Soaring Food Costs in U.S. hamper Healthy Consumption, according to American survey results
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Americans are feeling the pinch at the supermarket, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. Yikes, astronomical food costs! Nearly 90% of adults in the U.S. declare that the price of healthy grub has jacked up over the past few years, with over two-thirds (69%) confessing that higher costs are making it tough as nails to maintain a healthy diet.
Lower-income Americans took the hardest hit, with 47% encountering difficulties in making healthy meals compared to a mere 15% of high-income adults.
"Sure, the struggle is more evident for those on fixed or scraping by incomes, but don't think middle- and upper-income folks are completely off the hook," said Eileen Yam, director of science and society research at Pew. "Even the relatively well-off are admitting that steep food prices are making it harder to eat right."
Dr. David Katz, a preventive medicine expert and founder of the True Health Initiative, adds that our Western diet, focused on pricey animal products like meat and dairy, is the culprit.
"Beans and lentils are nutrition powerhouses and budget-friends. Prepare more dishes swapping costly animal foods for these budget-friendly options, and enjoy a noticeable improvement in diet quality while reducing costs," Katz suggested.
"Also, drink more plain water and less sugary beverages. And it's not the prices, but food label literacy that's really the impediment here."
It's not justus. More than a million Americans bite the dust annually due to diet-related illnesses such as obesity, cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Unhealthy diets and food insecurity cost the U.S. an estimated $1.1 trillion yearly in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
In the U.S., more than half of adults fail to meet the American Heart Association's diet recommendations, according to a recent analysis.
Still, nearly 60% of adults in the Pew survey rated their diet as somewhat healthy.
"Americans' ability to evaluate their diets is highly questionable," Katz cautioned. "We wouldn't ask individuals to guess their blood pressure. Why expect them to do the same for their diet quality?"
Individuals who ate more meals at home were more likely to rate their diets positively. About one-third of Americans who cooked and dined at home considered their diet exceptionally or very healthy, while only 12% of those who dined out frequently thought their diet was satisfactory.
Taste buds matter, but so does health. When it comes to choosing food, wego after flavor (83% listing taste as extremely or very important), with fewer people factoring in health (less than 50%).
"Taste reigns supreme, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or income," Yam explained. "After flavor, most Americans prioritize cost, healthiness of food, and convenience."
Low cost, convenience, and taste are defining features of ultra-processed foods, which tempt consumers with pleasure-maximizing mixes of sugar, salt, fat, and additives engineered to hit a "bliss point" of deliciousness. In the U.S., more than 70% of the food supply may be ultra-processed, according to a 2019 study.
These processed foods include ingredients "seldom used in home kitchens or classes of additives whose purpose is to make the final product palatable or more appealing," according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Many studies reveal that consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed food increases the risk of obesity and the development of chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. These foods may even shorten your life span.
Switching to a plant-based diet, like the Mediterranean diet, can improve health at any age.
"It's never too late to switch to a healthier eating style, and the benefits can be enormous, reducing total premature deaths and various causes of premature death," said Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology and chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
"There's a lot of flexibility when creating your own healthy dietary pattern, but common principles—eating more plant-based foods and fewer servings of red meat, processed meats, added sugar, and sodium—should stand solid, irrespective of the diet you choose."
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- Despite the challenges, nearly 60% of adults rate their diet as somewhat healthy, possibly due to more meals being prepared at home.
- The struggle to maintain a healthy diet, especially due to rising food costs, is not limited to lower-income Americans; even the relatively well-off find it hard.
- Aiming for a healthier lifestyle doesn't have to break the bank – consider swapping costly animal foods with budget-friendly options like beans and lentils.
- Nutrition powerhouses like beans and lentils are not only budget-friendly but also contribute to an improvement in diet quality.
- It's important to be mindful of food label literacy rather than escape the challenges by focusing on food prices.
- Ultra-processed foods, which are high in sugar, salt, fat, and additives, are often less expensive, convenient, and pleasurable, but come with health risks including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
- Adopting a plant-based diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can improve health at any age and reduce the risk of premature deaths.
- To optimize well-being, consider a shift towards a healthier eating style, focusing on more plant-based foods and fewer servings of red meat, processed meats, added sugar, and sodium, while still ensuring personal-finance management through budgeting for healthy-cooking and eating food-and-drink options aligned with your health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and lifestyle goals.
