Attention Seniors: Five Simple Steps to Better Health by Ed Dodge

Author:Ed Dodge [Ed Dodge, MD]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stratton Press
Published: 2022-07-13T06:00:06+00:00

Unhealthy or Questionable Foods

Topping the list of unhealthy foods are sugar and refined flour and the processed foods made with them. This includes a huge number of foods consumed by the public.

Sugar causes a variety of health problems. One way it does so is by binding with collagen.

Collagen provides elasticity in almost every organ and tissue in the body. Abundant collagen in arteries gives them great flexibility and resilience.

When sugar binds with collagen, it loses elasticity. This makes our arteries less elastic and more rigid, leading in turn to hypertension and vulnerability to heart disease and stroke.

Sugar causes the same kind of change in collagen everywhere in the body, making all our organs more susceptible to disease. Collagen gives our skin elasticity and flexibility. The skin of babies and children is very elastic and flexible. High sugar intake decreases the skin’s elasticity, making it age prematurely.

Understanding the way sugar damages our bodies can help you realize the importance of minimizing sugar intake. Unfortunately, sugar hides in many processed foods and is so seductive that many people ignore its hazards to health. Don’t let sugar make you a victim.

Refined flour has lost most of the fiber and nutrients found in whole wheat.

Refined flour is used to make a host of baked goods and many other foods. It is commercially attractive because it’s easier to use and has a longer shelf life than whole wheat flour. Many recipes that include sugar and chemical preservatives are crowd-pleasing, but they are not healthy foods.

Most meat sold in grocery stores today is factory-farmed meat harvested from huge numbers of animals or chickens raised in confined spaces.

It’s a seriously flawed process that’s not good for the animals or the environment.

Antibiotics are heavily used, contributing to widespread antibiotic resistance that is now a critical problem in human medical care.

Factory-farmed meat sold to the public is poor-quality meat that is often contaminated with traces of feces and living bacteria. Factory-farmed fish has many similar problems.

Organic or pasture-raised meat is better than factory-farmed meat. It’s wise to limit even this meat to four or less servings per week.

Eggs fall into a similar category. Most eggs in grocery stores come from chickens confined to small cages that allow minimal movement. Eggs produced in such factory conditions are cheap but low in quality.

Organic eggs produced by free-range chickens are more expensive but worth it. They can be eaten in moderation. A limit of no more than two per day is a good idea.

Dairy products are problematic. There is good reason to avoid or minimize them.

Cow’s milk is intended for calves, not humans. It is high in hormones to promote their growth.

Calves grow to adulthood rapidly, and they must gain an enormous amount of weight quickly.

This is not desirable for humans. Children should not drink cow’s milk, and there is no reason for adults to drink it either.

People who are lactose intolerant must avoid all dairy products.

Dr. Willett, chairman of Nutrition at Harvard, does not recommend milk as a beverage for adults. His book Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy is a good resource.

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