I grew up on a farm, and therefore I am quite familiar with fresh foods straight from the farm to table. But most of us today find farm-fresh foods changing hands from producers to buyers to markets and numerous steps between such as processing and marketing with many handlers in the process. March is National Nutrition Month sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), along with its more than 112,000 registered dietitians and other credentialed practitioners. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Table,” draws attention to the involvement of agriculture and industry’s role in supplying the foods we eat.
Food is a necessary part of life and well-being, and no one survives without it. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), poor nutrition is a leading cause of illnesses in the United States, and nearly 60 percent of Americans have poor diets or eating habits. This translates into higher healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and more than a half million deaths each year caused or influenced by the foods we eat.
But many take advantage of our gullibility to look better, feel better, and live longer. Numerous individuals seek to prey on the uninformed and extract their money with no essential gain toward their health goals. Just look at the many diets out there and the rich and famous who tout how some weird diet helped them. What do they know about nutrition and healthy food? Not much. Is food medicine? In a day with frequent bombardments of multiple diets and nutrition sources, who can we believe? It’s past time for Americans to seek reliable information.
Registered dietitian nutritionist professionals, specialized in varied aspects of food from production and distribution to medical nutrition therapy plus the meals and snacks we consume, help consumers make wiser decisions about food choices for healthier living. Wednesday March 13, 2024, is National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. It recognizes and honors these healthcare team members for their efforts in helping consumers remain healthy by eating nutritious foods or treating food-related conditions by maintaining diets related to their health status.
And what about all the pills and potions advertised? While many waste needed income replacing real nutritious food, some are dangerous. This National Nutrition Month, be informed. Eat healthy and enjoy a longer life.
Nine Selected Reliable Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide-chapter-diet-weight-loss-healthy-eating-nutrition
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/topics/nutrition
https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/food-and-diabetes
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diet-nutrition
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition
