How has the typical American diet changed with time?
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Dr. Dean Ornish answered:Until this century, the typical American diet was low in animal products, fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, and high in carbohydrates, vegetables, and fiber. Vigorous physical activity was common. Early in this century, with the advent of refrigerators, freezers, good transportation, mechanized agriculture, and a prosperous economy, the American diet and lifestyle began to change radically. Now most people in the United States eat a diet high in animal products, fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, and low in carbohydrates, vegetables, and fiber. Being sedentary is common. Your body - your genes - have not had enough time to adapt to such a fundamental change in your diet and lifestyle from the way your ancestors ate and lived both in the recent past and during the previous ten thousand years.
Find out more about this book: Eat More, Weigh Less: Dr. Dean Ornish's Life Choice Program for Losing Weig...
Until this century, the typical American diet was low in animal products, fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, and high in carbohydrates, vegetables, and fiber. Vigorous physical activity was common. Early in this century, with the advent of... More -
American diets have changed over the years in a number of ways. Preservatives and other food stabilizers have been added to increase shelf life of commercially prepared products. Carbohydrates and sugars are consumed in much higher proportions, and a great deal of salt is added to prepared foods. Highly processed foods tend to contain more fats as well. Those Americans who prepare their own meals from fresh, raw ingredients and avoid "junk foods" have diets similar to earlier generations.American diets have changed over the years in a number of ways. Preservatives and other food stabilizers have been added to increase shelf life of commercially prepared products. Carbohydrates and sugars are consumed in much higher proportions, and... More
