The modern diet is the main reason why people all over the world are fatter and sicker than ever before. Everywhere modern processed foods go, chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease soon follow.
The studies are clear on this... when people abandon their traditional foods in favor of modern processed foods high in
sugar, refined flour and vegetable oils, they get sick (
1,
2,
3). Of course, there are many things that can contribute to these health problems, but changes in the diet are the most important factor.
Here are 11 graphs that show everything that is wrong with the modern diet.
1. Total Sugar Intake Has Skyrocketed in The Past 160 YearsPeople in Western countries are consuming
massive amounts of refined sugars, reaching about 150 lbs (67 kg) per year in some countries. This amounts to over 500
calories of sugar per day.
The sources vary on the exact figures, but it is very clear that we are consuming way more sugar than our bodies are equipped to handle (
4). Controlled human studies show that large amounts of sugar can lead to severe metabolic problems, including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides - to name a few (
5,
6).
Added sugar is believed to be one of the main drivers of diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer (
7,
8,
9,
10).
Comment: The AMA's attempt to demonize intergrative medicine may have to do with the following fact: Many Americans turning to alternative medicine. Read more about this ongoing battle:
Brutal Attacks on Integrative Medicine Practitioners: Is the Federation of State Medical Boards Behind This?
Woman Warned: Alternative Health Techniques are Illegal Practice of Medicine
Can My Doctor Get Into Big Legal Trouble by Offering Natural Health Treatments?
Doctors Use Natural Remedies (But Don't Prescribe Them)
Homeopathy: Modern Medicine's First Target:
The Swiss Government's Exceedingly Positive Report on Homeopathic Medicine
What Science And History May Owe To Homeopathic Medicine