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Is bottled water better than tap water? Is bottled water better than tap water? On average, Americans drink more than 20 gallons of bottled water per year. But is it worth the money? In most cases, probably not. Municipal ("tap") water in the United States in closely regulated for safety, so there is no safety advantage in choosing bottled water for most Americans. Many brands of bottled water are tap water; only a minority of bottled water brands actually comes from mountain springs or glacial sources, despite evocative product names and beautiful landscapes pictured on bottles and in ads. Municipal tap water also includes fluoride, which promotes strong teeth and help prevent dental caries (cavities). When might bottled water be a good choice? If something happens to temporarily compromise water quality from a municipal source, or if you get your water from an unregulated private well, then bottled water may be safer. Bottled water is also a good choice for your emergency kit, supplies you keep on hand in case a natural or human disaster disrupts water supplies. In some situations, you may also find bottled water to be particularly convenient. In most taste tests, consumers cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water, but the "taste" of tap water varies. If you prefer to stick with tap water, you can use an inexpensive home water-filtering system to make it even cleaner (or better tasting) than it is. Several manufacturers sell pitchers with built-in filters for about $20; just fill the pitcher with tap water and chill it in your refrigerator. Filters are also available for installation on your existing kitchen faucet or your refrigerator's water dispenser. Over time, however, water filters can themselves become contaminated with bacteria and the materials they clean from your tap water (such as minerals). For this reason, it's important to maintain your water filter according to the manufacturer's directions. Maintenance may including cleaning the system or replacing the filter element. If you like to carry a bottle of tap water with you, be sure to keep the bottle clean. Wash and sanitize the bottle and cap before you refill it. If you drink bottled water, try to recycle the bottles. The energy used to make and ship bottles creates air pollution, and nonbiodegradable plastic bottles wind up in landfill if they are not recycled. If you have any questions about the quality of your municipal water supply, contact the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/safewater; 800-426-4791). What factors contribute to America's bad eating habits? The typical American diet has changed significantly in recent decades—and not for the better. Americans consume too many calories, often in the form of added sugars and fats, but too few vitamins and minerals, in part because intake of fruits, vegetables, and milk products is relatively low. Consumption of regular sodas and sweetened fruit drinks has nearly doubled since 1970, and Americans' average consumption of added sugars exceeds 150 pounds per year. Milk consumption has substantially declined, and soda accounts for nearly 10% of calories consumed by 12-19-year-olds. Americans also eat out much more than in the past—more than 40% of Americans eat out at least once on a typical day—and foods eaten outside the home tend to be higher in calories and lower in nutrients than foods prepared at home. Individual choice is certainly a key component in recent dietary shifts. Low prices and convenience are valued by American consumers, and there has been a rapid increase in the availability of affordable, convenient, and tasty foods. Many foods with these characteristics do not have a healthy nutritional profile; they tend to be energy-dense and nutrient-poor. American consumers know they should make better choices—but they frequently fail to do so. While acknowledging the role of personal responsibility, some experts also point to environmental factors. Convenience foods are now widely available for purchase, and in many urban neighborhoods in particular, it is easier to buy fast food than fruits and vegetables. In part because sugar is inexpensive, many foods that are high in added sugars are inexpensive. (Federal subsidies for corn make high-fructose corn syrup, which is found in a wide variety of processed foods, very inexpensive.) The food industry spends over $30 billion a year on advertising, special promotions, and supermarket slotting fees, with $10 billion of this directed at children. Many ads target children under age 10, who researchers have found cannot distinguish between advertising and informational programming. Most ads during children's programming feature large portions of sweetened breakfast cereals, fruit-flavored drinks, and fast food. And young people can now consume fast food at school: About 30% of public high schools offer some type of brand-name fast food, and food ads are featured in television programming shown in schools. Several different strategies have been proposed to promote personal responsibility and combat negative environmental forces:
What are the top ten sources of calories in the American diet? Americans get a high percentage of their calories from junk food, fast food, and otherwise unhealthy food choices.
Source: Block, G. 2004. Foods contributing to energy intake in the U.S. : Data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999-2000. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 17 (2004): 439-447. How am I supposed to use the vegetable subgroup recommendations in MyPyramid? Most Americans currently consume less than the recommended daily amount of total vegetables—and the variety of the vegetables they do consume is limited (mostly white potatoes). For maximum wellness, a variety of different vegetables should be consumed. To help people "vary their veggies," the MyPyramid food guidance system divides vegetables into five subgroups. MyPyramid specifies vegetable subgroup servings by week; for example, 3 cups dark-green vegetables, 2 cups orange vegetables, and 3 cups of legumes weekly. To meet weekly goals, it is important to choose vegetables from several groups every day. Listed below are examples of vegetables from each of the groups: Dark green vegetables bok choy Orange vegetables acorn squash Dry beans and peas (legumes) black beans Starchy vegetables corn Other vegetables artichokes What is the best way to prepare fish, to make sure it's safe? Despite the known health benefits of fish, many people are reluctant to prepare it at home, out of fear that it will be undercooked and make them ill. Indeed, eating improperly prepared seafood can make you sick. But even if you have never cooked seafood at home, you will find that with a little practice it's actually easy to do, and is a good way to add variety and important nutrients to your diet. When it comes to seafood, foodborne illnesses typically occur because the food is not fresh or is not handled properly. To avoid illnesses and ensure the best nutrition and flavor, follow these tips when purchasing seafood: • Check the market for proper handling practices. Even though a fish market might have a "fishy" aroma in the air, it should not be off-putting. Fish should be refrigerated or iced, and cooked seafood should never be stored or displayed near fresh seafood. |