“A
healthy diet can help prevent cancer, since up to 60% of cancer cases are
diet-related.”
--Physicians Committee
for Responsible Medicine (PCRM.org)
With
a nation filled with people battling obesity, cancers, heart disease, and
diabetes, it is clear that what we eat matters.
Factory farming of cows, pigs, chicken and other animals for human consumption is
driven by America’s greed for cheap food.
Hidden within huge factory farms, however, are unhealthy practices such as the use of drugs like artificial growth hormones that increase growth. Did you know that since 1994 recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) has been used to increase milk production of dairy cows? Monsanto developed and produced rbGH, then sold it to Eli Lilly (source: American Public Health Association). In 1993, the Food and Drug Administration approved use of rbGH, while it has been banned in the European Union and Canada have banned its use since 1999. Australia, New Zealand, and Japan now also ban its use. These unhealthy practices of raising animals in the United States result in a rise of unhealthy outcomes in humans.
A
friend who works in a gym recently told me about the gym's physical trainers who insist
they need to eat meat to maintain their training regimens and muscle
strength. Oh, contraire!
There
is not only misinformation about vegetarianism and veganism but there is also a
lot of fear. Most Americans are
dependent on meat as their primary source of protein. Unfortunately, the way
beef and chicken are raised as mass-produced industrial products for buyers
such as McDonald’s, there are more risks than benefits. Foods from animals
contain saturated fats, one of the two “unhealthy” fats (the other bad fat is
trans fat). Saturated fats should be
limited because they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer,
and diabetes.
The
evidence is mounting that plant-based eating is one of the healthiest choices
we can make. Within the plant world,
there are many sources of protein, such as lentils, quinoa, and beans. Plant protein does NOT contain saturated fat! Plant-based eating has always been the basis
for what we do in the Growing Healthy Kids movement, with an emphasis on
fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. It is the easiest way to achieve your daily intake of dietary fiber (28 or more grams) and anti-inflammatory foods (such as yellow, red, blue, and green vegetables and fruits).
Please
pass the quinoa!
With
love and gratitude,
Nancy
L. Heinrich, MPH
Founder,
Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
