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America is sick. It must be the food.
Written by Dennis Michael Lynch.
In partnership with
THE FOOD SUPPLY
They care more about profits than people.
I am hearing more and more people — of all ages — tell me that when they changed their diets to include nothing but GOOD foods, the health problems went away. — DML
The Chronic Disease Crisis: Is Our Food Supply to Blame?
From 2022-2024, I was on an incredible health kick — trying to overcome gastrointestinal issues that would have been fatal had I allowed them to worsen, according to my doctor. But then, last year, I had two oral surgeries six months apart. They reduced my ability to chew. Thus, for two months, all I did was eat ice cream shakes in order to keep my calorie count high enough — I feared losing too much weight. It turned out to be a nightmare because the amount of sugar I took in led me to gain 20-pounds. I was back to not sleeping, felt nonstop aches and pains throughout my body, headaches — you name it. Last month, I returned to my healthy eating. It took about a week to feel the difference. Sleep is better, aches are gone, I am back to walking 4-5 miles per day. I feel like a new man. My point it this: There is no doubt in my mind, our food supply is killing us.
America’s health is in a tailspin, and the numbers paint a grim picture. Approximately 60% of U.S. adults—over 150 million people—live with at least one chronic disease, and riddled by serious ailments like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, according to the CDC. Alarmingly, 40% manage multiple conditions. This marks a sharp rise from two decades ago when 45% of adults had one chronic illness. The prevalence has surged by 7-8 million every five years, driven by lifestyle factors like poor diet. Colon cancer in young adults is skyrocketing. Children aren’t spared: 1 in 10 kids now has diabetes, and pediatric cancer rates have climbed 0.5% annually since the 1970s. Obesity, a key driver, affects 20% of children today.
Obesity rates are staggering. As of 2022, 42% of adults—over 100 million Americans—are obese, up from 30.5% in 1999. Severe obesity has doubled to 9.2%. This epidemic fuels chronic diseases, with 58% of obese adults battling hypertension and 23% facing diabetes.
Concerns about the food supply are mounting. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), laden with additives like high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and trans fats, dominate diets. These hyper-palatable, shelf-stable products, pushed by giants like Kraft and Mondelez, prioritize profit over health. UPFs, linked to obesity, diabetes, and cancer, account for over 50% of U.S. caloric intake. The food industry nets billions annually, with lobbying ensuring lax federal oversight. The FDA, which is accused of being influenced by the giants, struggles to regulate harmful additives, despite evidence linking them to inflammation and metabolic disorders.
Globally, the U.S. fares poorly. Heart disease affects 11.5% of Americans, compared to 6.5% in Japan. Diabetes prevalence is 11.5% here, double Canada’s 5.7%. Cancer incidence is 352 per 100,000 in the U.S., higher than the UK’s 319. Efforts to reverse this include FDA sodium reduction initiatives and SNAP subsidies for healthier foods, but progress is slow. Community programs like the Diabetes Prevention Program show promise but lack scale.
We’re not alone, but our chronic disease burden is unmatched among wealthy nations. As noted above, I am back on track and hope you will make the needed changes too. Get rid of the sugar, choose organic, and embracing nature’s bounty—fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Every morning, I start with a liquid breakfast, 100% healthy. I have a sensible lunch, dinner is at 5pm and small portions are the key. Small changes can spark big results.
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