Editorial: Say No to Junk Ingredients

By Christina Fermin

Society & Politics Columnist

Most people are aware that what we eat and consume is how we maintain good health, but most people are not aware of how bad the foods they eat are because we trust the supermarket and the restaurants we purchase from. Food is one of those subjects that people do not want to hear about. People are content with eating what is not good for them, simply because it tastes delicious and it is an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately if it tastes so good you feel like you always have to have it then it is probably not good for you and has been chemically modified to make you feel that way or like it. Again I stress the importance of reading the labels, here is a link for a handful of popular ingredients to avoid www.living-a-healthy-lifestyle.com/dangerous-food-ingredients.html.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease is a huge problem here in the U.S. as well as the growing epidemic of cancer and many other diseases that deteriorate our health while making life more difficult and expensive. There is a simple solution to all of these problems, but most people will run to their doctors for a “magic” pill before thinking about changing their lifestyles. Think of those expenses that build up over a lifetime: doctor visits, prescriptions, side effects caused by prescription pills, deteriorating health, mood swings, disconnect from self and others. Over a lifetime you spend thousands even hundreds of thousands of dollars, waste time and precious moments when it could of all been avoided by eating a more balanced and nutritious diet with some type of physical exercise.

After doing some research in the food industry, nutrition and how food, environment and mood all affect the body I made some serious changes. I had realized that if I did not start taking care of my body NOW I would strongly regret it later in life. Like anything else, too much of something is a bad thing and that includes eating too much red meat, fish, sugar, carbs, omega 6’s, etc. Much of the food out there in supermarkets and restaurants is processed or genetically altered in some way, artificially grown and raised. Here in the U.S. almost all corn and soy is genetically modified. The next time you shop at the supermarket, take note of how many products have corn and soy. You will be amazed how difficult it is to purchase foods free of these two ingredients.

Some people will think ‘So what?’ The truth is we do not know the real dangers of eating genetically engineered foods, but some studies have suggested, cancer, sterility and altering the chemistry in our body, brain and DNA. In the same that I wrote about the media industry being controlled by a handful of companies, our entire food industry is that way as well. These companies do not care about our health, their bottom line is what matters and they will do anything to ensure their survival. So what do we do about it? You decide, it is your body and it is your life. How much power do you want to have and how much power do you want them to have?

Thanks to growing awareness there are many local farms and farmers markets popping up, we do not have to support these multinational corporations who control the market and mistreat animals, spray pesticide poison all over crops, use genetically modified seed and feed, add chemicals to enhance or alter our moods. Our food industry is in desperate need of a fix, not since Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle have we been in such dire straits with this food industry. Government has done things to strengthen the corporate hold on the industry rather than fix it, so we must fix it ourselves one town, one city, one person at a time.

If you can grow your own vegetables, do it! Gather some neighbors and start a community garden, eat seasonally, support your community by purchasing foods made locally. I find purchasing fruits and veggies at a local market is often times much cheaper than buying them at a local supermarket that shipped them from overseas or across the country. Be aware of what you put into your body and how it makes you feel. Know your family history, avoid the same mistakes your family made. Preparing food from scratch is not only delicious, it is a lot healthier, eating raw fruits and veggies is wonderful for the body; candy, soda and alcohol everyday is not good. Water is a MUST, and an apple a day can keep the doctor away.

Peace and Joy,

Christina

About the Columnist

With a bachelors degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University, Christina Fermin has always cultivated her love for history, politics, sociology, ancient knowledge and teachings, the outdoors, the ocean and the environment. Christina strives to make our world better by helping us all create a new reality and understanding of all taking place here and now.

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