Malnutrition in America

By February 17, 2012Uncategorized

When you hear the world malnutrition, images of starving young children in Africa typically come to mind. In the richest country in the world, however, the word malnutrition takes on an entirely different meaning: Empty calories! It’s hard to imagine that in a country where obesity is nearing epidemic proportions, that the word malnutrition comes up, but along side obesity we have a HUGE problem with malnutrition. People may be stuffing their faces, but in actually starving their bodies. Processed foods, junk foods and comfort foods, while certainly convenient contain few if any vitamins and minerals, hence the expression “empty calories.” By denying your body these important nutrients, you are actually starving your body of the necessary nutrients for healthy metabolism. The human body has an amazing ability to compensate… to a point. Then all hell breaks loose with regard to the proper functioning of the cardio-vascular system, the immune system, the reproductive system and so on. The end result is a host of chronic diseases.

Stress Tip for the Day:

Make a habit to eat nutrient dense foods. Example: an apple is more nutrient dense than a Hostess Twinkee. An orange is more nutrient dense than a candy bar. You get the idea. Try to be more conscious about your food choices. It’s OK to have a dish of ice cream (once in a while). It’s OK to have chocolate, but not everyday at every meal. You get the idea. When in doubt, reach for fruit and veggies (organic if available). Make each meal a nutrient dense meal.

Links, Books and Movies Worth Noting:

Here are a few links for more info on this topic

Donna’s Top Ten Nutrient Dense “Super Foods”

http://tkranch.com/faq/nutrient-dense-foods.html

http://bruisedfruits.net/2814/nutrientdense-foods-diet.html

Quote for the Day:

“It shouldn’t be long before we see chocolate bars bearing FDA-approved health claims. (When we do, nutritionism will surely have entered its baroque phase.) Fortunately for everyone playing this game, scientists can find an antioxidant in just about any plant-based food they choose to study.” —Michael Pollan

Photo for the Day:

I could have taken a photo of junk food, but I didn’t have any in the house (healthy food boundaries) so to remind you the significance of empty calories I took a photo of an empty plate!

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He isthe author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (7e) and the forthcoming, A Beautiful World: The Earth Song Journals. He can be reached through his website: www.brianlukeseaward.net

© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

Brian Luke Seaward

Author Brian Luke Seaward

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