BREAKING NEWS - Eating healthy is about balance and moderation.
And if you believe that than say hello to an obesity crisis !!
Oh we already have one.
When I look at the majority of the population around the world who are suffering from either overweight or obese health conditions, I can't help but recall that this same "message of balance and moderation" has been provided for a long, long, long time. While well meaning it seems that this guidance / encouragement to have healthy eating habits is failing outrageously.
The guidelines are blurred with this message and the only ones who seem to be capitalizing on this is the advertisers / marketers who tell you what YOU want to hear. YOU need to start tuning out advertisements and start to listen to your own voice. The voice of reason.
Let me explain. All too often "moderation and balance" are being practiced when you are "being tempted" and need a reason or justification for your choice. It's likely to be when you're sitting down with that third or fourth glass of wine (it has anti-oxidants), or when you eat some chocolate (it has anti-oxidants too), eating cake or ice cream (just lots of calories so its social).
Could this be because the population are now starting to treat the "obesity alarm" much like they do the "smoking alarm". It appears that the bell goes off every other day and that same confused majority are now starting to turn off to the health concerns we raise.
RING RING RING ... RING RING RING ... RING RING RING
Seriously, look at what we are up against.
We can prove that smoking causes cancer and that there are many deaths from it; we also put health warning pictures on cigarette packs; yet still people smoke - which by the way my only objection is that they blow out the smoke putting the rest of us at risk.
Well what chance do we have to get people to stop over-eating.
Slim (and this is the worst pun of all time).
This is exacerbated by all the experts and the Marketing teams consistently changing the "nutritional goal posts". If it's not low fat (that failed), it's high carb (that failed), it's high fat (that failed), it's more protein (jury still out), it's low G.I. (getting warmer). Then we are subjected to the "tabloid diets" of celebrities who then become role models for the youth of the world.
So now in 2007, it has been decided that for the optimal eating regime "we should practice moderation and eat a healthy balanced diet from a range of fruits and vegetables".
Yep, looks like everything is going to work out .................... NOT !!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hi Tony,
Great post!
I was walking down the supermarket aisle the other day and can't handle the tricky ways of the advertising on many products on the shelves.
Take for example a packet of marshmellows, on the front of the pack it reads "100% fat free". So many comsumers have no idea that this doesn't mean that they are full of SUGAR! They purchase a packet and eat them all in one sitting because they are fat free.
This is just an example, a drop in the ocean as to what is out there leading people to believe that it's okay to eat certain foods etc.
Education, education, education!!
People need to be taught how and what to eat again and not by advertisers selling products.
We need to start teaching our children, starting at a young age so they can go into their teenage years and adulthood with a greater chance of not becoming obese or over weight.
So many people still have it all wrong.
We need to help them :-)
Deb
Post a Comment