Say No to Chick-fil-A: Your Body Will Thank You

     Fox News commentator and Evangelical, Mike Huckabee, recently rallied for a Chick-fil-A "Customer Appreciation Day" in support of CEO Dan Cathy's outspoken views on the so-called "preservation of the sanctity of marriage." While this political propagation of bigotry for a minority group suffices to sour my appetite for nuclear chicken patties, my real distaste for Chick-fil-A are its horrible standards of nutrition.  As a student of nutrition science and someone who generally avoids eating garbage, I haven't exactly found a reason to grace the inside of a Chick-fil-A.  The kitschy name in itself has done little to persuade me that its menu might possibly offer anything outside of the "pink slime" variety.  

     Just glancing at some of the items on its online menu, I mourn for the bodies of Americans who recently showed up to Huckabee's event.  Sales increased by the millions as customers cashed-in to chow-down on chicken-byproducts all the while masquerading in some moral fight for marriage.  For example, the Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap--which may sound like a reasonable selection--contains 410 calories, 10 grams of fat, 32 grams of protein, and 1070 milligrams of sodium.  Dietary guidelines established by the American Dietetic Association have set the maximum limit of adequate intake of sodium for adults under the age of 51 at 1500 mg/day, so the fact that one of these wraps comes close to this number is unsettling.  Furthermore, the EER (estimated energy requirement) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, so depending on the weight of the individual ordering a Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap, 32 grams of protein may very well be close to their dietary needs for an entire day.  

     When looking at classic items, such as the Chicken Sandwich, what is most alarming is the amount of sodium it contains: 1400 milligrams--100 milligrams shy of the 1500 mg/day maximum.  According to the results of numerous studies, high sodium intakes are associated with increased risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure.  An estimated 27-percent of adult Americans have hypertension, known as the "silent killer," because high blood pressure generally does not produce symptoms until organs and other vital systems are drastically damaged.

     In conclusion, I strongly discourage supporting any establishment that funds legislation for the execution of  any minority group, be it sexual orientation/race/religion/creed.   (http://thetruthpursuit.com/society/society-blogs/chick-fil-may-have-more-just-chicken-blood-its-hands/11304).  But if that's not enough to dissuade the typical American consumer, I can only hope that preservation of the sanctity of one's health will prevail.  After all, our bodies are our temple.

Food as Fuel: Reevaluating American Eating Habits

     Americans are in the midst of a food crisis.  With 4 of the 10 leading causes of death linked to diet (heart disease, stroke, diabetes 2, and some types of cancer), the eating habits of Americans are in fatal need of change.  The problem with which Americans are faced is an overwhelming abundance of convenient food choices--the culture behind eating in America is not of the mindset "what will best provide me with the nutrients my body needs," but rather, "what can I eat that is easy and satisfying to my taste buds."  If Americans began to more carefully contemplate food as optimal fuel and not a mere absolver of hunger, the less prevalent diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes would become.  

     The cells in our bodies rely on carbohydrates as a major source of vital energy.  Carbohydrates aid in breathing, muscle contraction, and circulation.  Americans predominantly consume refined carbohydrates containing added sugars that are quickly used up by the body, leaving us feeling hungry soon after we've eaten.  Because simple carbohydrate sources contain added sugars and are unable to sustain energy for long periods of time, their consumption often leads to over-eating and excessive caloric intake.
       White bread and white rice are two of the most common refined/processed grains and simple carbohydrates.  When a grain is whole, it remains intact and serves as a source of dietary fiber--fiber takes longer to be digested by the body and is slowly converted into energy that can be steadily used over a period of time.  Sources of dietary fiber are low in calories and can contribute to lower weight and lower cholesterol levels.  By opting for brown rice over white rice, whole wheat bread over white bread, and by avoiding refined grains that contain added sugars and little or no dietary fiber, Americans can significantly curb hunger and the onset of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.  Americans must alter their energy sources and replace simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates.  By doing so, they will achieve satiety and be less inclined to consume more calories than needed and more likely to maintain a healthy waistline.

Tip: When looking for whole grain/high fiber products, don't be fooled by claims.  Always check the Nutrition Facts Label: a product should contain 6 grams of fiber in order to be low in sugar.  Also look at the ingredients--if the word "whole" is not listed before "wheat flour," that product has undergone some amount of processing.