Column #20

Everyone is motivated by one or more forces. In random order the forces include social acceptance, monetary gain, religion, addictions, passions, pride, recognition, power, love, protection, sex, health, and basic physiological needs. The order of rank varies with circumstances and the individual. Rarely would even a few people in a small group faced with identical circumstances rank them the same.

Some motivational forces are created by outside influences. Others come from within. Some can be from a combination of both. Obviously this is a very complex topic, so for this column I will narrow the focus to make my point.

My column’s objective is to spread the word about real nutritional science and point out which foods are best. My primary audience is the general public which has mostly common knowledge, a mixture of facts and fiction, about nutritional science.

It is a fact that what we eat has an impact on our health and well-being. Diseases caused by harmful food chemistry are called chronic diseases. In the past 60 years the incidences of chronic diseases have increased dramatically. Treatment costs have soared. Currently 18 cents of every dollar earned is spent on healthcare and that figure is increasing.

When one combines the hefty financial burden of chronic disease with its physical and psychological pain, logically one would think everyone would be motivated to eat only the very best foods for their health. But this is not the case. In fact, just getting the story out about proper food and real nutritional science is nearly impossible.

There are three primary methods for spreading the word: the media in all its many forms, the educational system, and word of mouth.

The media fails because it runs on advertising and/or sales. Media can’t be an effective advertising or sales platform if it doesn’t appeal to a majority of consumers. The media can sell bargains, sweets, traditional foods and flavors, fun, fear, pills, and medical procedures. Even health-oriented media is caught in this dilemma which is why so many “Paleo-type” sites promote foods that cause the Omega-3 deficiency and are often high-glycemic. To be highly successful in media, one must cater to products that are easily accepted.

The best foods for optimal health are green leafy plants, grass-fed meats, Omega-3 meats, and wild caught seafood. These foods are simply commodities and are not mainstream. They are not easily branded like Lay’s Potato Chips, Starbucks Coffee, Synthroid, Crestor, and Ventolin HFA

If someone advertises the health benefits of spinach, their claims are identical to all spinach. The same with meats and seafood. So rarely will producers of those products advertise especially when the editorial backing for them is missing.

The educational system is not motivated to teach nutritionists and dietitians leading edge nutritional science. Universities teach what students must know to get hired. Larger businesses also often provide grants to schools to help train students. Universities are slow to create change.

Word of mouth is rarely effective. Those who “preach” a new approach not backed by the media, schools, and the majority of advertisers are not respected. In fact, their motives are questioned.

It may be decades before the tipping point arrives and the general population begins to recognize nutritional realities and be motivated to take action. Those who take action today are mostly motivated from within.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

Motivation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia