The American diet is inadequate. This isn’t a surprising statement, and in fact it seems to have become more common knowledge in recent years. Surviving off the American diet alone, packed with calories, fats and sugars, could potentially be a death sentence. It’s a one-way track to many health problems, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and increased mental health problems.
In today's day and age, millions of Americans struggle with health complications that can be related back to their diet. Three in four adults in the U.S. are either overweight or obese, 100 million adults have pre-diabetes or diabetes and about 122 million people have cardiovascular disease. Heart disease, which often stems from unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices, is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Nearly half of all Americans have at least one preventable chronic disease which is related to an unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity.
But the problems of the American diet don’t stop at physical health. Sugary and processed foods can actually contribute to anxiety and depression. Foods high in fat tend to trigger the brain’s reward system, and this strong brain response, paired with repeated exposure and constant consumption of unhealthy foods, can result in chronic overeating. Chronic overeating can then lead to obesity and further health problems.
I find it important to recognize, however, most of these diseases are preventable by changing one's diet. To put it bluntly, the leading cause of death in this country is related to the way we eat. It’s clear as day the food system in America has caused widespread illness that’s only increasing, and the way we have formed this country's diet is outdated.
With these facts in mind, what is stopping people from swapping sugary snacks for healthier alternatives?
The first problem to address with the American food system is the misinformation and lack of information about it. What happens when people don’t know that their way of eating is unhealthy? One in 10 Americans think a fast-food diet is heart healthy. That’s a significant number of people believing a McDonald’s meal is giving them the nutrients they need to maintain a healthy heart, when it is not. Fast food is low in fiber and high in sodium and sugars, which are all things that can negatively affect blood pressure, the heart and the digestive system.
U.S. News voted the Mediterranean diet as the best diet for overall health. Packed with fruits, veggies and whole grains, it’s no surprise this diet is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses, in stark opposition to the effects of the American diet. However, only 15% of Americans know that a Mediterranean diet is the most heart-healthy.
When it comes to costs, fresh foods seem to be viewed as a luxury in America, with 46% of Americans viewing healthy food as more expensive. At first glance, it seems evident eating healthy does cost more. However, this study took into account costs per calorie, but if one looks at cost per serving, many healthy foods are actually cheaper.
For example, one Cosmic Brownie with chocolate chip candy costs $2.29 at Kroger and contains about 500 calories. 500 calories worth of carrots would be about 25 small to medium sized carrots, costing about $5.50. Two medium sized carrots are considered one serving, and they contain fiber, important vitamins and minerals. One Cosmic Brownie is considered one serving and contains high amounts of fat, carbohydrates and sodium. In this scenario, the cost per calorie may be doubled when you buy the carrots, but the nutritional benefits and the cost per serving make it a more advantageous purchase.
Another issue is the availability of fresh and healthy food. Food deserts, known to be communities that don’t have plentiful access to healthy foods, are often concentrated in low-income and marginalized areas. So even if people in these areas want to eat healthy, it is harder for them to do so because they can’t access it. Potential ideas to rectify food deserts involve communal efforts, such as opening local markets and gardening. However, most of the long-term solutions include governmental changes, such as offering tax breaks, which could help motivate supermarkets to open in food-insecure areas.
Apart from systemic changes that need to occur to address food deserts, there are a few ways to maintain a healthy diet. Tips include buying frozen fruits and veggies that will last longer, visiting roadside stands or local farmers markets and shopping for in-season produce, as it can be less expensive than out-of-season produce.
In the end, it’s clear the American diet is not sustainable for a long life, nor is it healthy in general. Providing Americans with information on healthy choices, helping people understand the cost and health differences between fresh produce and junk food, and increasing access to fresh produce are all ways in which the American diet can be improved.
The most prominent point I have found while looking at the American diet is the importance of education. Knowing about the American diet and its determinants, as well as what stops people from achieving a healthier diet, can expectantly lead to a more nutritionally-educated country and help us find a healthier way of eating.
CORRECTION: This story was corrected to state 122 million people have cardiovascular disease, not that 122 million people are diagnosed each year.
Caitlyn Kulczycki is a sophomore studying media advertising with minors in psychology and creative writing.
