A brief review of the evolution of the American diet and how it may be related to changes in American health.

1. The American Diet
The Health Crisis of the
20th Century

2. The Industrial Revolution and its
effects of the American Diet
 Increase use of
chemicals
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Cosmetics
 Preservatives
• Nitrates
• Sulfites
• BHA & BHT
• MSG
•Artificial Sweeteners
• Saccharin
• Aspartame
• Splenda/Sucralose

3. Industrial Revolution, cont.
 Microwaves
 Drugs
 GMO’s (genetically modified products)
 Food irradiation
 Processing
 Caffeine
 rBGH (Bovine growth hormone)
 Antibiotics

4. Food Preparation
1900 – Only 5.6% or married women
worked outside the home.
Up to forty hours per week were devoted
to preparation of food
By 2000, Women composed nearly fifty
percent of the workforce

5. Change in Food Groups
From 1920 to 1930 grains and
vegetables were gradually omitted
Substantial rise in meat and dairy
consumption, American weight
problems began to rise

6. Fortification
Food fortification began in 1924 with
iodized salt
Nutrients such as calcium and iron were
added to the food supply which
enhanced the health of the nation.

7. Meals Away from Home
and Fast-Foods
1940 Introduction of Fast Food by the
McDonald brothers
The rise of take-out foods and fast-foods
increased the calories and fat consumed
by Americans
Sugar consumption increased with the
rise in carbonated soft drinks

8. Changing Statistics
 1900 – America was
the healthiest of all
93 civilized countries
• No processed foods
• Heart disease
accounted for 1/7
deaths
• By 1978, the US had
dropped to 79th place
1920 – average grocery
store carried 800 items
Today – over 10,000
items found in grocery
stores
MAJOR DIFFERENCE –
Introduction of
commercially
processed foods into
our daily diet

9. Sugar statistics
 Today, American each more than 71 pounds of
sugar/sweeteners annually. This is 20
teaspoons of sugar daily (1/2 cup)
 75% of sugar consumed is added by food
processors.
 Sugar consumption is linked with numerous
diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart
disease

10. Fat Statistics
 Fats and oils make up 37% of calories in the
Standard American Diet (SAD)
 French fries, doughnuts, fried chicken, pizza,
and cheese cake are common in the SAD
 Commonly used oils are coconut and palm oil
– very high in saturated fats and dangerous to
cardiovascular health
 Hydrogenated oils are very common today –
this process has been used since the 1930’s

11. Protein Statistics
 Year 1900: There was a 1:1 ratio between
animal protein and plant protein
 Today: There is a 2:1 ratio of animal protein
to plant protein
There is a concern that the increase of animal
protein has contributed to the increase in
kidney stones as well as other health
concerns

12. Collectively, fat and sugar provide almost
two-thirds of the total calories in the
American diet today.
Unfortunately, both are high in calories,
low in nutrients and put undue stress on
our bodies, particularly the
cardiovascular system.

13. Salt statistics
 Food processing has also altered normal table
salt (sodium chloride)
 Salt producing companies now dry their salt in
huge kilns – temperatures reach 1200 F which
alters the chemical structure of salt, which can
have an adverse affect on the human body
 For thousands of years, people typically ate
1200-1600 mg of salt daily
 Today the average consumption is 6-20 grams
which is ten to thirty times as much

14. Sea Salt
Dried naturally, at low temperatures by
the rays of the sun
Unprocessed and unheated sea salt
contains both natural sodium chloride
and additional trace minerals essential to
good health
Sea salt may be used sparingly by most
people

15. Health Related Problems to SAD
 Obesity
 Arthritis
 Allergies
 Cardiovascular
Disease has doubled
since 1900
 Diabetes has
doubled since 1900
 Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
 Fibromyalgia
 Increase in Kidney
stones
 Depression
 Poor memory