There are many things that ironic about life in America. For example, many American citizens are wary of immigrants and would prefer stricter immigration legislation, yet the country of the United States itself was founded by immigrants who stole land from a population of indigenous that had been living here for thousands of years.
Similarly, the United States is often considered one — if not the — most powerful country in the world with access to the best education, the best infrastructure, the best agricultural, the best environmental practices, the best liberties for citizens, the best government, the best military, the best economy, the best manufacturing facilities and — get this — the best healthcare, yet ironically, the United States also has the highest incidences of childhood obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and many forms of cancer.
How does a country with the most advanced family health care facilities have the highest rates of childhood obesity and chronic health issues in both children and adults? The answer is simple; SAD. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a diet rich in high amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol, refined sugar, empty carbohydrates, preservatives, genetically modified ingredients, and toxic residue from the pesticides used to grow the food itself. Combined with reduced physical activity due to an over saturation and reliance on mobile devices, and all the ingredients that make up the typical American diet are a recipe for illness.
What families can do to practice better family health care
Most families don’t go to the family health clinic until there’s already a problem but it doesn’t hurt to see the family doctor at least once a year in order to make sure everyone’s healthy. There are a variety of family health care plans that offer affordable, flexible health insurance coverage for check ups, prescription medication, and lab testing. For families that don’t have health insurance coverage or their coverage doesn’t cover enough of the family health care services your family needs, try scheduling an appointment at a free or low cost community health clinic or low cost health clinic.
Aside from being proactive about keeping up with regular check ups and testing, diet is also an important aspect of family health care. Food is medicine after all, and is how most people receive the bulk of their vitamins, minerals, protein and nutrients. However, eating the typical foods of the SAD not only leaves the human body deprived of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs but it also leaves the human body prone to disease.
Instead of eating the typical foods such as hamburgers, processed cheese, large amounts of dairy, and heavy starches that are common in the SAD, American families should instead opt for a more plant based lifestyle and diet. For many people, the thought of eating a plant based diet or reducing the amount of meat they eat can be concerning for a number of reasons, but eating less meat does not equal protein deficiency. Instead it equals an reduced risk of chronic disease such as obesity, heart disease, and some forms of cancer as well as increased energy, mental clarity, and physical stamina.
How can families work together to improve their diet?
Families can work together in order to get everyone involved with getting on board the eating and feeling better bandwagon by making it fun! Cooking at home is not only more affordable than eating out at a restaurant but it’s also a lot healthier because you more control over the food and what goes into it. Getting the entire family involved in grocery shopping and preparing meals by making it fun and engaging can the process of transitioning into a more plant based diet easier and less intimidating. Introducing new fruits and vegetables to the family can be exciting and a fun way for the family to explore new tastes and learn about new cultures.
Families can also work together to improve their physical activity levels. Having designated, family game time outdoors or indoors is a fun way to get everyone up, moving and active.
