Food and regions and health.

No matter what we do in life or where we go, similar to whom we are and where we’re from there is something that will always bring the entire world together. Food, to put it simply, is something that we can’t live without. So being on the subject of food there are many images that embrace our minds. Food is a source of energy that sustains us but also can be very addictive. As time has shown certain foods contain certain attributes that in some cases people become rather partial to if not addicted to. For example chocolate, there are properties in chocolate that stimulate the brain and releases certain endorphins that gives us pleasure, and thus people become addicted to the pleasure it gives and require more, as per the typical symptoms of an addict.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, let’s rejoice at the good of food and what specialities certain pockets of the world have provided for us to enjoy. If we look closer to home, Great Britain has afforded to offer a variety of foods and all nationalities are catered for throughout the nation. Restaurants North Wales offer a huge variety from Italian to Indian to modern cuisine, but taking a closer look at their national food, the first things that springs to mind, pardon the pun, is leek. The Welsh leek is a good source of dietary fibre, leeks also contain good amounts of folic so good to eat while pregnant. Not to mention a good source of calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Not only does it offer good mineral properties but the common leek is easier to digest than onions and they also have laxative, antiseptic, diuretic and anti-arthritic properties.

So reading the above makes me want to go out and seriously stock up on this clever little vegetable. But apart from Wales we have places such as Italy who offer pasta as the national dish. India with curry and Spain with paella. All these dishes have masses of health benefits so what is it about fast food that makes Westernised countries flock in their droves to such places. Education? Is there a lack of education regarding food that is locally sourced and their health benefits? Could it also be that the time required? People tend to not have as much time in the home these days and prefer readymade “fast food”. Given the fact our prices for fuel are ever increasing it really is starting to make more sense to go out and buy these foods and forget the health benefits of our local foods.

Although in the long run these people who have no time will be sending more time in hospital suffering from preventable aches and pains stemming from their eating g habits. So many disease and illnesses have come about in the last one hundred years due to the enormous changes in our diets. May be we should re-evaluate things and seek our food in a healthier fashion.