Though health professionals often blame high-fat, high-calorie fast food for contributing to Americans' expanding waistlines and related health woes, more than one third of the nation's leading hospitals have fast-food restaurants on their premises.
A study done earlier this year found that nearly 40% of hospitals said they had fast-food franchises on their main grounds. Several hospitals actually contracted with two chains simultaneously.
In addition, one medical center reported a fast-food chain in one of its associated hospitals. And another hospital that had closed a fast-food restaurant in 1999 subsequently opened up a hospital-owned restaurant with a similar menu.
Most of the fast-food restaurants mentioned in the survey were burger chains such as Hardee's, Wendy's and McDonald's. Others had pizza franchises and one had a Subway.
It is unlikely that hospitals are feeding fast food to their patients. But as businesses with economic concerns, they are probably trying to appeal to visitors and employees -- many of whom desire fast food. Up until about 20 years ago, many hospitals also permitted smoking but -- despite the demand -- they subsequently banned it for health reasons.
JAMA June 12, 2002;287:2945-2946
The traditional paradigm just doesn't get it. They don't let patients smoke in the hospital, yet they continue allowing them to eat the same food that got them into the hospital in the first place!
Once you know the truth it just doesn't make any sense, does it?
It is my long standing assertion that sugar causes more health problems than tobacco. It would definately make sense to eliminate fast food from a hospital environment where people are seeking to recover from serious disease.
Wouldn't it be nice if hospitals served fresh vegetable juice made from the vegetables you wanted? People might actually come out of the hospital healthier than when they went in. What a concept!
People might actually come out of the hospital healthier than when they went in. What a concept!
Admittedly, juicing is an advanced part of my eating plan and it would be difficult to implement in a such a large facility. However, hospitals could work towards creating a healthier environment by banning fast food restaurants and restricting the sugars and sweets their patients have access to. These foods only suppress their already stressed immune system.
Related Articles:
Finally, Proof for My Assertion That Sugar is More Dangerous Than Cigarettes