The Standard American Diet (SAD) really is in a sad state. Processed food is so laden with additives, pesticides, and allowable fillers that it is confusing how we call some of it “food.” Sugar is the number one additive, it seems to be in everything, even some waters!

Sugar, when consumed in large doses, becomes a toxin to the body. Americans currently consume about 150 pounds of sugar annually.

These sugars are up to 10 percent of a normal person’s daily diet. All that sugar can lead to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and may cause early death and blindness.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a newborn baby of average weight should double its weight in six months and triple its birth weight in one year.

Today’s newborns are three to five times their birth weight by their first birthday and well on their way to a lifetime of poor health. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in young children, and quadrupled in adolescents over the last 30 years.

The increase in the consumption of a fast-food diet, which is often over-processed foods, provide empty calories, and not much nutrition. The affordability of the “dollar menu” has contributed greatly to obesity in America.

Children and adolescents who are obese are more at risk for early stroke, heart disease, cancers and osteoarthritis, conditions that traditionally plague the elderly.

Removing table sugar or white sugar from your diet is the one most critical thing you can do to improve your health from a nutritional focus.

The Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list of additives and adulterations to the average American diet includes microorganisms, molds, enzymes, acids and various aldehydes, which are used as preservatives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration monitors the content of our food. The most damaging additives in U.S. foods are artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (msg), trans fat, and food dyes (#1 and #2 blue, #3 red dye, also #40 red and yellow #6.) The food additives may cause poor brain development and memory loss.

The best way to counter the negative effects of the SAD American diet is to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink more clear, unadulterated water.

Consider growing a home garden to provide wholesome foods for yourself and your family.