Nutritional Wellness
Submitted by: Paula Freeman and Corie Kovach, MD, FACOG
Ohio currently has the eleventh highest adult obesity rate in the United States. The Buckeye State also has the sixth highest obesity rate for ages 10-17, with a current rate of 18.6%. The adult obesity rate has steadily risen from 11.3% in 1990, to 20.6% in 2000, and now is now currently 33.8%. The adult obesity rate exceeds 25% in 48 states, 30% in 29 states, and 35% in 7 states. West Virginia being our “fattest” state in the Union at 38.1%! Obesity has become an American epidemic accompanied by a myriad of co-morbidities best typified by diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
But why in our “land of plenty” do we still have a large obese population with poor nutrition or even considered malnourished?
Since World War II our eating habits have included a 70-80% increase in sodas, pastries, and fat laden, salty foods. With that increase, we have decreased consumption of natural, whole and raw foods by at least 25%! This change is due to chemically fertilized and preserved produce, commercially managed crops, over-processed foods, and easy access to poor quality food-like substances. We produce more, so we eat more! However, this food we eat is not as nutritionally sound as the food from generations ago. As a result, an average adults diet consists of approximately 70% fats and sugars!
With all the “new and improved” products in our agriculture (GMO crops for example) and our food processing, as well as the logistics that can virtually get the food product to every corner of the country, how is it possible that we have such high rates of obesity, illness, and nutritional deficits in America today? The most noticeable factor would be the so called “improvements”. They have changed how we eat, what we eat, and when we eat so drastically that we are nutritionally starving ourselves while eating more food than ever before!
The human body was not designed to consume chemicals, fillers, dyes, and other unnatural products that are found in most boxed, canned, and bagged foods. This processing increases the level of toxins in the body which in turn can cause weight gain, pain, illness and worse larger disease entities. These conditions may cause the individual to seek medical help. Enlisting the help of Holistic Practitioner as well as a Nutritional Wellness Coach could greatly increase their chances of success by minimizing their toxin load and optimizing their nutritional path.
At Ohio Holistic Healthcare located at 570 North Leavitt Road in Amherst, we offer Family Medicine, Gynecology, Dermatology, Acupuncture, Nutritional Counseling, Essential Oils, as well as Medical Cannabis. Whether the goal is Physical, Emotional, Nutritional--or a combination of all three--we are here to tailor an individual program to improve the whole patient their quality of life!
