Major increase in diabetes nationwide 1990-1998

[Cathy Richards]

I think there can be excellent pre-prepared food choices available for the
public. They just need to evolve to be tasty, fast, and much less expensive.
We shouldn't knock fast-food -- it is a fact of life now that the computer
age is in full swing. We need to encourage food companies to speed up their
evolution -- they ALWAYS meet/direct consumer need (witness, high
fibre-cereals). Let's help them realize what the need is. They have oodles
of technology to help them deliver us delicious meals. Think of the
difference in total nutrient intake in North America if McDonald's took the
step of adding one tomato slice to each burger they sell, or used dark green
lettuce instead of iceburg...pretty low tech! (Before I get inundated with
testy responses, I agree, fresh food and home cooking is a wonderful thing!
However...)

People have always experienced great stress -- imagine trying to make a
living on a farm in the prairies during the 19th century! But they had an
outlet for the stress -- hard work. Also they could eat a LOT of food due to
all their hard work, and therefore took in many beneficial nutrients.
Exercise must be a key player in health -- it keeps our cells on their toes,
which perhaps helps them deal with stress (or at the least, dissipate stress
related hormones).

Of course, there have been many other environmental changes (chemical use,
smoking, living in apartments/condos, interior heating and air conditioning,
cars...) but I would wager inactivity is the key -- leading to decreased
stress dissipation, decreased muscle mass and therefore metabolism,
decreased nutrient intake (but not caloric intake, due to current food
choices) and increased %body fat. Hard physical work, and "active play"
(which I like better than the more prescriptive "exercise") should be on the
top of our "healthy diet" recommendations list.


Cathy Richards, BHEc, RDN
Community Nutritionist
Okanagan Similkameen Health Region
crichards at oshr.org
ph: 250-868-7829, fax -7760
content does not reflect the views of the organization

"Keep an open mind, but don't let your brains fall out." 
"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that stood its ground." 


-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Mehrle [mailto:MehrlD at mail.health.state.mo.us]
Sent: August 28, 2000 8:33 AM
To: Public Health Nutrition Discussion and Information Group
Subject: Re: Major increase in diabetes nationwide 1990-1998


I agree that we ought to look at why people are eating what they are and why
they aren't exercising.  To add to the list below, I think another problem
is that people don't know how to cook.  They buy fast foods or they buy
convenience foods that are easy to prepare.


>>> <THECOUCH at aol.com> 8/25/00 9:42:23 AM >>>

Hi Colleagues,

I would like to suggest that if the true problem is going to be identified, 
that we are going to have to look not just at WHAT people are eating, but
WHY.

Why do people eat so much fast food?  Because they work longer hours and are

attached to their email, voice mail, cell phone, pager, and Palm Pilot,
which 
consumes time that could be used to shop for and cook a healthy meal.

Why do people not exercise? Because they work longer hours and are attached 
to their email, voice mail, cell phone, pager, and Palm Pilot, which
consumes 
time that could be used to exercise.

Why do people stress eat?  Because they are stressed out from working longer

hours.  Because they are exhausted and sitting in front of the television 
looking at ads for food.  Because their email, voice mail, pager, cell
phone, 
and Palm Pilots leave them overstimulated and stressed, and that stress is 
going to find an outlet whether or not we choose exercise.

Longer hours in an office also mean fewer hours outdoors, which decreases 
exposure to ultraviolet light, which disrupts the circadian cycle, which in 
turn disrupts hypothalamic function (meaning sleep cycles and appetite).  
People are awake and hungry at a time of day when they used to be sleeping.

Stress only exacerbates the imbalance.

I find it so interesting that the news shows bombard us with stories about 
the increase in stress and change in the workplace as well as reports on the

increases in our weight--but no one seems to be putting all the pieces 
together.  I sure hope, sometime soon, they do.

Has anyone looked at exposure to all these items of convenience to see if 
there is a correlation between their entry into the market and our health?
I 
would love to know the findings.

Regards,

Monika M. Woolsey, MS, RD
http://www.afterthediet.com