Over half a million people in the United States alone die of heart disease each year. There are 3.5 million deaths each year so that is 1 and 5 people who could have been still alive if it wasn’t for the food options they are open to and what their level of income is.
A lot of people want to eat healthier but the price is too much for most people. Grocery stores should make it easier for people to purchase healthier options. Some people believe that it is a choice to eat unhealthy or people who are overweight or just eat bad or choosing that for themself. People who eat healthy are just more wealthy or have better food choices.
Grocery store owners says that organic foods are just more expensive. Production costs for organic foods are typically higher because of greater labor inputs per unit of output and because greater diversity of enterprises means economies of scale cannot be achieved. Small quantities of organic foods results in higher costs because of the mandatory segregation of organic and conventional produce, especially for processing and transportation.
The marketing business and distribution change have said that there are smaller volumes of organic and healthier home grown foods, therefore that is why the cost is higher than your average food from a box or can. Farmers have to put in a lot of labor because they do not produce enough of a single product to be able to lower the price of it. From natural fertilizers to organic animal feed, the prices of materials used in organic farming far exceed the prices of synthetic, chemical and GMO materials used on conventional farms.
How we could change the way of these food problems within our country is to promote the selling of regional goods by providing incentives and pushing for the opening of farmers’ markets in the neighborhood. Encourage laws that safeguard and assist community gardens. Adopt food laws stipulating that foods and drinks acquired with public subsidies must adhere to specific nutritional requirements. Study after study shows that fresh plant-based foods can lead to healthier hearts and fewer health problems, but for many, the produce aisles are economically out of reach. So if we can find a way to decrease the price of these foods that are more heart healthy we could save millions of lives.
We need to stand up and fight for our society and our country’s general health. It can be as simple as adding a fruit or vegetable into your day throughout the week can reduce your risk of heart problems by a significant amount.
