NUTRITION AUTHOR
Mike de Lota, M.D.
AMERICA’S EPIDEMIC n How our salt, sugar and overall food intake has contributed to the obesity epidemic.
T
he late Anthony Bourdain once said, “I think food, culture, people and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.” From the ingredients in signature dishes, down to the details of presentation, food tells a story about a society’s customs, traditions, values and way of life. When I travel, it is by far my favorite way to learn about the culture and people. But how would a traveler document their culinary voyage throughout America? While American cuisine with its rich flavors, creativity and unique, regional nuance should be appreciated and applauded, one cannot deny that fast and processed foods have become a prominent presence in Western cuisine, leaving an indelible footprint on our culture.
What Our Food Says About Us
According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (USHHS), the current U.S. eating pattern was low in vegetables and fruits and high in calories, processed meat, added sugars, saturated fats
JUNE 2021
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