You are what you eat is not just a cliched adage, it an ancient axiom so rooted in obvious truth we easily overlook its significance to our overall wellbeing; physically, mentally, and emotionally. These days it’s no longer a given as to what is healthy to eat as scientific research uncovers new findings that at times, completely show the opposite is true of what has been believed for the past 50 years. An apple a day keeps the doctor away is the modernized phrasing of an 1866 Welsh proverb that was long venerated as an intrinsic truth. It is now more likely to give you toxic poisoning from pesticides, unless they’re organic, due to the high absorption properties of apples. Many long-held dietary beliefs are changing, and these are just two examples. Some are changing due to scientific and medical discoveries, and others are changing because of man-made environmental impacts.
Every five years, since 1980, the United States Drug Administration (USDA) releases an updated version of daily dietary recommendations. The 2010 update is scheduled to be released at the end of the year, but the committee’s June report launched a maelstrom of incredulous outrage from the medical community.
Nearly 50 science and health community members testified in capital hearing against the proposed guidelines in the middle of July. The eye of the storm centers mostly around the continued focus on increased carbohydrates; reduced fat milk, which actually causes weight gain and a whole host of physiological complications; and the increased villifaction of saturated fats. Most of the speakers believe these recommendations are based on protecting the interest of the food industry rather than a truly healthy diet, especially in light of the report supporting low-fat products and grain products, rather than actual low-fat foods and whole grains like quinoa and teff. According to the opposed experts, this is a recipe for increased obesity, heart diseases and diabetes. Even the American Heart Association specificially lists high carbohydrate diets as a cause for high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. Raw or whole milk and butter have saturated fats that are vital to the health of all cells and are a necessary dietary component that cannot be derived from other sources and evidence does not show saturated fat as a cause for cardiovacular disease – in fact it helps increase the production of the good cholesterol, HDL; yet Americans are consistently advised to avoid these fats when it’s trans fats that should be avoided. Of course, large quanities of saturated fats can increase blood cholesterol, just as high quantities of any fat can, but they cannot be eliminated from the diet without causing severe health risks. Additionally, processed foods and synthesized oils and fats – all loaded with trans fats - are still recommended as safe and healthy.
Amidst such conflicting information and rapid changes in dietary advice it’s difficult navigating healthy nutrition these days. In light of this, Health & Wellness is exploring healthy aging through food.
