2009 state health rankings - New England thumbs its nose at Dixie

[Broil]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/16/unhealthy-healthy-states-lifestyle-health-states-top_chart.html?partner=yahoohealth

[urbanfarmer]

 
Have you ever eaten REAL southern cooking? My grandmother put bacon grease and sugar in EVERYTHING that she cooked, from squash and greenbeans to spaghetti and chili. If it isn't loaded with fat and sugar, it ain't southern cooking. Another reason I live in Washington state now.

[mtlouie]

The thing is, that's where I was born and raised.  That's where my family has lived since the dawn of time.  They all live to be ancient.  I have an uncle that is nearing 90 and he has had brain surgery and is still an old fart.

And they have spent their lives eating fat, salt, sugar, etc.

But not so much on the junk food.    There's the difference:  junk food and "southern" food (homemade) is not the same thing.  At least it didn't used to be.  Now, I suppose with GMOs and all the crap that's in everything, it doesn't much matter.

[Broil]

I think the other part of the equation is that they didn't eat enough fatty food to get fat, or else worked it off, in the past. Southerners used to be skinny, now they're the fattest.

Although "fat" and "unhealthy" aren't ALWAYS the same thing ...... I think probably the amount of manufactured food eaten is important in relation to health, as you say Mtlouie.

[urbanfarmer]

Good point mtlouie! They did not eat junk food. My great aunt just died at the age of 107!

[swampman]

Last year on the way to Memphis we stopped at Loretta Lynne's restaurant and tourist stop.  I swear the number one ingredient in all the dishes in the buffet was bacon fat. Also, take a good look at Paula Dean with her "southern" cooking.

In a way, it is OK because if there is another civil war, the south will not be able to charge up a hill any more.

[Broil]

Lol!           

OK, you made my day with that image, even though I'd have a lot of trouble charging uphill too.  Heck, I'd have trouble charging DOWNhill!

[Grower]

Paula' Dean's "southern" cooking is a good example of what's wrong with TODAY'S southern cooking. Every recipe has something processed -- velveeta cheese, some condensed cream of soup, onion soup mix, or whatever. I was thumbing through one of her cookbooks and was just amazed at how many recipes I would NEVER make, for that reason. I suspect that she's sponsored by some big Ag Food Corp and has to use their crap.

Processed foods + white foods + little exercise = disaster.