In the book Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven G. Pratt, M.D., and Kathy Mathews, there is a lot of interesting data regarding how nutrition is affecting our health. The book provides alarming information regarding diet and nutrition and our nation’s current state of health, or should I say “lack of health.” These statistics refer to all ages, from children to the elderly.

Dr. Pratt is both a practicing clinician and a researcher whose colleagues are on the cutting edge of their fields in biochemistry, medicine and nutrition.

According to Mathews and Dr. Pratt, only about 10 percent of Americans today actually eat the right amount of the foods that would keep them free from chronic disease and premature death. It is estimated that 300,000 to 800,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are nutrition-related, and most scientists agree that at least 30 percent of all cancers are directly related to nutrition (some put the number as high as 70 percent). Also, much of the cardiovascular disease and hypertension cases today can be traced directly back to nutrition.

Let’s take a look at some nutritional developments that are ruining your health and that of many people in the modern industrialized society:

• Increased portion sizes
• A decrease in the variety of foods eaten
• A decrease in whole food consumption
• A lack of exercise
• An unhealthy balance in the fats eaten
• An increase in the refined sugars eaten
• A decrease in antioxidant and calcium intake
• A decrease in the amount of lean fish and meat eaten
• Less fruits and vegetables consumed

How does this translate to Americans? As many as 125 million Americans have at least one chronic condition such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Sixty million Americans have more than one condition. And what’s even worse is that all these chronically ill people are not just older folks. About half of all chronically ill Americans are under 45 years of age. Currently, almost 70 percent of all American adults are overweight or obese, whereas the percentage back in the 1960’s was less than 25 percent.

Looking at these facts should help you realize that the time to take action is now. As I like to say, “If not now, when?” That’s my battle cry. It’s important to look at these discouraging numbers and start getting uncomfortable with complacency. Once you are there, it will be easy to focus on finding ways to start changing.

When we look at nutrition and diet, we shouldn’t be looking at changing our habits just because we want to look younger and sexier. We should be making positive changes because it will mean the difference between a longer and healthier life and a potentially premature death.

If you’ve never done so before, you need to start investigating ways to improve your diet and nutrition. Less than 5 percent of doctors receive any training in medical school about diet and nutrition, so you may want to ask them for a referral to a registered dietitian. You can also start investigating on your own through the Internet or your local library. Try to stay away from fad diets. Instead, start out by studying basic nutrition. Once you have a good handle on what makes a healthy diet, you will be in a much better place to evaluate eating plans that might appeal to you. Remember, “it’s never too late to change” and get on the road to good health.