The American Diet

Words: 735
Pages: 3

In the United States, 65% of adults are either obese or overweight. Obesity is often caused by an unhealthy diet and one of the most prominent unhealthy diets is currently the American Diet. The American Diet is a growing epidemic which causes an array of diseases and problems. The American Diet is an important social issue. Some of the main aspects of this diet are what are the characteristics of the American Diet, what are are the effects of the American Diet, and how can people prevent the American Diet. The American Diet has many characteristics that help define its structure and and the foods generally associated with it. One of the main identifying features of the American Diet is its history and origin. The American Diet has changed …show more content…
One of the effects that is caused by this diet is cancer. A study by the University of Texas showed that high levels of sugar in a normal diet, similar to the amounts in the typical American Diet, caused lung and breast cancer in mice. Cancer is the second largest cause of death in the U.S. and one third of those deaths are caused by diet. The American Diet also helps to weaken the immune system. The immune system helps protect the body against disease and infection. While eating the foods on this diet, humans are also more likely to get colon and prostate cancer because of their weakened immune system. Another effect of this diet are various diseases. In the United States alone, over 64 million people suffer from cardiovascular disease due to an improper diet. People are also more likely to contract type II diabetes because of the high amounts of sugar in this diet. They also have higher blood pressure and have an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke. In conclusion, the American Diet causes many types of …show more content…
One way people can substitute this diet is by eating a more healthy diet. An example of this kind of diet is the Prudent Diet. The Prudent Diet is composed of fruits, vegetables, unprocessed grains, beans, nuts, fish and low-fat dairy. This diet helps guard against heart disease and stroke, making it almost an opposite of the American Diet. It also helps lower fat, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI). It lowers the risk of cancer and diabetes. This diet also helps with weight loss. One of the main principles of this diet is that the quality of the food matters. Another way people can prevent this diet is lowering their intake of unhealthy foods. Limiting a person’s amount of foods filled with starch or sugar can help with lowering their intake of unhealthy foods. Therefore, there are many alternatives to the American Diet. In conclusion, humans can help prevent the American Diet in several ways.
The American Diet is an issue in our community today that demands serious thought. The American diet has many different characteristics, and the effects of this range go from obesity to heart disease. Eating smaller amounts of problem foods and changing the diet altogether are the two prominent alternatives. It seems that the idea of the American Diet gives people a moral dilemma. Everyone has to choose whether to put their health in jeopardy by eating what they love, or eat healthier. Are you willing to put your life on