Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food...

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is a government program to help its participants buy food. The amount of money issued each month is calculated by income, number of people in household, and other factors. SNAP benefits create a way for people to eat. But it also helps people in more ways than just filling their stomachs. And yet, there are those who do not see the benefits in continuing this program. If you have never experienced having to use government benefits just to survive day to day, that view is your luxury. Food is important to your health, and when you are not getting the proper nutrients, your health suffers. â€Å"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food Insecurity,†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦among the food-insecure population, SNAP participation appears to buffer against poor dietary quality and obesity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Their research highlights how SNAP can potentially play into helping at risk people obtain a healthy diet and weight status. After being on and off SNAP for the majority of my life, my physical health was better on benefits, rather than off. I was able to lose weight once I had access to healthy foods, rather than cheap and processed (which is what my mother could afford without benefits). Other health benefits came from being on SNAP. We have very poor immune systems in my family, and that was alleviated somewhat when the stress of not having enough food was diminished, as well as having access to healthier food. Medical conditions that were exacerbated by poor eating and stress are very common. Thyroid problems and half of my family having intestinal disorders created even more burdens. As well as the majority of my family having eating disorders, like anorexia/ bulimia and food maintenance disorder (from not having food and having to be very strict with food for so long). Nguyen, Shuval Bertmann, and Yaroch also make a point that certain factors should not be separate, but rather seen as having interact ion. â€Å"SNAP, food insecurity, obesity, dietary patterns, food availability and access, and other factors should be considered together rather than separately, because these factors may interact in a complex relationship.†Show MoreRelatedHouse Of Representatives Member, Phil Roe, Introduced A1114 Words   |  5 Pagesamend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The Healthy Food Choices Act of 2016 would require the participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to use their benefits to purchase items that meet the nutrition requirement proposed by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or WIC program (Roe, 2016). According to the United States Department of Agriculture (2016), there were 45,766,672 people participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramRead MoreFood Insecurity And Its Effects On Health1258 Words   |  6 PagesFood insecurity is defined as â€Å"limited or uncertain availability of nutritional ly adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.†1 Food insecurity data found that in America, 12.7% of households were food insecure at some point and 5% of households had very low food security in 2015.2 The prevalence of food insecurity in Ohio was greater than the national average in 2015, with 16.1% of households reporting food insecurity.2 TheRead MoreFood Insecurity : The Lack Of Access For Enough Food For Adequate Nutrition1806 Words   |  8 PagesErrington 08-12-2015 GPH 722 Research Paper What is it? Food insecurity is defined as â€Å"the lack of access to enough food to ensure adequate nutrition.†1 The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reported that 14.6% of US households were food insecure during at least some portion of 2008 (up 11.1% from 2007), the highest levels recorded since monitoring began in 1995.2 Food insecurity is a concern of under consumption and obesity is a disease of over consumption, yet both outcomesRead MoreHealth Knowledge And Positive Dietary Change Essay1974 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: For limited income and limited education individuals, low-nutrition health literacy affects the understanding of and adoption of nutrition recommendations. That causes implications on health outcomes of families. For practitioners, understanding the relationship between health knowledge and positive dietary change will enable health educators to be involved in the development and delivery of evidence-based strategies that meet the needs of low-health-literacy. A review of recent research