🥦 Why Food Choices Feel So Hard in Modern Society – And What You Can Do About It

100 years of food change.

🥦 Why Food Choices Feel So Hard in Modern Society – And What You Can Do About It

By Jaime Hernandez | Health and Exercise Prescriptions www.healthandexerciseprescriptions.com | Thorne Supplement Store

🌍 The Problem: A Food Environment That Works Against Us

In today’s world, making healthy food choices can feel like an uphill battle. We are constantly bombarded by marketing, convenience foods, and clever packaging that promise health but deliver the opposite. And behind it all? A food supply chain shaped more by profit margins and shelf life than by sustainability or long-term health.

Over the last 100 years, the way we produce and process food has changed more than at any other time in human history. Modern agriculture and food technology have given us crops that grow faster, yield more, and stay "fresh" longer. But with these advances came something else: a dramatic increase in additives, preservatives, pesticides, and artificial chemicals.

🧪 What Do Pollutants Have to Do With Our Diet?

Simply put: our bodies have not evolved fast enough to handle the modern chemical load in our food, air, and water. We are now ingesting and absorbing substances that didn’t exist in our ancestors’ diets.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and peer-reviewed environmental health research, many of these chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, inflammatory agents, or even carcinogens. They don’t kill instantly—but instead chip away at our health over decades, contributing to:

• Increased rates of obesity

• Higher incidence of allergies and autoimmune diseases

• Rising childhood and adult cancers

• Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome

• Chronic inflammation and pain

This is why some people feel “mysteriously” unwell even when medical tests appear normal—their symptoms are driven by low-grade, long-term toxic exposure that doesn’t fit neatly into a diagnosis.

🚫 Packaged & Processed Foods: The Hidden Danger

Processing food is nothing new—humans have been drying, fermenting, and preserving food for thousands of years. The difference is that traditional methods didn’t involve synthetic chemicals. Modern ultra-processed foods often contain:

• Artificial colors & flavors (linked to hyperactivity in children and allergic reactions)

• Preservatives like BHA, BHT, and sodium nitrite (possible carcinogens)

• Refined sugars & flours (promote blood sugar spikes and insulin resistance)

• Industrial seed oils (high in omega-6, driving inflammation)

Even so-called “healthy” packaged foods may hide questionable ingredients under marketing terms like natural flavor or fortified.

🌱 Step One: Reduce Your Toxic Load

You can’t avoid all pollutants—but you can dramatically reduce your exposure with conscious choices:

1. Air – Use an air purifier indoors.

2. Water – Install a water filter to remove chlorine, heavy metals, and microplastics.

3. Food – Choose whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible.

4. Cosmetics – Switch to natural skin care and body products.

5. Clothing – Opt for fabrics free of chemical treatments like flame retardants.

These steps lower the burden on your liver, kidneys, and immune system so your body can focus on healing and staying strong.

🔬 The Science of Macronutrients – The Real Basics

Once you’ve cleaned up your food sources, you need to understand the macronutrients—the three essential fuel categories your body runs on:

🍞 Carbohydrates

Your body’s primary energy source. Carbs can be simple (quickly digested, causing rapid blood sugar spikes) or complex (digested more slowly for sustained energy). Pro tip: Use the Glycemic Index to choose carbs that keep your energy steady.

• Best sources: Fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains

• Limit: Refined flours, sugary drinks, candy, pastries

  
  

🥑 Fats

Often misunderstood, fat is essential for hormone production, brain health, and cell structure. The key is quality:

• Saturated fats – Fine in moderation from natural sources (e.g., coconut oil, grass-fed butter)

• Monounsaturated fats – Heart-healthy (e.g., olive oil, avocados)

• Polyunsaturated fats – Especially omega-3s for anti-inflammatory benefits (e.g., salmon, walnuts)

• Avoid: Trans fats and excessive omega-6 seed oils (e.g., soybean, corn, sunflower oils in processed foods)

  
  

🍗 Protein

Vital for building and repairing tissue, producing enzymes and hormones, and supporting immune function.

RDA Formula: Weight in lbs ÷ 2.2 = weight in kg → multiply by 0.83 for daily grams of protein. Example: 100 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 45.45 kg × 0.83 ≈ 38g protein/day (more if active).

• Best sources: Lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, quinoa

• Tip: Aim for high-quality, complete proteins that provide all essential amino acids.

  
  

🧠 Education Is Your Greatest Tool

Understanding nutrition isn’t just about knowing the science—it’s about filtering out misinformation and building habits that last. If you’re serious about improving your diet, two resources I recommend are:

• The Schwarzbein Principle – Great for balancing hormones and blood sugar

• Whole Life Nutrition – Practical guides and recipes for clean eating

  
  

🛒 Supplements to Support Your Transition

Even with the best diet, modern life can make it hard to meet all nutrient needs—especially if you’re recovering from years of processed food consumption or high toxic exposure.

From my Thorne Supplement Store, I recommend:

• Daily Multivitamin – To fill nutritional gaps

• Omega-3 Fish Oil – For anti-inflammatory support

• Digestive Enzymes – To improve nutrient absorption

• Probiotics – To restore gut health after years of processed foods

Explore my full supplement recommendations here: 👉 Shop My Thorne Store

💬 Final Thoughts

Our food system may be stacked against us, but knowledge is power. By understanding where pollutants come from, cleaning up your environment, and choosing nutrient-dense whole foods, you can reclaim your health.

Remember, this isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and persistence. Every cleaner meal, every filtered glass of water, every whole food choice is a step toward a stronger, healthier you.

📩 Need guidance? I offer personalized health consultations to help you design a nutrition plan that works for your body and lifestyle. 👉 Book at Health and Exercise Prescriptions 

Thank you for your time and energy…Be well.

– Jaime Hernandez Health and Exercise Prescriptions Helping you move better, eat smarter, and live longer.