Following along the same idea of the previous post (corn derivatives in large supply=obesity), I thought I’d share some slides on diabetes that my dad handily shared with me a couple weeks ago. A known risk factor for Type II diabetes is obesity. As the corn in our diets has increased, the rate of obesity has risen, and the percentage of the population with diabetes has grown. I’m not saying there is a one-to-one relationship between these three phenomena, but I do think there is a relationship. The following graph represents the total occurrance of diabetes in Americans by age in 2005:
According to this data, one-fifth of the population of Americans over 60 has diabetes. I find that number to be incredible. According to another slide from the same presentation, the total direct medical expenditures on diabetes in America is $92 billion. So all of that money we’re all saving on the convenience of fast food and packaged foods is costing us down the road in medical bills, taxes, and our own health. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather cook.
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