Eat this; don't eat that!
That's good for you but this is much better!
That was okay to consume back then but it's not okay to do so now.
And so it begins. Food wars and controversies.
The experts seem to be a dime a dozen these days, instructing the general public what foods they should or shouldn't purchase. I have scrolled through endless YouTube channels and Googled a myriad of health topics, particularly those that are attributed to nutrition, and what I have discovered is an alarming number of so-called experts who appear to have performed much extensive research and investigation. I sometimes wonder if these people are employed by the CDC, FDA or the USDA. I mean, are they being honest and truthful in conveying the nutritional facts? Who can we really believe or trust these days?
There is so much information that's being circulated on the internet, one can become overwhelmed and totally confused by it all. On one hand, there's the general physician who is keen on dispensing pharmaceutical drugs as the solution to their patients' ailments. On the other hand, there's the naturopathic and holistic guru who will advise you otherwise by promoting food that is in its raw and natural, organic state.
Companies are popping up all over God's green earth that are manufacturing and marketing all types of vitamins and supplements...so much so that it's really difficult to keep track of what these products really are. Granted, do we even know that what's tagged on the container labels is what's inside? Are those capsules as potent as they state or are they intended to give one the placebo effect? It's crucial to investigate the item's source (place of origin), the ingredients (whether or not the names listed are familiar or even pronounceable) and the actual production date (used for product freshness, quality, longevity or stability).
With the rise in inflation and cost of living expenses, food prices are always expected to increase as well. Changes in government policies have brought about an upheaval in the economy that has become financially challenging for folks who are within a certain income bracket and who are dependent on a monthly budget. It is therefore crucial for everyone to be concerned about purchases that will affect their health and well-being.
Along with that, there's the issue of food being recalled and alerts that crop up almost weekly in the news outlets. It's usually related to mishandling of food (food safety) or more recently, to some bacteria or virus such as the one that's related to the bird flu situation. Have you seen the price of eggs in this country lately?
There have been isolated cases of individuals who have detected insects and amphibians in packaged products. I often wonder what is concealed in the canned products that I buy since the contents aren't as transparent or visible to the naked eye. Case in point: I have bought milk products and have found them curdled at first opening, even though the expiration date was shown to be weeks away. I have cut into many an avocado and found them rotten to the core.
Food technology has fully embraced the manufacture of lab-made products. I mean, really! The food supply rate is apparently unable to rise to the level of consumer demand hence the need for other means of fulfillment. If you look closely at some food labels, in fine print you'll see whether the product was "made from genetic material (GMO)" or "derived from bio-engineered products." Organic sources would be the better option, obviously; but then again, there's a controversial discussion floating around in some circles with regard to the validity of what is truly organic.
I've just covered the bases of this topic which could extend into a more in-depth discussion. The point I wanted to make was that we should do our due diligence when it comes to shopping for groceries at our local supermarkets:
Choose whole and natural instead of processed foods.
Pay attention to ingredient labels; select the few and simple vs the long and scientific.
Check the product's expiration dates.
Note the sources of origin and production times.
Inspect all packaging for safety, identified by tamper-proof seals.
Above all else, get to know your body and what fuel it needs to function at its optimum best. God made these earthly vehicles of ours to operate at full capacity. We are not all created equal in the sense that what may be beneficial for one individual may not be beneficial for all. Be well-informed about the nutrients that your personal vehicle needs.
Knowledge is power, your health matters and prevention is far better than cure.
Let's do our best and entrust God with the rest.
Cheers to a healthy life! ♥
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