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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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 Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:55 am Post subject: |
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I think the leading cause of statistically high obesity rates has to do with ignorance at the individual level. Everyone knows what shouldn't be eaten, but they don't want to make the effort to avoid those things. Processed foods are in great abundance in the US, full of corn sugars and everything else mentioned. Why does cola have corn sugar in it? Because a lot of people were drinking it and heads of major organizations thought "We need to work with the government to make this stuff cheap to process in high quantities"
A LOT of americans drink soda at least twice a day. They drink diet to convince themselves they are on the right track. It's not a bad idea to drink diet, so long as everything else that goes with it is also diet or wholesome.
Food producers jump on trends and then create and advertise products to satiate the tastes of people they know are going to eat the crap. "Wow, a lot of people love kettle corn at the amusement park. I got it, let's make microwaveable kettle corn so people can eat it whenever they want it!" Then they produce York Peppermint Patty flavored cereal and all kinds of other delights that people eat en masse at a cheap price.
Even the organic stores do it. "Hmm, we sure have a lot of hippies coming here to buy organic brownie mix to cook their weed in...I got it! Let's make hemp seed brownies and tout the health benefits of hemp!"
People pass by the produce section and go straight to the premade stuff. They complain about how plain veggies are. I remember people turning their noses up at soymilk and fruit smoothies before lobbing sccops of ice cream in the blender at a class party one time. That basically summed it up for me. Consumerism starts with people looking for an easy and better tasting fix |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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It's probably been already said in some way in this thread, but it's all about the money. Food scientists design foods that will tickle your tastebuds and activate the pleasure centers of the brain. They've identified 3 basic substances that do this: oil (fat), salt and sugar. People just go bezerk over a Big Mac trio because it satisfies all of these tastes. Caffeine was added to Coca Cola to make it more addictive. I'd go almost as far as saying that these foods are almost as addictive as drugs. What do people do when they're stressed and or depressed? Drink a beer, smoke tobacco or weed, or have a big pizza and a Coke.
Anyway, it's much easier to get instant fast food by dropping by a restaurant than cooking something nutritious yourself. I think it's a habit to adopt like going to the gym. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Dev wrote: |
It's probably been already said in some way in this thread, but it's all about the money. Food scientists design foods that will tickle your tastebuds and activate the pleasure centers of the brain. They've identified 3 basic substances that do this: oil (fat), salt and sugar. People just go bezerk over a Big Mac trio because it satisfies all of these tastes. Caffeine was added to Coca Cola to make it more addictive. I'd go almost as far as saying that these foods are almost as addictive as drugs. What do people do when they're stressed and or depressed? Drink a beer, smoke tobacco or weed, or have a big pizza and a Coke.
Anyway, it's much easier to get instant fast food by dropping by a restaurant than cooking something nutritious yourself. I think it's a habit to adopt like going to the gym. |
I agree and that is pretty much what the article I just linked to says.
But I was really struck by this comment:
For the first time in history, there are literally more people overweight than there are starving. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:17 am Post subject: |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| Starla wrote: |
I wish people would take responsibility for what they put in their mouths instead of putting the blame on other factors. Whenever I watch the American news, they're always looking for a guilty party for anything and everything that goes wrong. The problems of obesity and overweight people are occurring not just in the U.S. All these countries with weight problems are not consuming vast amounts of corn.
I'll say it once and I'll say it again, it's not just what you eat but your portions. My overweight American friends usually eat large portions...larger than mine and definitely larger than most Koreans I know. And they eat the unhealthiest stuff (high fat, cholesterol, sugar, starch) plus they're not much for working out. It's not rocket science to me.
I look forward to the day when people look within themselves to solve their problems with weight instead of blaming others as they continue with their bad lifestyle habits. It's really sad when people have to lie to themselves to justify their choices. And that's just what they are...choices. |
I do mostly agree, and yet, the obesity problem in America is so rampant that I do think something more is going on than simply individual "weakness". It does seem to be a societal problem.
Maybe the choices you mention are not "informed" choices. Maybe the fast food lifestyle is too ingrained in our society. I don't know the answer. |
Sorry to quote myself, but just wanted to continue this thought:
Why Low-Fat Caused the Obesity Epidemic
http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/01/18/low-fat-caused-obesity-epidemic/?icid=main|main|dl2|link1|http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/01/18/low-fat-caused-obesity-epidemic/
Especially this point from the article:
At the same time as all of this was happening, American started eating more of everything. This, too, is no coincidence. Here's why: If I give you a carton of Domino's sugar and tell you to eat till your heart's content, you won't consume very much. Same thing with butter. But if I put them together, something magical happens. Combine sugar and fat and every one of your evolutionary buttons are pushed. Manufacturers know this. Cravings get activated, brain chemistry starts firing, you can literally eat this stuff 'till you bust. |
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Loza
Joined: 28 May 2006
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Loza, Thank you for these hilarious corn syrup ads. The spoof ads tell us that there are intelliegnt people who aren't buying the corn industry's pitch.
The other links to Food Inc. & Monsanto are excellent too. Required viewing for everybody (especially those people who contributed to the McDonalds thread on this board). 
The site hosting the Monsanto video also has a treasure chest of other great videos.
Thanks again! |
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Azby
Joined: 22 Jan 2009
Location: Gyeonggi Do South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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I think yeasted foods and sugar are to blame.
Yeast and sugar = fermentation. The process requires regular feedings.
Eat,eat and eat. Then burp and fa**.
Sound familar?
Read the food packets. Why is there yeast in flat crackers? crumbed fish fillets? Potato chips? Because it gives more flavor and is addictive.
By eating those yeast laden foods, you want more.
The consumers are consuming more, making more profits for the profiteers who run the supermarkets. |
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UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Azby wrote: |
I think yeasted foods and sugar are to blame.
Yeast and sugar = fermentation. The process requires regular feedings.
Eat,eat and eat. Then burp and fa**.
Sound familar?
Read the food packets. Why is there yeast in flat crackers? crumbed fish fillets? Potato chips? Because it gives more flavor and is addictive.
By eating those yeast laden foods, you want more.
The consumers are consuming more, making more profits for the profiteers who run the supermarkets. |
So making bread with sour dough or baking soda would make healthier bread... ? I'm not really buying this.
EDIT: I see you are endorsing yeast free diets in other threads too. I guess it's the new "thing" |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| Ilsanman wrote: |
Someone from the Pocari Sweat company approached me the other day after I was finished jogging. He started squigeeing the sweat off of me and putting it into a bottle.
Did it taste good?
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Extra disgusting since "po-ca-ri" is slang for 'testicle'. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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kinerry
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:12 am Post subject: |
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obesity is always a problem with the most developed countries
it's a symptom of success, that's why the only fat man in the olden days was the king |
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asutrack
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Idiots!!!! Don't you know it's all the Republicans' fault  |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| kinerry wrote: |
obesity is always a problem with the most developed countries
it's a symptom of success, that's why the only fat man in the olden days was the king |
Then why is Mexico one of the most obese nations in the world? |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
It's probably been already said in some way in this thread, but it's all about the money. Food scientists design foods that will tickle your tastebuds and activate the pleasure centers of the brain. They've identified 3 basic substances that do this: oil (fat), salt and sugar. People just go bezerk over a Big Mac trio because it satisfies all of these tastes. Caffeine was added to Coca Cola to make it more addictive. I'd go almost as far as saying that these foods are almost as addictive as drugs. What do people do when they're stressed and or depressed? Drink a beer, smoke tobacco or weed, or have a big pizza and a Coke.
Anyway, it's much easier to get instant fast food by dropping by a restaurant than cooking something nutritious yourself. I think it's a habit to adopt like going to the gym. |
I agree and that is pretty much what the article I just linked to says.
But I was really struck by this comment:
For the first time in history, there are literally more people overweight than there are starving. |
That does seem a remarkably ignorant statement.
I read recently that the body's tendency to put on excess weight may be set by as early as age two...but I've always felt the problem is too many people just don't know what good food is. If you live off junk food, you'll be unhealthy and unhealthily fat, go figure. |
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