Are Certain Foods As Dangerous As We Are Led To Believe?
A healthy lifestyle goes beyond simply what we put in our mouths.
Just for the record, in the 50 or so years I've been placed on this earth, I have owned four dogs, Clover, Simba, Sasha, and Curly Q. I have owned seven cats, Salem, Willow, Peaches, Max, Kaiya, Nala, and Smokey. Smokey had a tumor on his front left leg and had to have an amputation. He adapted nicely with three legs and still maintained his good nature. For twenty-three of those fifty or so years years I have maintained a 55 gallon aquarium. I have owned anoles, hampsters and hermit crabs. I have a Russian Turtoise name Frank Sinatra ( he has a long skinny neck).
Hence, I am very much aware of the difference between pets and livestock. For the record I have never eaten any of them !
I do, however, understand the need to mass produce food and use alternative food sources in order to feed a planet that is already stretched at the seams and pretty close to exploding. But enough of that.
What I don't understand is why science keeps telling us that the food we eat is carcinogenetic, destroying our enviroment, unhealthy for human consumption and genetically mutated, yet we keep living longer.
Recently reports have flooded the internet with details of what not to eat. Cola-phosphoric acid eating away our insides, hot dogs- full of nitrates causing cancer, canned tomatoes- tomato acid leaches tin resulting in biphenol-A, bad stuff, micro-wave popcorn- lining of the bag produces perfluorooctanic acid, worse stuff, potatoes- root vegetable that absorbs herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, not good, farm raised salmon-PCBs and DDT, Strawberries are routinely sprayed with chemicals that are killing bumble bees, discouraging pollination, dairy cows on growth hormones -IGF-1, corn and soy are genetically mutated to the point that they are really not corn and soy any more.
I think you get my point.
Despite all this the average life expectancy in the USA is currently around 78.7 compared with 70.2 in 1970. Certainly advances in modern medicine play a role in this. It is however my firm belief, , that balance and moderation are keys to longevity. A cola now and then will not kill you, nor will an ear of corn, a ball park frank, or your Mom's pasta sauce.
A little exercise, a balanced diet, peace of mind and a good nights sleep are usually sufficient in countering the harmful effects of today's mass produced, chemically altered, groceries. Eat organic when you can.
Take care of your body but remember don't neglect your soul.
