A fundamental key to survival is eating, but this very concept is a double-edged sword, due to the risks associated with various food sources. While many may not view what we eat as a food safety issue, it is still an important factor in the widespread web of food safety concerns. What we put in our food can help or harm us, thus creating a safety issue. If people wish to live longer, they should be aware that among the top ten causes of death in the United States, many are related to food consumption. This statistic is staggering due to the simple fact that people are literally eating themselves to death. If society is better informed about these risks, and these risks are more clearly linked to food consumption, then people will be better equipped to make choices that lead to longer, healthier lives. The Okinawa diet, originating from Japan, is a solution to the American problem of overeating. Two particular diets that are bad for us include: fast food and processed foods. They have been linked to the health problems our society faces today. However, not all of these foods are terrible for us. It is also important to know that we can consume some of these foods but we must do so in moderation. In today's society, not only are most diets unhealthy, but so are portion sizes and meal times. Most fast food ingredients are highly processed factory farmed products, grown with high levels of pesticides and fewer nutrients (Marano). Fast food and processed foods have a negative effect on an individual's weight, cholesterol, arteries, pancreas, liver and kidneys. Weight gain leads to complications affecting the pancreas, liver, ...... middle of paper ....... 2003. Web. April 16, 2011. Office of Women's Health. "Heart Disease | Frequently Asked Questions | WomensHealth.gov." Women's Health Information Center | WomensHealth.gov. February-March 2009. Network. April 16, 2011. "Okinawa Diet." Diets: Plans for weight loss and health. August 10, 2010. Web. April 16, 2011. .The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. "4 Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods | Reader's Digest Version." Health Tips, Food & Recipes, Funny Jokes & Cartoons & Sweepstakes | Reader's digest version. 2011. Network. April 16, 2011. "Who's Losing the Burger Battle? Health-Conscious Consumers." Ohio Connection, 2010. Web. April 7. 2011.