Why Eating Healthy Is Expensive? Geo Forces

Introduction

Across sections of society in Jamaica, and other nations in the Caribbean, the common belief is that eating healthy is expensive. This is a major indicator of food economics being a causative factor & determinant, of the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affecting the health & well-being of both the population & economy of Jamaica, as well as other similar nations.

    In this article we’ll explore (through various sources):

1. The definition of health.
2. The definition of nutrition.
3. What it means to eat healthy.
4.  What it means to eat healthy for Jamaicans according to the Food Based Dietary Guidelines.
5. Inflation assessment of food in Jamaica
6. Environmental considerations & challenges towards eating heathier sustainably-applicable to Jamaica & globally.

Definition of Health

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” WHO| Constitution of the World Health Organization| Retrieved March 8, 2023  

Definition of Nutrition

“The taking in and use of food and other nourishing material by the body. Nutrition is a 3-part process. First, food or drink is consumed. Second, the body breaks down the food or drink into nutrients. Third, the nutrients travel through the bloodstream to different parts of the body where they are used as “fuel” and for many other purposes. To give the body proper nutrition, a person has to eat and drink enough of the foods that contain key nutrients.” National Cancer Institute, Definition of Nutrition| Retrieved March 8, 2023

What It Means To Eat Healthy

“A healthy diet helps to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. The exact make-up of a diversified, balanced and healthy diet will vary depending on individual characteristics (e.g. age, gender, lifestyle and degree of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods and dietary customs. However, the basic principles of what constitutes a healthy diet remain the same.” World Health Organization| Healthy Diet| Retrieved March 8, 2023  

What It Means to Eat Healthy for Jamaicans According to the Food Based Dietary Guidelines (Ministry of Health, Jamaica).

The food based dietary guidelines for Jamaicans is premised on 8 principles. They’re as follows:

1. Eat a variety of food from all the food groups daily.
2. Eat a variety of fruits daily.
3. Eat a variety of vegetables daily.
4. Include peas, beans & nuts in your daily meals.
5. Reduce intake of salty & processed foods.
6. Reduce intake of fats & oils.
7. Reduce intake of sugary foods & drinks.
8. Make physical activity a part of your daily routine.

Inflation Assessment of Food In Jamaica

According to the consumer price index, 2022 bulletin (June), the index for the division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’, increased by 1.7 per cent for June 2022. This division is comprised of the ‘Food’ and the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ groups. The increase in the index for ‘Food’ group was influenced mainly by higher prices for items within the classes ‘Oils and Fats’ (2.5%), ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ (2.2%), ‘Cereals and cereal products’ (1.9%), ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ (1.8%) and ‘Milk, other dairy products and eggs’ (1.7%). Consumer Price Index| Statistical Institute of Jamaica| Retrieved, March 8, 2023

Environmental Considerations & Challenges Towards Eating Heathier Sustainably

Climate & Climate Change (physical environment)

“Agriculture is very sensitive to weather and climate. It also relies heavily on land, water, and other natural resources that climate affects.  While climate changes (such as in temperature, precipitation, and frost timing) could lengthen the growing season or allow different crops to be grown in some regions, it will also make agricultural practices more difficult in others. The effects of climate change on agriculture will depend on the rate and severity of the change, as well as the degree to which farmers and ranchers can adapt.” Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture & Food Supply| USA Environmental Protection Agency| Retrieved March 8, 2023

Artificial Intelligence as Competition to Human Workforce (economics)

“AI has the potential to automate ‘nonroutine’ tasks, exposing large new swaths of the workforce to potential disruption.” TTC-EC-CEA-AI-Report| whitehouse.gov| Retrieved March 8, 2023 As artificial intelligence usage increases in the workplace in less developed countries like Jamaica, it will present benefits for increased economic productivity (organization-industry-national scales) as well as potential drawbacks in inequality, through jobs being lost. This in turn will impact the purchasing capacity for members of that population to sustainably afford to eat healthy according to recommendations established by institutions such as World Health Organization and/or personal healthcare providers (medical doctors, dieticians).

Geopolitics & National Security Policies Revolving Around Food

“Food has increasingly become a matter of geopolitics. A growing and ever-wealthier world population, increased biofuel use, and a slowdown of agricultural productivity growth have prompted a tightening of the global food market. In this market setting, harvest failures and policy responses contribute to soaring food prices and increased price volatility.” The Emerging Geopolitics of Food| HCSS Report, P.9| Retrieved March 8, 2023  

Discussion

Environmental forces such as geopolitics of food, climate change & the projected increase (in the coming years) in AI usage in the workplace (Caribbean nations & globally), all present conditions that tip food towards increasing in cost. This in turn  through inequality n distribution, and access to the adequate capital, present challenges in food security & malnutrition on individual, community and national scales. How we cope this reality will depend heavily on the policies, regulations & behavioral practices as individuals, households, communities, nations. Examples include:

• Increasing agricultural productivity of fruits & vegetables to serve the family through backyard gardening at the least (household scale).
• Investing in agricultural practices that are backed by science, regulation & regulatory enforcement, to cope with environmental shocks & stresses, such as: adverse weather events (drought, flooding); pests & diseases; import substitution & predial larceny.
• Continually investing in public education campaigns geared towards agricultural self-sufficiency through farming; healthier eating through portioning; and meal purchasing (purchasing of food that support the fresh produce-food delivery industry chain (farming-smoothie bars/fruit stalls/local restaurants that rely heavily on local produce & livestock.

These strategic implementations will go a far way towards fostering the availability of food, and reliability from specific food sources. This will also aid the economy (household, community, national) towards coping sustainably with the environmental shocks that can affect food production & distribution, as well as to absorb to a higher degree, price volatility for food not produced locally as an example.

“Your Sustainable Fitness Partner”

 

About The Author

Oshane Bryant: BSc Geology, Geography Minor; ACE CPT since 2012; Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Accelerator Graduate-2018 cohort; Licensed KUKIBO Martial Arts & Self Defense, Senior Instructor; OB Fitness Founder & Managing Director.