Before I air my grievances, I just want to convey that It's imperative that you do your own research. I've found that this information is valid, but it doesn't hurt to dig around yourself. The internet is an invaluable source of knowledge, so if it's available to you, don't squander it's ability to enhance you, and those around you.
I came across this article earlier this morning, and thought I'd share both the article, and my notions on the matter. If you guys are able to read this entire post, I applaud your tenacity.
Also, try to be weary of what online studies state or exhibit, especially if it benefits a corporation or entity in some way. I'm pretty cynical when it comes to the motives of companies, organizations, and politicians. I don't doubt many of their findings are valid, but it would be naive to think your well being is of chief importantance. Effects of growth hormone, pesticides, preservatives, and the like will only show negative effects later in life, so how could anyone really correspond the crap they eat now, to the cancer they get later in life?
Here's the link to the aforementioned article:
http://www.panews.com/news/x1783702808/Study-says-too-much-protein-could-lead-to-early-death The article discusses the ramifications of a diet high in meat, milk, and cheese, which is pretty common in the United States. One could make the argument that we're all going to die anyways, so who cares if we eat poorly? That argument is also applicable to smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs, and the like. You could even further the argument by stating how some people live to be 100, and sustain these type of poor habits.
First of all, eating poorly, and sustaining other bad habits, only increases the chance you will earn an early grave. If someone is uninhibited in terms of how they treat their bodies, and manages to live a long time, it's merely a fluke. Even if they live a long time, I guarantee it's not what you or I would call 'living'.
When you take care of yourself, you feel vigorous, elated, alert, and robust. For example, how do you feel after eating something healthy vs something unhealthy? Personally, I feel fatigued, drowsy, bloated, and sluggish, after eating something unhealthy, such as pizza, hamburgers, and the like.
Frankly, healthy food can be just as savory as the unhealthy, but it's more of an acquired taste. It's easier to enjoy a cheese pizza, but if you eat salad long enough, it can be just as gratifying, especially afterwards.
Plus, we rely too heavily upon food for happiness, which is apart of a larger underlying issue in society. People tend to relieve unhappiness or stress in a abhorrent way, such as the reliance on 'comfort foods'. Since this is the status quo, eating poorly affects peoples health, which forces them to visit their physician, which impacts health care costs for everyone.
Personally, I find exercise and/or meditation, a great way to release stress, and stymie any anger or depression. Food is just something I use for sustenance, not a means to become happy. I care less, and less how it tastes, since it can easily cause addiction in my own life.
Also, don't feel compelled to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, since it's an erroneous belief to begin with. People follow this social construct without question, just like everything else in life.
Here's a link to an article I googled, but I'm sure you could find better ones:
http://www.alternet.org/story/152486/there_is_no_biological_reason_to_eat_three_meals_a_day_–_so_why_do_we_do_it
Not convinced that you should alter you eating habits?
Keep in mind that large transnational corporations are profiting at your expense. Not only are they taking your hard earned money, but they are poisoning you in the process. Companies knowingly put preservatives, and chemicals to increase shelf life, and enhance the flavor of food, at your expense. These so called ingredients are often carcinogenic (meaning they cause cancer) or debilitating in some way. This also applies towards other products, such as fluoride in toothpaste, yellow 6 in haircare products (among other things), chloroform/arsenic in bottled water, aluminum in deodorant, and the like. Before I continue, bottled water is not a better alternative to tap water, and in most cases, it is tap water that's marketed as water from a spring, aquifer or some pristine water source.
Don't let these corporations profit on your very lives, which are more important than all the money, and riches in the world. That's one of the chief reasons why I only eat food that I've cooked at home, since I know exactly what I'm consuming, plus I get the satisfaction of being able to cook for myself. In addition, I don't really trust waiters, cooks, and food runners to handle my food. I've worked in the restaurant industry before, so I have experience first hand.
Not only does changing your eating habits benefit you physically or mentally, it benefits you economically as well. You waste less money by eating limited portions, going grocery shopping, and buying fresh ingredients. Meaning you have a larger disposable income and/or more money to add to your savings account.
Trust me, you will notice the positive effects that healthy eating incites. I've been a vegan for four years now, and I've never been healthier in all my life. I do take multivitamin supplements however, since omitting meat from my diet deprives me of a couple of nutrients, but I hardly mind, since the cost is negligible, and supplement consumption is quite common.
If you read my grievances in their entirety, you're amazing, and I wish you all a fantastic day!!!