Why Do We Have Such A Poor Diet?



Why do we have such a crappy food supply in the modernized world when, most of the time, Third-World countries have healthier diets than the rest of us? What do I mean by healthy? I mean they eat closer to the source of the food and there is less processing.


I saw a TV special on life in Russia. There, if you buy food from street vendors, you are usually getting homemade soups and fermented foods. That is fresh food and not mystery grub that comes out of cans or boxes and heated up for you. If you ate that food, you would consume all natural ingredients and someone’s family recipe and not a bunch of chemical flavorings and preservatives. Most of us aren’t used to that. Homemade is something that Mom might do once in a while or Grandma will do when you stop by and visit.


I have talked to some kids that have NEVER had anything homemade! They will tell me that their parents either eat out all the time or just buy a bunch of frozen, boxed, or canned food that gets tossed into the microwave. I love fresh food. I understand the body’s craving for fresh food. This type of lifestyle behavior is the reason why nutritionists now call the American people both obese and undernourished at the same time.


Am I off base or does this situation just not make a whole lot of sense?


The picture at the top is a kvass vendor. Kvass is found in Russia, the Ukraine, and other eastern European and ex-Soviet countries where it is a popular drink. It's made of fermented dry rye bread and a dash of yeast. It is sweet, naturally carbonated and contains very low amount of alcohol (usually less than 0.5%). You can see that it is homemade by the vendor in the large tank. It is cheap, healthy, and all natural. Most people look at that as "dirty" but it is not.


Why can't we do that here in the US?

2 comments:

Elisabeth said...

We've grown accustomed to processed, packaged foods. Our tastebuds and our guts are adulterated to the point where we no longer easily tolerate "homemade" and healthy choices. It's frustrating when people, who are looking for answers to their various physical complaints, tell me that they can't stomach many-a-suggested real food.
I'm likely going to get into trouble for this next comment, but...People are basically lazy. It takes time and planning to "create" food at home. Quite honestly, less time and energy than what is perceived...but then, at least some effort. We've been conditioned to believe that we haven't the time to prepare food- even that if we care about spending time with our families, then we don't take out precious time to cook. Besides, nutritionists and dietitians tell us that the processed "foods" are just as nutritious as anything we could possibly prepare ourselves (big fat liars).
ADM is the Supermarket to the World because we allow it to be. We are our own worst enemy.

Anonymous said...

I love fresh homemade food but I don't feel right about eating or drinking something from something that is probably very unsanitary. It really creeps me out! I would be so afrade of getting sick or some disease.