Food Abuse
Uncontrolled: We often hear people talking about drug and alcohol abuse. Nevertheless, many adults like to enjoy certain alternative substances which they feel, just as with alcohol, are perfectly ok up to a point. So-called controlled substances, which ironically are currently completely uncontrolled, are very badly managed in our society and this is why we have the problems we do and incur the fatalities.
Less Familiar Concept: Even so, despite the lack of control and quality control, drug abuse deaths in the UK only number around 2,000 a year, whereas UK deaths from alcohol and tobacco number around 8,000 and a 100,000 respectively. However, this article is about a much less familiar concept and expression - food abuse!
A Big Problem!
Obesity and Diabetes: Food abuse is becoming a very serious problem with obesity and diabetes currently being set to bankrupt the NHS in coming years if we don't act. Educating people to eat more of the right things and reducing some of the harmful ingredients in their diet should be considered a must. For example, how many people know that salt kills 40,000 people a year in the UK alone and that scientific tests have shown sugar to be eight times more addictive than cocaine. It is about time we started to get things into perspective.
Education Essential: We generally understand that education is essential when it comes to reading and writing and yet other equally crucial areas in society are being sadly overlooked and neglected, even conveniently ignored by the politicians. It would help us all if we started to do something of what needs to be done to put some of these issues right. It makes a difference and prevents people's lives from being damaged sometimes beyond repair. It also saves us very considerable amounts of money in the long run.
Healthy Future:
Addressing such areas at an educational level can help instil some appreciation and respect for what is ok and what isn't, helping people to achieve a healthy future devoid of pitfalls. But to do this we need some appreciation of and respect for what needs to be done from those in charge! Our government needs to wake up and act in a number of areas and in this one, as with drug abuse, there will be a very heavy price to pay for failing to act and leaving it too late!