Our food choices today almost defy description. You can buy mangoes during an Iceland winter, or dine on fresh sushi in Nebraska. Virtually every occupied corner of the earth is awash in factory food and heavily processed food with scant nutritional value. Never before in mankind's history have so many kinds of food been so readily available to so many people year-round.

And it's killing us.

Medical researchers have found that, because of the countless health risks associated with the typical Western diet, young people today are the first generation in history that's expected to live shorter lives than their parents.

Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, strokes and other health issues are stalking people as mercilessly today as the Black Plague did centuries ago.

The risks of the modern factory food industry, however, extend beyond human health. CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) and other factory farming techniques have been called "a frontal assault on the environment, with massive groundwater and air pollution problems" by renowned animal sciences expert Peter Cheeke, Ph.D. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 18 and 51 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming come from livestock production.

And in many CAFOs, the reckless use of antibiotics in livestock poses an imminent threat. Up to 70 percent of all the antibiotics used in the United States go not to sick people, but to healthy animals. Experts fear the overuse of these drugs is creating a vast army of "superbug" bacteria that's completely resistant to the most powerful antibiotics in our medical arsenal.

What can you do to avoid factory food?

Plenty, and fortunately, it doesn't involve hoeing a row of potatoes in freezing weather like a medieval serf. Along with the numerous food choices available to consumers today are a surprising variety of foods that are as healthy for the environment as they are for you.

Factory Food vs Organic Food

First, consider buying fruits, vegetables and other produce that's organically grown. The USDA organic program requires that farmland -- and the plants and animals on it -– be completely free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for years.

For too many people, however, the thought of eating organic foods comes loaded with some grievous mistaken impressions. Cost, first of all, is a deterrent, and it's true that some organic foods cost more. But smart shoppers have found that while there are some foods that are best to buy organically – fruits and vegetables that are not peeled, for example, like tomatoes and apples.

Shoppers can economize by buying other foods that are not grown organically and are safer to eat because they're peeled, like onions, avocados and bananas. And buying organic milk can also save money because it's pasteurized at very high temperatures, so it lasts longer in the refrigerator – no more tossing out a container of spoiled milk.

Factory Food and the Local Alternative

Not all organic food, however, is grown under sustainable conditions. An organic tomato flown in from Mexico has a huge environmental impact and, according to author and activist Michael Pollan, many food items travel about 1,500 miles from the farm to your dinner plate. Thus, many people are turning to local foods as an alternative to industrial foods.

Local food has the advantage of being grown or cultivated nearby, so travel time and costs are greatly reduced -- as is the food's carbon footprint. But one of the best benefits of being a "locavore" is getting in touch with the regional farming community, its seasons and specialties, and getting to know one's local farmer in the process.

Seafood can be a difficult dinner choice, because large-scale industrial harvesting techniques have caused some fisheries to crash, and many species of fish are in danger of extinction. Many people also avoid seafood out of concern over mercury poisoning. Fortunately, there are many resources for choosing safe, sustainable seafood, including some green apps for smartphone users.

It's a common misconception that eating healthy, sustainable food means eking out a hair-shirted existence of cold gruel and raw vegetables – yet nothing could be further from the truth. Epicureans delight in the complexity and variety of biodynamic wines and organic chocolates, and beer aficionados speak in glowing terms of the rich taste of organic beer. Grass-fed beef and organic eggs are known to have a more complex flavor than industrial meats.

There’s plenty of great food available in large cities and small villages alike that's healthy, sustainable and delicious, and they avoid the worst aspects of factory food. But as long as multibillion-dollar agricultural subsidies for agribusiness and factory farms continue, it'll still be up to the consumer to encourage the growth of the sustainable food market. Do your part today -- go buy a local or organic apple, and dig in!