Netflix nutrition

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called In Defense of Food. The PBS show is narrated by Michael Pollan, the author of the book in which the film was based upon, and focuses on debunking the myths and conflicting daily media claims about nutrition.

I have to say, I didn’t have great expectations as I thought I had already seen every credible film offered on Netflix in regards to nutrition. However, I can say that I was happily surprised.

The documentary started off with the story of a young boy that gained 30 lbs in a matter of one year, right under his parents’ noses. The main issue that the family found was that they believed they were doing a good job shopping and purchasing products branded with the word “healthy.” A lot of these foods, including granola bars, yogurt, cereals, frozen and prepared meals, carry high amounts of sugar, salt and fat.

What surprised me the most while watching the documentary was when Pollan mentioned the increase in type-2 diabetes rates in children.

“Over the last thirty years, the rate of childhood obesity in America has more than doubled,” Pollan said. “More and more young people are now getting a disease that used to be very rare in children: Type 2 diabetes.”

In a study done in 2012, type 2 diabetes in 10- to 19-year-olds had increased 21 percent between 2001 and 2009. This type of diabetes is caused when the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at normal levels.

Okay, there’s something definitely wrong with that. We are living in a world today with access to the most technological and educational advancements in history. We have scientists and researchers that have proven the health effects of certain foods, however despite the fact, society consistently gives into their desires and pushes their personal health aside. Schools continue to feed their students fatty burgers, fries, chips and sweets. Parents continue to feed their kids quick fix snacks filled with artificial sugars. Teenagers continue to stop by fast food places after work and eat fried foods.

There needs to be an “aha” moment and it needs to happen fast. Our bodies can’t adapt fast enough to The Western diet, it is too fatty, too sugary, too many empty calories and we’re eating way too much. We need change. So what’s it going to take to get you to make one?