THE UNITED STATES HEALTH DILEMMA

Despite spending way more on healthcare than any other country ($4.9 trillion in 2023), including cutting-edge medical technology and education advances, the United States is not healthy. It is unranked among the 30 healthiest countries in the world.

The US faces several health challenges compared to other developed nations. Here are some key statistics illustrating that the US is not a particularly healthy population:

1. Life Expectancy
   • The US has a lower life expectancy compared to many other high-income countries.
   • 2022 US life expectancy: 76.4 years
   • Comparable countries (OECD average): 80+ years
   • Factors: High rates of chronic disease, drug overdoses, gun violence, and poor healthcare access.
2. Chronic Diseases
   • Heart Disease: Leading cause of death in the US, responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths (695,000 deaths per year).
   • Diabetes: 11.3% of US adults have diabetes, and nearly 38% have prediabetes.
   • Obesity: More than 42% of US adults are obese, compared to 25% in many European nations.
3. Mental Health Crisis
   • Depression & Anxiety:
   • Nearly 1 in 5 US adults (20%) experience a mental illness each year.
   • Suicide rates have increased by 30% since 2000.
   • Drug Overdoses and Medical Errors:
     • In 2022, over 107,000 people died from drug overdoses, primarily due to opioids, including fentanyl.
4. Poor Diet & Nutrition
   • Ultra-processed food consumption: Nearly 60% of daily calories come from ultra-processed foods.
   • Low fruit & vegetable intake: Only 1 in 10 Americans eat the recommended amount of grains, fruits, and vegetables.
5. Healthcare System Issues
   • High Costs, Low Outcomes: The US spends more on healthcare per capita than any other nation ($12,500 annually per person) but ranks poorly in health outcomes.
   • Uninsured Population: About 8.6% (28 million) of Americans lack health insurance, leading to delayed care and worse health outcomes.
6. Infant & Maternal Mortality
   • Maternal mortality rate: 23.8 deaths per 100,000 births—the highest among developed nations.
   • Infant mortality: 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than European nations (3 per 1,000).

These statistics show that despite being a wealthy nation, the US struggles with serious public health issues due to lifestyle factors, healthcare access, and systemic problems.

DIET HOPPING

Hundreds of different diets generally fall into a few broad categories based on their goals, restrictions, and philosophies. Here’s a breakdown of the major types of diets:

1. Weight Loss Diets
   • Designed to help reduce calorie intake and promote fat loss.
2. Low-Carb & High-Protein Diets
   • Focus on lowering carbohydrates and increasing protein for fat loss and muscle maintenance.
3. Plant-Based Diets
   • Emphasize fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins.
4. Medical & Therapeutic Diets
   • Designed for health conditions or medical needs.
5. Fasting & Time-Restricted Diets
   • Focus on when you eat rather than what you eat.
6. Cultural & Ethical Diets
   • Based on traditions, religions, or ethical choices.
7. Performance & Muscle-Gaining Diets
   • Focus on athletic performance and muscle growth.

With so many options and conflicting information, it’s no wonder that people are confused. Each diet praises its “unique” benefits, often supported by cherry-picking and manipulating the research. People are left stranded in ambiguity, uncertain about what to eat, especially if their # 1 objective is not for health reasons but strictly to lose weight. As a result, they bounce from one diet to another, ending up dissatisfied with the long-term results.

If you observe your pet cat, dog, fish, bird, or hamster, you’ll notice they are not confused about what to eat. Their food choices are usually simple, and they have no problems or complaints about consuming the same foods daily. They instinctively know what’s good for them and what tastes good. It’s a no-brainer. Does a “no-brainer” diet exist for humans? Based on my 16 years of experience and evidence-based research, my answer is a resounding YES! It’s a diet based on whole, plant foods, including grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits.

The Benefits:

1. Optimal health?
2. A robust immune system?
3. Prevention and reversal of chronic diseases?
4. A long and vibrant life?

Although there are many different diets, two opposing camps have emerged during the past several decades:

• High-Fat and Low-Carb content – These diets have been around for several decades, including the Atkins, South Beach, Zone, Paleo, and today’s popular Keto diets. Although there are minor differences between them, they are fundamentally very similar.
• ● Low Fat and High Carb content – On the other hand, high-carb, low-fat nutrition has existed for 25 million years. Plant foods have been the sustenance of some of the strongest animals that have ever inhabited the planet (i.e., great apes, elephants, water buffalo, rhinoceros, hippos, horses, and many species of dinosaurs).

Although humans are technically omnivores, we do our best when we eat whole plant foods. Earth’s healthiest and longest-living populations attest to that claim (i.e., The Blue Zones and populations from rural China, Japan, and Africa).

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE MODERN AMERICAN DIET?

THREE ISSUES THAT IMPAIR OUR HEALTH

1. Lack of Fiber in our diet – Fiber is the favorite food for our gut bacteria, and a healthy gut is our pathway to optimal health and essential for avoiding chronic diseases and premature death. Since fiber is only available in plant foods, people who consume large amounts of animal products don’t meet the minimum daily fiber requirement.
2. Overconsumption of Ultra-Processed Foods – All animals thrive on whole foods. Humans are no exception. The multi-billion dollar processed and fast food industries continue to grow as they expand their tentacles worldwide. As a result, the chronic disease pandemic increases annually, with cases and deaths far surpassing infectious disease cases and fatalities, including those from the three-year Covid pandemic.
3. Overconsumption of Refined Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates come from plants and have been the human body’s primary energy source throughout history. Whole carbs from grains, nuts, vegetables, and fruits are also nutrient-dense. In contrast, refined carbs (i.e., white rice, white bread, and refined sugar) are nutrient-deficient.

FINAL THOUGHT

Suppose you take the above three points seriously and increase your consumption of Whole Plant Foods. In that case, within weeks, you should begin noticing an improvement in your overall health, which may include a spike in energy and weight loss.