Key Messages
The Crisis Of Ultra-Processed Foods And How We Can Do Better For Our Health And The Planet
Eating ultra-processed food is damaging to both our health and to the planet, causing high rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Co2 emissions.
Luckily there are solutions for fixing these issues that can be found in Food Fix Book.
By learning which foods to avoid and understanding how our governments should be acting when it comes to food production and consumption, we can make the future more sustainable.
Furthermore, you’ll learn how a Guatemalan farmer is leading the charge in creating a better future; what went wrong with the ‘Green Revolution’; and how eating sustainably-sourced meat can still play an important role in protecting the environment.
With this knowledge, we can improve our own personal health and reduce damage to the planet by adopting more sustainable food practices.
How Our Food System Is At The Root Of Many Global Crises
The most dire issues of our times can all be connected to one basic element – our food.
This may come as a surprise when considering the limitless possibilities of global crisis and conflict, however the deep-rooted source of these problems lies in our dietary habits.
The very fundamental health conditions of millions of people are plummeting due to changes and alterations in our dietary compositions.
An increase in processed and sugary foods has caused cruelly fatal diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer to skyrocket with 50 million people killed annually.
Shockingly enough this catastrophe was completely avoidable but unfortunately it has already cost us trillions financially.
Anxiety rises even further when vulnerable populations are considered; deprived child nutrition in developing countries leads to stunted intellectual development and deteriorating health conditions worsen the inequality gap between classes extended by generations yet to come.,
It does not stop there!
Destructive agricultural practices around the globe exponentially add to climate change due to elimination of CO2 absorbing habitats and massive deployment of dangerous fertilizers and pesticides that pose an exponential threat on ecosystems as well as human beings Furthermore, Big agribusinesses act as a constant appendage in environmental degradation create dead zones in oceans each day; toxicity being hundreds times more than those cause by fossil fuels companies combined
Therefore all these issues exhibit one single unifying factor – food – so it is pivotal that we take a comprehensive approach towards problem solving rather than trying to list all separately
The Scary Cost Of Bad Food: How Ill Health Is Draining Our Economies And Could Be Used To Transform The Planet
Want to know how bad food can be truly devastating? Look no further than the economic cost of bad food.
In 2018, US scientists published reports that found that in 2016 alone, the direct costs associated with treating chronic health conditions totaled more than $1 trillion!
And if you factor in loss of income, productivity and impact on caregivers, the total indirect costs accounted for an astonishing $2.6 trillion.
But the effects don’t stop there!
The estimated costs of chronic illness from poor dietary habits over a period of 35 years came to an incredible $95 trillion.
This mind-boggling sum is mostly attributed to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic illnesses caused by consuming unhealthy food.
Shockingly, in America today it’s estimated that 60% of people are living with one or more chronic condition due to their diet.
But believe it or not that’s just the tip of the iceberg – when we scale up these findings globally they reach staggering proportions – even quadrillions of dollars in terms of total economic cost!
It’s undeniable then; just how destructive our industrial diet is to both our personal and financial wellbeing.
Without a doubt, this should prompt us all to make better dietary decisions if we’re serious about transforming our planet into a healthier place for ourselves and others.
We Must Act Now To Save Our Planent From Big Agribusiness’ Environmental Disaster
It’s a fact that Big agribusiness is stroing up an environmental disaster for the world.
Intensive farming is killing our soil, which is a sensitive, vital environment filled with microorganisms, fungi and worms.
Without healthy soil, we can’t farm crops or animals.
And as we continue to erode it by intensive farming, all of the stored CO2 in the soil is released into the atmosphere – leading to more global warming.
In addition, chemical fertilizers are used to supplement nutrient-poor soils.
However, this chemical run off can be devastating to our rivers, lakes and oceans when they end up there – creating massive dead zones and poisoning drinking water sources like what happened in Toledo, Ohio with Lake Erie.
Pesticides are also required for big agri-businesses but these chemicals not only harm humans but devastate natural ecosystems and kill of entire species – particularly pollinators like honey bees and butterflies who are essential for crop production.
If something isn’t done about this soon then it’s a bleak future ahead of us with no food or humans left on earth.
We have a choice now though if we act fast: change to more sustainable farming methods and dietary habits or face certain destruction.
The Green Revolution: How It Failed To End World Hunger And What Can Be Done
The Green Revolution has unfortunately not been all positive and the systems that were put in place to combat world hunger are now failing.
Part of this is due to the heavy reliance on processed food with high calories and low nutrition, as well as the huge amount of farming used for animal feed, biofuel and wasted.
This is preventing those who need access to food from actually getting it, leading to millions still going hungry each night.
Another problem caused by the Green Revolution revolves around genetically modified foods and their over-reliance on pesticides and herbicides which have created ‘superbugs’ and ‘superweeds’.
Additionally, despite promises of secure livelihoods for farmers, many have become indebted due to buying fertilizers, seeds and pesticides from large corporations.
This situation has become so bad that entire villages in India have witnessed an increasing number of suicides by farmers due to debt owed.
If we want things to change, we must find solutions that can create real progress towards ending global hunger once and for all.
We Can Speak With Our Forks To Make The Food Industry More Sustainable And Nutritious
The bottom line is this: Food that’s good for you is also good for the planet.
When we make an effort to choose healthier food options, we’re indirectly putting pressure on big agribusinesses and food corporations to change their practices.
When it comes to vegetables, whole foods, and grains, it’s important to make sure they were farmed in a way that doesn’t use synthetic pesticides or abuse water resources.
You should also strive to create meals where meat is the side dish, with vegetables covering more than half of your plate.
And with meat, opt for grass-fed organic when possible.
For fish, go for those that are sustainably-caught and high in omega-3 but low in mercury — like anchovies, mackerel, and wild-caught salmon.
Lastly for dairy products, opt for 100 percent grass-fed and organic when possible – if not sheep or goat-derived products instead of cattle ones.
This is due to the fact that the ways modern society raise cattle goes against animal cruelty ideals as well as environmental values.
Ultimately you should always seek out sustainably grown food while listening to your body’s needs at the same time.
With this balance you can be sure both you and our planet stay healthy!
Governments Can Resist Corporate Power And Achieve Progress In The Food Industry
The power of big business and food lobbyists in government is undeniable.
Oftentimes, legislative proposals which could benefit the public are shut down by corporate interests that make generous donations to politicians or pressure government officials with threats and promises.
But despite this powerful lobbying, governments can still take action against harmful corporations in certain cases.
One example comes from Chile, where a doctor named Guido Girardi was elected to the Senate and determined to take on the country’s food industry.
He then gathered an alliance of nutrition experts and created a bill which legislated healthier options for consumers.
Despite veiled corporate threats, Girardi’s bill was passed successfully.
This impressive law included banning cartoon characters from advertising junk food, removing sodas from schools, adding warning logos to products high in sugar and salt content, as well as requiring advertisements to include physical activity and healthy eating messages.
These far-reaching measures immediately changed the way people thought of nutrition and forced companies to shift their marketing strategies drastically.
Similarly in America, Larry Summers and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a soda tax with similar positive results on reducing its consumption while also providing resources for the construction of public schools and recreation centers that further highlighted this success story.
So even though food lobbyists wield tremendous influence over policymaking procedures, governments have shown that there is hope for progressive legislation when decisions are driven by popular arguments rather than corporate interests alone.
The Key To Sustainable And Healthy Agriculture Is Regenerative Farming
The health of the planet and its people depends on regenerative agriculture.
Traditionally, farming practices have typically led to soil degradation and depletion of natural resources; however, shifting toward more sustainable models of farming can shift this direction.
Regenerative agriculture involves taking steps to maintain and improve soil fertility, along with other core principles like optimal crop rotation and use of livestock for fertility.
No-till methods reduce soil disturbance by using seed drills instead of plowing, which enhances beneficial microorganisms in the soil, reduces runoff and evaporation, promotes water retention and overall soil health.
With rigorous crop rotation involving different types of crops to prevent diseases or keep nutrients balanced is also important part of regenerative farming.
Lastly, incorporating livestock into a farm’s landscape helps replenish soils with their manure, urine, and saliva naturally stimulating plant growth.
This holistic approach rests on harmony between the land’s natural elements rather than being woven against nature‘s helix.
When put into practice at large scale produces healthy food for people while preserving the ecological services that keep our planet livable for all species.
Innovative Farming Practices Are Leading The Way To Sustainability And A Healthier Future
Innovative farming practices are becoming more popular around the world as people become more aware of the effects of climate change and unhealthy eating.
One of the leaders in this movement is Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, the founder of Main Street Project, a unique poultry farm that uses agroforestry techniques in Guatemala.
Agroforestry involves using forests of hazelnut trees to raise free-range poultry.
This technique mimics chickens’ natural jungle environment while providing natural protection from predators and ample food sources for the birds.
Plus, legumes and grains can be grown alongside the chickens, allowing farmers to save money by eliminating their need to buy outside chicken feed.
Furthermore, these farms act as a form of natural pest control because chickens eat many insects.
Hazelnuts harvested from these forests make for an additional source of income for farmers who add them to their egg or chicken sales.
Lastly, these fallen nuts and chicken droppings nourish soil and other crops with necessary nutrients.
The fundamental element behind Reginaldo’s Main Street Project is finding balance between ecologic, economic, and social concerns when approaching agriculture.
This whole living ecosystem is both sustainable and profitable—it’s better for the farmers who work in it, better for the animals who live in it without being taken advantage of, better for its local environment which isn’t saturated with pesticides or chemicals, and ultimately better for all humans on earth since maintaining a livable planet is essential for everybody’s future.
Innovation farming methods are quickly becoming popular in order to ensure everyone keeps healthy diets as well as take care of our planet properly so we can all enjoy it together!
Wrap Up
The Food Fix Book provides a comprehensive overview of the many ways in which our current food system is unsustainable, and proposes solutions.
In a nutshell: the Western diet, with its focus on ultra-processed foods and intensive agriculture, is causing harm to both people and the planet.
To overcome these issues, governments must come up with progressive legislation that will put pressure on big agribusiness, while farmers must look into more regenerative farming practices.
Lastly, consumers can support their local allotment farmers by signing up for their services – helping them sustain their business while also providing access to fresh organic produce as well!
