Woooahhh Nellie.
Let’s take a look at what one reader sent me after
reading yesterday’s email on “The Japanese Kamakazi
Diet” followed by my comments on how fat the Chinese
are getting:
Matt,
I heard what you said about not endorsing any government
telling you what to do…but me thinks you are endorsing
this program because it has to do with “healthcare” –
IMHO – reduced waistlines does not equal better health…
especially at the hands of the government. Yes, I under-
stand your perspective = that by reducing the waistline,
you ‘automatically’ eliminate many negative health
effects.
This is not ALWAYS true, there are ALWAYS exceptions to
the ‘rule’ and by mandating this on ALL the people in that
group, there will be some who will come out of this on the
&#()-end of the stick if you know what I mean. Me thinks
it’s an ideological issue, not a health care issue.
If Americans are willing to submit to this kind of (or other
kinds, which we already do) mandate, we’re already slaves
to the government.
Also, you know the middle-east and eastern ways of life and
philosophies.
Look at how drastically their lifestyles and diet have changed
(for the average/low income people) they aren’t eating the
same foods or living in the similar ways/conditions. Their
lifestyles have improved in some ways, but the diets have
suffered; many will argue that it’s ‘better’ that they aren’t
eating fatty oils and they are eating less meat and it’s good
for them, but look what’s happening overall. They are
gaining weight, smoking more, and becoming more
addicted to oil like the U.S.
My apologies for the political tirade, but it’s ALL inter-
connected.
Respectfully,
Jim B.
MJF: Hiya Jim. Thanks for the email. In no way am I advocating
a government mandated anything – including waistlines. What
I was trying to say was this: If I HAD to choose between one of
two alternatives – I’d choose a country with a reduced waistline
before I’d choose government mandated health care.
You are correct. There are exceptions to what I have written.
There are thin people who have diabetes, heart disease and
cancer.
My point is that these diseases are greatly increased as your
waistline bulges. Just look at the 20.8 million diabetics in this
country – as well as those who are pre-diabetic (another 16
million). What percentage of these people are carrying a
surplus of guttage.
Most.
As for China, when I first came here in 1993, you didn’t see
many fat people under the age of 45. Now you see fat Chinese
everywhere.
If you go to http://www.china.org.cn/english/Life/161094.htm
you can read the following excerpt:
“According to Beijing’s media, international experts in obesity
recently predict that by the year 2010, one fifth of Chinese
children will be overweight.
Obesity is becoming the most serious epidemic of children
in Beijing. Obesity rate of Beijing’s children moved up five
to seven fold in the past decade. Incomplete statistics show
that obesity rates of children from infancy to six, from six to
eight and from 11 to 12 were 3.4 percent, 15.4 percent and
20.8 percent respectively, at the end of the last century.”
*****
Now, what do I believe is causing the overweight in China.
Well, it isn’t that they’re eating more meat. The Chinese
have always been big meat eaters.
It’s that they’re eating MORE of everything – especially sweats,
breads, pastries and starches.
It’s bad enough that they eat tons of rice and noodles – but
then they slam soft drinks, candies, chocolates, ice cream
and all the packaged food they didn’t have before.
On top of that, they think KFC and McDonalds are wonder
foods. You can’t drive far in a big city without seeing one
or both of these chains.
And topping all of the above is the fact that they’re driving
more and walking and bicycling less.
In 1993, everyone walked and rode a bicycle. If you wanted
to move faster, you got a taxi or rode the bus. Now there are
cars everywhere.
Reduced movement and the increased eating of processed foods
are ruining the health of people in China – and everywhere else.
We don’t need to get rid of our cars – nor do we need the govern-
ment telling us what to do – or forcing us to do anything.
But if we do want to improve our health as a country – as well as
a world – it would be a very good idea to exercise more and
greatly reduce or eliminate all the processed, packaged food
that clogs our intestines.
I’m grateful that when I’m in China I’m surrounded by good,
nutritious food in the form of vegetables, fruits, juices, meats
and herbs. I’m also surrounded by experts in exercise, massage,
accupuncture, chi kung and so on. I avail myself of everything
I can that is “traditional” Chinese. Sadly, many of the modern day
Chinese aren’t following what they’ve known for thousands of years.
Anyway, like yesterday, if you have a neighbor who could stand
to drop a few dozen pounds – or if you’ve looked in the mirror
lately and felt a tinge of dissatisfaction – then be sure to invest
in Combat Abs – http://mattfurey.com/combat_abs.html and
start lopping off the excess dough.
Matt Furey