McCormick, & Steffie Woolhandler. Opting Out Of Medicaid Expansion:
The Health And Financial Impacts. Health Affairs Blog. January 30th, 2014.

Stephan Guyenet . Why Do We
Overeat? YouTube. February 21, 2014.

Community Supported
Agriculture: www.localharvest.org

Environmental
Working Group. EWG Farm Subsidiaries: United States. Ewg.org.