Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report showing that recent immigrants reported significantly better physical and mental health than their U.S.-born counterparts. People become progressively less healthy the longer they stay here.Why? When people move here, they rapidly forgo their own healthier diets and lifestyles. Unfortunately, other countries are beginning to eat like us, live like us and die like us. Chronic diseases have gone from being among the least common to the most frequent causes of premature death and disease in most of the developing world. A globalization of illness is occurring that is almost completely preventable.
An Asian way of eating and living may help prevent and even reverse the progression of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy products and fish in your diet. Eat at home more with your family and friends. Consume less saturated fat, trans fats and refined carbs. Cook with small amounts of vegetable oils, like canola and sesame. Use animal protein as a condiment rather than a main course. Have more fish and less red meat. Strengthen your family and community ties. Walk more. Eat less. Love more. Stress less. Attend to your spiritual life.
I've been consulting with food companies such as PepsiCo, McDonald's, ConAgra, Safeway and Del Monte. I thought that if they would make and market foods that are tasty, convenient and healthful, educate people about the powerful health benefits of nutrition and lifestyle, and use their considerable marketing resources to make it fun, sexy, crunchy and hip to eat this way, this could make a powerful difference in the lives of millions worldwide.
Not only is this the right thing to do, it's good business, so it's sustainable. Last year PepsiCo reported two thirds of its revenue growth came from healthier foods. McDonald's Fruit & Walnut Salad is so popular, McDonald's is the world's largest purchaser of apples. ConAgra's Healthy Choice foods had $1.5 billion in sales last year. Ironically, more healthful foods and lifestyle choices coming from the United States (like McDonald's forthcoming Asian Salad) may help people in Asia and other countries realize the power of their indigenous diet and culture. Instead of globalizing illness, we can globalize health.
© 2006 HealthNewsDigest.com