On February 5th, 2015 the Washington Post published the following article:
Where people around the world eat the most sugar and fat - The Washington Post http://buff.ly/16Zm3hr
The article displays 3 graphics, each of which speaks volumes. I felt compelled to comment on this article given that it's graphics tell us so much about the state of America. When combined US Government data (below), an important story is told:
My reply:
To be candid, the first graph (seen below) holds zero charm for me.
The first graph (above) implies Americans eat too much "fat-and-sugar," as if fat-and-sugar are one food. In the press and in research "fat-and-sugar" is to blame for modern chronic diseases like obesity (now termed a disease), diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, more.
By separating fat and sugar the graphs that follow in the story above (please see original article at http://buff.ly/16Zm3hr , graphs in blue) reveal the truth of the matter. Americans, among the most obese in the world, do not consume as much fat as other countries. Americans, among the most obese in the world, consume the most sugar by far.
It should be noted eating more carbohydrates and less fat only became the trend after 1977, the year the first Dietary Guidelines for Americans was issued. These new US guidelines recommended more carbohydrates, less fat. Americans complied. Obesity is the result of dutiful compliance by American citizens with US guidelines, not the non-compliance we are so often accused of.
First Americans complied (see graph above), then Americans got fat and sick (see graph below).
We must wake up and smell the (pastured) bacon if we are to climb out of our sad predicament. We must turn back time to regain health. Modern America eats too many carbohydrates (>43% of calories, the percentage of carbohydrates calories we consumed prior to 1977) and especially refined carbohydrates (sugars, cereals, baked goods, etc). As a nation, we do not consume enough fat, particularly well-sourced (from pastured animals, virgin coconut oil, etc.) natural fats. A diet higher in well-sourced fats, moderate in high quality protein and lower in carbohydrates (43% or less of calories) with restrictions on refined carbohydrates could shrink our waistlines and re-capture our health.
That is the real news. Thank you for reading.