I think we can all agree: our environment is much worse than it was in the mid 20th century, and it’s not getting any better. Our air, water, food, and ecosystem are overloaded with toxins and pollutants. This overworks cells in organisms, animals and humans alike.
Toxins attack the cells in our immune system and liver. This is not good news for anyone, but it’s a real danger for seniors who have a lifetime accumulation of chemicals to deal with.
Liver Disease Is Rampant
Liver disease is a rapidly growing problem for seniors. More than one in three adults has liver disease, and if one drinks or has hepatitis, the risk increases dramatically. Consider this: when 200 people were tested for pollutants in their blood or urine, 111 chemical substances were found in at least 60 percent of those tested.
The buildup of these toxins over the years destroys our immune system and renders the liver dysfunctional. As if these attacks from our environment weren’t enough, the food processing industry is slowly, methodically adding additional chemicals not meant for our systems.
Processed Foods Are Chemical Foods
Do you recall the first time you became aware of processed foods? Rob remembers Maxwell House instant coffee. If you’re a bit younger, you may recall all the Saturday morning commercials pummeling you with ad for cereals, canned spaghetti, and meats.
Some of us are old enough to recall those songs: “two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, yeah!” (Can you name that tune?) They definitely had an impact.
According to U.S. researchers, over 60% of U.S. citizens’ calorie intake comes from processed foods. Interesting to note: the categories and definitions of processed foods. The American Institute for Cancer Research has three categories for processed foods, but according to the British Nutrition Foundation, there are four categories (and their examples):
- Unprocessed or minimally processed foods – natural products which may have been processed in some way but have had no sugar, salts, fats or oils added.(i.e. fruits, grains, meat or milk.)
- Processed culinary ingredients – ingredients derived from nature usually used in combination with ingredients from the group above. (i.e. salt, sugar, honey or vegetable oil.)
- Processed foods – ‘relatively simple’ products made by adding ingredients from category 2 to category 1 – usually two to three ingredients. (i.e. canned vegetables, fruits in syrup, cheese, freshly made bread, salted/sugared nuts or seeds.)
- Ultra-processed food and drink products – described as ‘industrial formulations’ with five or more ingredients. This also includes foods from category 3 which have had ‘cosmetic/sensory additives’ added. (i.e. yogurt with added sweeteners and non-artisanal bread.)
Technically speaking, anything you do to change a food is a process. According to Food Insight, a food-industry information website, foods that have been cooked, dried, salted, smoked and/or pickled are processed. What does this mean for seniors?
Fight the Good Fight
To fight against all this cellular pollution, we can advocate for cleaner air and fewer chemical ingredients in food, but realistically, that might not be enough. It doesn’t appear that we can depend on our political leaders to listen to science, medical research, or any one of us aging citizens (unless we’re a lobbyist with tons of money funded by big corporations). However, we can take care of our personal hygiene, exercise programs, nutritional needs and refuse to eat the processed crap they sell out of food factories.
Instead, think fresh, whole, organic, farmers’ market products, and always read the labels and signage. Avoid processed foods that remove nutritional ingredients—things that are good for you, like fiber and vitamins—and add unhealthy ingredients such as sodium, trans fat and sugars. It’s up to us, the foot soldiers in the war on aging.
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