Mountains of Sugar, Canyons of Salt, Pools of Fat (PDF)

This book lambasts food producers and retailers for not doing more to help prevent diabetes, heart disease and strokes which cause huge numbers of deaths. The International Diabetics Federation (IDF) predicts that by 2035, one out of every 10 inhabitants of Planet Earth will suffer from diabetes. It is not just wealthy people who are affected, because the greatest increases are expected to occur in South and Central America and in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the Foundation estimates that 175 million people worldwide have not been diagnosed and are unaware of the health risks that they are exposed to. Diabetes can have some serious health consequences. These include diseases of the eyes, causing blindness; failure of the kidneys; damage to the nerves and teeth. It can also affect the blood vessels and the heart; leading to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. It can also result in lower limb amputations. The IDF estimates that approximately 5.1 million people die every year as a result of complications associated with diabetes. Some diabetes is hereditary but a lot of it is caused by bad diet. According to U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease accounts for 24% of all deaths. In the U.K. about 161,000 deaths each year are attributed to heart and coronary diseases which are the nation's biggest killers. In Canada, 29% of all deaths are due to cardiovascular disease. Smoking is a major contributing factor as well as diet; especially foods high in fat and salt. Insofar as obesity is concerned, a lack of self-control is the main culprit but the composition of food certainly plays a role; as does diet. These play out on the shelves of grocery stores, combined with deceptive advertising that skirts around the health aspects of consuming prepared and other foods which could be detrimental to health. This book examines each of the three main culprits: salt, fat and sugar. It then takes a look at prepared foods, growth hormones and genetically modified foods. Criticism is directed at the grocery trade which is more concerned about generating profits and is doing pathetically little to encourage customers to purchase healthy foods that are good for their health.