You probably don’t know the term “food desert” unless you’ve studied public health or taken a course dealing with public health issues.
What is a food desert?
One food desert is a community or community without access to nutritious and affordable food. In the United States, food deserts are commonly found in urban communities and low-income rural areas.
in urban areas, low access That means living more than 1 mile from a grocery store, and in rural areas it means living more than 10 miles from a grocery store.
Potential barriers to access to food are:
- food cost
- inconvenient traffic
- far from food store
- no time to go to the grocery store
It is estimated that in 2015 12.8% of the U.S. population (39.4 million people) Live in a low-income and low-access census tract.The researchers used the information to determine the number of people living in the food desert, estimated 19 million.
Now that you have a better idea of what a food desert is, you may recall a time when you drove for miles through an area without a grocery store or supermarket. That’s most likely a food desert.It is important to have reasonable access to a grocery store or supermarket as these food stores offer healthy food choices, such as whole grains, fresh produce, low-fat dairy, lean protein, and more. Not having access to these healthy food choices can affect a person’s physical and mental health in key ways.
Implications of living in a food desert
One healthy eating patterns Include recommended amounts of nutrient-dense foods and beverages from all food groups. These foods and drinks provide us with the energy and nutrients we need to keep our bodies functioning properly. Living in a food desert makes it harder to maintain healthy eating patterns, which can lead to some significant health consequences.
#1: Increased risk of obesity
People are often quick to blame their weight for obesity.While some behaviors, such as overeating, lead to obesity, there are many social determinants those behaviors.One of these determinants is Neighborhood and Built EnvironmentFor example: if a person doesn’t have a car and doesn’t live within a reasonable walking distance of a grocery store, but they do live near a fast food restaurant, then they are likely to eat a lot of fast food. Fast food is high in calories, and excessive calorie intake can lead to obesity. Connected.
Another example: If a person works part-time jobs to make ends meet and doesn’t have time to go to the supermarket 10 miles away, but there is a convenience store in their area, they will go to the convenience store. shop. Convenience stores offer fewer healthy food options, such as prepackaged snacks that contain fat and sugar. More fat and sugar means more calories, which means an increased risk of obesity.
There is also data to support this.A study based on responses to a national survey shows that food-insecure adults 32% increased chance Obesity compared to adults with food security. The researchers therefore concluded that food insecurity associated with obesity in the entire population.
#2: Increased risk of chronic disease
chronic Are those restrictions that last a year or more and may cause mobility and/or ongoing medical care. As the risk of obesity increases, so does the risk of chronic disease in people living in food deserts.It makes sense considering that Obesity is a risk factor For many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
One Report Data from the USDA shows that lower food safety is significantly associated with 10 chronic diseases: high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (CHD), hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, chronic obstructive disease Lung disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
When a person suffers from a chronic disease, they may need to follow a certain diet plan to manage their symptoms. For example: People with end-stage renal disease need to monitor their sodium intake to prevent their kidneys from getting worse. If they mostly have access to high-sodium prepackaged foods, it will be difficult for them to stick to their meal plan.
Those who are food insecure are not only at higher risk of chronic diseases themselves, but they are also at higher risk of complications from these diseases due to: Limited access to quality healthcare.
#3: Increased risk of mental health problems
People with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for mental health problems, i.e. frustratedAnd because people living in food deserts have a higher risk of chronic disease, it also puts them at a higher risk of depression.
In diabetic patients, 2-3 times higher incidence of depression compared to people without diabetes.For many of these people, it starts with Diabetes trouble, which is a series of emotional responses to people with diabetes. Remember, people with diabetes cannot rest. It’s a lifelong disease that requires watching your food intake (which isn’t easy when you’re food insecure), checking your blood sugar, and managing your medications.
Living in a food desert only makes things worse. Not knowing when and where your next meal will be is incredibly stressful and can lead to chronic anxiety.One study A study of adults living in Flint, Michigan shows that having access to nutrient-dense foods nearby moderates the relationship between food insecurity and poor mental health. In other words: Living in an area where healthy food is available can reduce the impact of food insecurity on a person’s mental health.
Healthy Eating Approaches to Living in a Food Desert
As mentioned earlier, it is difficult for people living in food deserts to achieve healthy eating patterns due to various obstacles, including lack of transportation.However, not impossible Eat healthier. The following strategies can help.
#1: Look for products with a longer shelf life
People living in food deserts may be hesitant to buy fresh produce for fear of spoilage and waste.However, there are many fruits and vegetables Shelf life is longer than one might think. Some of these include apples, beets, carrots, garlic and onions. For example, apples will last up to 4 months if stored in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator!
#2: Freeze your food
Many people think that freezing food reduces the quality and nutritional value of the food, but this is not the case. Freezing simply preserves food by slowing the movement of molecules so that microorganisms cannot grow. Technically, as long as your food is continuously stored at 0°F or below, you can keep these foods indefinitely.but if you want them to keep their the best quality, see food storage diagram.
#3: save your own food
Similar to freezing, you can preserve food by canning, fermenting, or pickling.In fact, fermented foods are associated with many health benefits, including improving gut health and reducing inflammation. Given that people living in food deserts are more likely to develop chronic diseases that lead to inflammation, fermented foods may be beneficial to them.However, it must be be careful Related to food preservation as food poisoning can occur if not done well.
#4: Choose low- and no-calorie sweeteners
As mentioned earlier, convenience stores are fairly common in food deserts, and these stores are filled with sugary foods and beverages.Swap sugar for low- and no-calorie sweeteners, such as Splenda® Original, steviaand Monk fruit sweetener. For example, instead of buying sugary, fruit-flavored instant oatmeal from a convenience store, buy a can of regular instant oatmeal and sweeten it with Splenda Sweetener. Splenda Zero Calorie Sweeteners Can Help Manage a healthy weight When used in place of sugar, they have no effect on blood sugar levels.
#5: try board method
Achieving a healthy eating pattern isn’t just about eating nutrient-dense foods, it’s about eating the recommended amounts of those foods. This is where the serving plate comes in. For the general population, USDA MyPlate can help guide a person’s portion size.However, that plate method It is tailored for people who need to monitor their blood sugar levels, i.e. pre-diabetic or diabetic patients. Remember that people living in food deserts are more likely to develop chronic diseases like diabetes.
Suppose a person living in a food desert has chicken tenders, frozen carrots, and instant mashed potatoes on hand. The plate method will instruct them to fill half the plate with carrots, a quarter with chicken, and the other half with mashed potatoes.Finally, they will be directed to pair the meal with zero- or low-calorie beverages, such as sweetened tea Splenda Sweetener.
#6: take a multivitamin
While multivitamins cannot replace a healthy, balanced diet, they can still benefit people living in food deserts.People who do not regularly consume nutrient-rich foods due to limited access may face vitamin and mineral deficienciesSymptoms of these deficiencies vary widely, and some can be quite serious. E.g, Vitamin C deficiency It can lead to impaired wound healing and bleeding gums.
It’s important to remember that multivitamins are supplements – they’re just for Replenish diet. Therefore, people living in food deserts must still try to use previous strategies to achieve healthy eating patterns and only take multivitamins to bridge any gaps that may exist.
Living in a food desert presents many challenges, but there are solutions.At the community level, there are organize This helps fund nutrition education and assistance programs and works to motivate grocery stores to build in underserved areas. On an individual level, people can strive to eat healthier by trying any of the strategies above. Every small step can help mitigate some of the effects of living in a food desert.
Written by Holly Moran, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES and Splenda medical team members.
