In most developed countries in the world, fats make up a minimum of 10% of daily food allowance. However, in the United States, the numbers are far higher; roughly 30 to 40% is the average person’s fat intake. Moreover, the amount of fat—unhealthy fats at that—being consumed daily is skyrocketing. This over-indulgence of fat is beginning to cripple our country and has started an obesity epidemic. As a developed country, we need to start using our mouths to educate our adults and youth about nutrition, instead filling them with yet another greasy meal.
You do the math: Consuming 30-40% of fat in your diet is equivalent to eating a fifth of a pound of pure fat a day. This is six times the amount that the body needs. The American Heart Association is trying to push America towards getting daily fat consumption down to about 20%, but the organization admits that this may be an unrealistic goal for most people. With modern conveniences and a lack of need to store fat for a harsh winter, the need to consume so much fat seems positively prehistoric. We’ve taken a step back as a nation with these outdated thoughts on nutrition, and now it’s time to move forward to set an example for the rest of the world to follow.
Meanwhile, many other countries have diets that are setting the tone that America should take note of. Significantly, not only is the United States NOT leading the push toward well-balanced nutrition, we’re not even paying attention. By using their regional foods, meats and seafoods, other countries have been able to fight the flab and keep their obesity rates to a minimum. With this country’s trade agreements and power, we have the resources to easily obtain almost any food item from around the world, and yet we do not. Not only are we losing this battle, we aren’t even fighting to stay in the game.
Not so much true with the rest of the world. For instance, in Japan, citizens consume about 30% fat — not saturated fats that are so common in American fast foods, but rather polyunsaturated healthy fats, the type of fats found mostly in plant-based foods and oils. Japanese cuisine emphasizes fish as the protein of choice, which comes in several different forms such as sushi, sashimi and tempura. Another mainstay is rice, which can stand alone, or be added into soups and other small side dishes. The Japanese people also tend to eat 3 main meals throughout a day, consisting of a breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Mediterranean diet is also another popular and healthy way to live. Amazingly enough, the countries associated with the Mediterranean consume more fat in their diets than America, but again, these fats are of the unsaturated kind. Staple foods of the Mediterranean diet consist of rice, breads, potatoes, pastas and cereals, always accompanied by plenty of fresh local vegetables. Olive oil is used widely in Mediterranean cooking, providing more health benefits than most conventional cooking oils. Nuts, seeds, sardines and other oily fishes are also consumed as part of their healthy fats.
America — now is the time to notice what other people are doing right, and jump with both feet onto the nutrition bandwagon. Dieting is not as hard as it sounds, and the benefits can easily out-weigh the doctor’s bills. Consume wisely and take a positive step toward longevity and health. Enjoy, savor, and taste your way to a future of good health.