The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending machines in virtually every corner of residential America has created a serious nutritional problem. "Snacking" ? a harmless-sounding verb that deceptively implies something unobjectionable ? has reached addictive proportions[i].
The manifestation of this addiction goes beyond mere obesity something that is widely considered to be a severe public health crisis[ii]. Even among non-obese Americans, researchers are identifying a wave of general malnutrition that is sweeping across the country due to addictive snacking habits[iii].
This addiction to snacking is enhanced, ironically, by the rather confusing range of so-called diet-friendly foods on the market. Some foods that are dubbed "lo-carb" diet-foods are actually causing weight gain among some dieters[iv]. In fact, some "lo-carb" labeled foods are comprised of little more than unhealthy saturated fats and even worse, they have an incredibly high calorie count[v].
Furthermore, many self-professed "lo-carb" foods are dangerously devoid of essential proteins and vitamins. The resulting nutritional shortage often compels dieters ? even subconsciously -- to crave stimulating foods of all kinds. These cravings often include what is closest at hand: snacks and other nutritionally bankrupt junk foods.
Snacking is indeed a problem that America must begin resolving within the first few years of this 21 century. A real, practical, tangible solution is required now more than ever before, because education and awareness are not enough.
This does not imply that education and awareness aren't vital allies in the fight against snacking and unhealthy eating. Education and awareness have played an important role thus far, and have helped create a number of healthier eating options. Indeed, the "lighter fare" choices in restaurants, and the occasional granola bar in a vending machine that is otherwise loaded with chocolate bars, are worthy gains that education and awareness have inspired. Yet education and awareness are, in and of themselves, evidently not halting this epidemic addiction to snacking quickly enough.
Adding to the problem is that so many of these junk food products are packaged in a way that implies some semblance of nutritional value. Terms like "on the go" or "instant meal" or "for busy lifestyles" adorn many packages for foods that are virtually nothing more than glorified snack foods foods that are absolutely not providing the vitamins and proteins that a healthy diet requires.
Therefore, a new approach to solving this problem is required one that stems from the momentum gained by awareness and education, but delivers a real, tangible product in the hands of Americans who want to regain control over what makes them move.
Attempts have been made, especially in the last decade, to provide Americans with this tangible solution. Nutritional energy bars now line the counter shelves of many convenience stores, and instead of energy infusion via a chocolate bar, more people are opting for these seemingly "healthier". This is a positive step but it is not enough.
Products such as these mentioned above, while somewhat better than candy bars, are not rich in essential proteins or fortified by essential vitamins. So while "snackers" are better off after eating one of these nutritional bars than they would be if they consumed a bag of potato chips, they are not as well off as they think they are or that the nutritional bar packaging implies that they will be. These snackers still face a shortage of protein and essential vitamins a shortage that is not going to be filled unless additional nutrition is provided.
It is within this paradigm ? the search for a complete "tangible" nutrition source that is rich in protein and essential vitamins ? that forward-thinking companies are engineering smarter products. These nutritionally advanced solutions are carbohydrate-free, fat-free, and low calorie complete meal sources for snackers of all types, including those that are dieting.
There are, admittedly, only a very small number of companies and products that are delivering nutritionally intelligent products into the hands of snackers. However, the fact that these progressive companies ? and their innovative products ? exist is a positive sign, and one that just may eventually be the turning point in America's war against poor eating habits.
About Protica
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.
References
[i] Source: "Survey: America's Addicted to Snacking". Channel 3000 Health. http://html.channel3000.com/sh/health/conditionsaz/ news-health-990730-141923.html
[ii] Source: "Obesity Epidemic `Astronomical'". WebMD. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/57/66035.htm
[iii] Source: "Americans Shrinking ad Junk Food Takes its Toll". Guardian Unlimited Special Reports. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1185457,00.html
[iv] Source: "Low Carb Confusion". MSN Diet and Fitness. http://diet.fitness.msn.com/article/773599.armx
[v] Source: "Low Carb Diets". ABC& Chicago. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/connectwithkids/ 091504_cwk_lowcarb.html
Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com
apartment cleaning near Glenview ..Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national... Read More
A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More
How many magazines have you read where they tell you... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
If you are like most people, you've tried dieting before.... Read More
Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More
Ambrotose? - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
My name is Mildred Shears. I'm retired and I live... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in... Read More
Whenever possible, we should try to get our antioxidants and... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
It slows ageing, promotes healthy vision, has anti-cancer properties, increases... Read More
Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for... Read More
residential cleaning services Morton Grove ..Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E.... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More
Most red and white meats are very fatty and are... Read More
Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the... Read More
Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More
In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.A.... Read More
When you take your food next time, take care of... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
Meal sizes and frequency are very important. Over the years... Read More
Nutrition |