...Is Our Food Killing Us? Is Our Food Killing Us? is an investigation into the processed food products that make up the modern American diet and the affects these products are having on our health and well-being. Also, in many cases we are well aware of the health risks of diets rich in certain foods. Fast foods, heavily processed food-like products and convenience foods have been proven to cause obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancers. Even food products that claim to be “fat free” or “diet” contain artificial ingredients that can cause health problems such as migraine headaches. Our food may very well be killing us and yet we, as a nation, are not changing our eating habits. The intention was to find out why we choose to continue on the unhealthy paths that we are on. Information found in many articles and documentaries, including doctors’ and scientists’ statements, as well as nutritional information found on nearly every food label in the grocery store, explained what was in the foods we are eating, what it does to our bodies and what were our reasons for not making healthier choices. Factors such as food addiction, convenience, commercialism, false claims and income are some examples of why we may continue to eat poorly. This paper will examine all of these topics and some others. Maybe the information that will be revealed here will be just what you need to modify your own diets and begin a road to a healthier body! Table...
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...Running head: The Omnivore’s Dilemma: First Draft The Omnivore's Dilemma: First Draft Introduction Reading The Omnivores Dilemma, The Forest section goes over the life, killing and processing of animals as food. The process of killing these animals comes into question in many people’s minds, as they fear or worry the animals were treated badly in their lives, or were killed in an inhumane way. This will explain on how it is hypocritical of an individual who eats meat to have an issue with and against the ways these animals are processed. The Feeding of Animals Animals that are raised as livestock are there for the reason of eventually being killed and processed for food. They are fed as an animal being raised for such purposes. One would not feed an animal high grade food whenever they are going to be slaughtered and used for consumption; because they will be eaten, their food quality needs to be good, but not top end food. These animals just need to be healthy. The argument for animals needing to be fed high quality foods in these situations is absurd to say the least. The Containment of Animals The perception that animals are contained inhumanely is largely incorrect. While of course some operations would not adhere to the set standards, for the most part confinement of livestock is done according to established guidelines. Take the opening scene from the movie Babe...
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...for war. Each and every justification is met with its own singular problem. The defense against the innocent seems like it is justified but there arises two arguments against it. In a war more than just soldiers are killed. Other civilians will be killed and many of the soldiers don’t want to fight, they are just ordered too. That means we are killing innocent civilians and soldiers to protect some innocent. From a utilitarian view we must ask if this the death of the innocent will outweigh the death of the other innocent if we do or don’t go to war. Yet, deontologists would say that killing is bad and that needs to be punished because killing is wrong. So kill people to stop killing. For a pacifist that is just wrong. The other problem from defending the innocent is that violence is key in war and many times over we have been shown that violence is not always the best way. We should try and support people and ideas like Gandhi, to win with non-violence. There is not always a need for full war if we can help these people peacefully. Then there is the problem with the justification of recovery. This can be taken way out of proportion. If you don't believe me just look at fascist Germany in WWII. Hitler wanted the land that was wrongfully taken from them in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler wanted to take back the Sudetenland and that...
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...is not a secret that food has become significantly more expensive over the past years. Take a walk down an aisle in any grocery store and one would take notice that purchasing all of the five major food groups could potentially leave the consumer broke by the time they check-out. While the price on meats, fruits, and vegetables increases, the amount of cheap, prepackaged meals on the shelves continues to grow. Although, processed foods have been in grocery stores for quite some time, they have now almost taken over the super markets. While affordable and convenient, these prepackaged, processed foods can lead to many heathy problems, including obesity. With prices on food at the grocery store driving consumers away, the fast food industry has been stepped up in a big way. Along with families on-the-go, many families living poverty have turned the convenience of inexpensive, fast food. Known as the “dollar menu,” almost every fast food restaurant in the United States has this option on their menu. Not only is the “dollar menu” popular, but “value meals” are a favorite for consumers, as well. Fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds and Burger King, are not the only problem, though. Pizza establishments, for example CiCi’s and Pizza Hut, offer all you can eat buffets for considerably low prices. With the “dollar menu” and all you can eat buffets, the fast food industry markets their low prices geared towards poverty stricken families. Processed foods in the grocery store...
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...Obesity Obesity Obesity Guys every one that knows me knows I am so passionate about reading on how much obesity is a problem in America and even all over the world. I love learning about nutrition and how obesity can be beat for good. I wish I could grab everyone all over the U.S and tell them to read more on nutrition and the right way to eat. For this reason, I research on obesity all over America because I want to end it some way some how I want to be apart of ending the epidemic of obesity. I recently read an article about obesity and the name of the article is “Obesity in America” written by Caitlin Rose. The lady helps us understand how Obesity has become a major issue in the U.S and she also states the risks we face with obesity, a solution that might end obesity and some extra information on obesity. I guess the people reading this is only people that want to educate themselves in the topic, like nutritionists, and future nutritionist. But I think we should all be concerned about our health and read this article. Caitlin Rose mentions in this article that according the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, "more than one third of adults suffer from obesity and one sixth of children suffer from it too." These numbers only keep going up and we need to finish this once and for all. Obesity raises the risks of other chronic diseases, like for example, stroke, depression, arthritis, and many more. 7 out of 10 deaths occur because of these chronic...
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...General information Fresh fruits are a good source of vitamins ,minerals and dietary fiber. Whilst most fruits should be eaten fresh, processed can be acceptable alternatives. They come in many forms, including: • Pre-prepared fresh • Canned • Frozen • Dried •Juiced Pre-prepared fresh fruit Common varieties include fruit salads . These are convenient, but may have a shorter storage life. They may also be more expensive than whole fresh fruits It is also important to check the information on the nutrition panel for these foods as some pre-prepared salads may include added ingredients, such as flavourings, additiives. Many of these ingredients can be high in sugar and should be avoided. Frozen or canned fruit THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF FROZEN AND CANNED FRUITS FOR EXAMPLE • Canned pineapple, peaches, apricots, pears and mixed fruits. • Frozen mangoes, berries and pineapple. THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING FROZEN AND CANNED FRUIT INCLUDE: • Convenience • Longer shelf life •Year round availability • Most vitamins are retained as they are generally processed and packaged within hours of being picked • Easy storage •Easy preparation Whilst the canning and freezing process can help protect food from organisms that can cause food to go off, it is important to store and prepare processed fruit and vegetables properly. • Frozen fruit and vegetables should be kept at -18 degrees Celsius for no more than six months.When shopping, try to put frozen products in your trolley...
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...available information today than ever before, we don’t know what we should eat, or even what we’re eating. The truth is that every phase of the food cycle, from manufacturing to consumption, has become corrupted. This corruption, furthermore, will have ramification for future generations. This is because food manufacturing is not only making our bodies sick, but it also has a devastating impact on our environment as well. Using corn as an example, this essay seeks to explain how we are becoming sickened by food. Unsurprisingly, farms are responsible for producing much of the food we eat, as well as the food for the animals we eat. Ideally, in a natural farm system, agriculture has a symbiotic relationship with its ecosystem. For example, natural, healthy soil contains water and nutrients for crops to grow. When the crops are harvested, their remains go back into the earth and act as fertilizer to replenish lost nutrients. Similarly, when livestock grazes, their waste is returned to the earth in the form of fertilizer. Fundamentally, in a natural system, whatever is taken from nature is given back. When food is grown in this manner, it reaches its potential in terms of taste and nutrition with no destructive effects on environment and ourselves. But less than one percent of the world’s farms operate in such a way. The implication is that the foods we eat are most likely produced by farmers whose goals are not the achievement of quality and sustainability, but rather profitability...
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...The Omnivore’s Dilemma Natural history of four meals This book begins a journey from industrial farms, feedlots, organic farms, and slaughter houses, to super markets. Pollan helps explain the options use have on food, and on corn. He said in chapter “what connection does a piece of Salmon or beef have with a corn field? How about a twinkie? Or a trash bag? The connection is corn exists in one form or another in about everything we eat Salmon and cows are being fed corn. Corn exists in milk processed foods are more complicated. Food scientists have figured out away, to transform soda, beer and cheez- whiz to canned fruit, gravy anf hot sauce; also in non- edible products. In addition Pollan states corn is benefits to humans, corn not only allowed white settlers to survive in the New World but enabled them to displace many of the native plants and...
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...“modern biotechnology”. This “modern biotechnology” is not natural, and in fact not safe for humans or our environment. These methods to genetically modify organisms are used to create GM plants, which are then used to grow GM food crops. Currently, 90% of US crops today are genetically modified and used to create most of the “food” you buy in stores today. Unfortunately to truly find organic non GMO foods, you typically need to find a local farmer or farmers market. The stuff sold in most stores is processed and filled with additives, chemicals, and “food-like” products. These types of chemicals and additives studies show are causing many of the diseases and cancers that are on the rise today. If consumers knew what was in the foods and how much foods are made from GMOs I think they would think twice about what they ate or what they fed their kids. The problem is consumers are unaware of the damaging effects of GMOs, chemicals, and artificial flavors and colors and the diseases/cancer that proven studies have shown them to cause. We are killing ourselves and our children! What we call organic now unfortunately is what our great grandfathers just called food; it is quite hard to find “real” food anymore. When you go into a store you can find “food-like” products filled with chemicals, fillers, and GMOs but what is it doing to our body? What are the long term effects? Why is disease and cancers so high? Why are there so many obese people?? Businesses need to label their...
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...High Fructose Corn Syrup and Obesity DeVry University February 20, 2013 In the age of high fructose corn syrup and processed foods, obesity is rampant in the United States of America. More than one-third of adults and seventeen percent of children suffer from obesity. Since the 1960’s the rate of obesity has more than doubled. Many think that this is directly related to America’s growing consumption of high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup has made people obese and unhealthy, but we can change this by better educating children on proper nutrition and by changing our eating habits. High fructose corn syrup was first created in Japan in the late 1960’s. By the 1970’s the process had been perfected and was introduced to the public market. High fructose corn syrup is fifty-five percent fructose and forty-five percent glucose, and tastes exactly like sucrose (sugar). (Pollan p.89) Like everything else that we eat, in moderation fructose and glucose (high fructose corn syrup) may not be considered that bad for you. However, with the amount of processed foods and beverages that Americans consume it has become nearly impossible to avoid the overeating of high fructose corn syrup. So how exactly does high fructose corn syrup affect the body? We know that high fructose corn syrup is made up of fifty-five percent fructose and forty-five percent glucose. Glucose is a form of energy that is used by just about every part of the body. Glucose gives...
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...English 1010 4 October 2015 Mark Bittman’s “The Food Industry’s Solution to Obesity” For decades, obesity has been a major problem in American society. Some attribute this to the laziness or lack of ambition of Americans. Others blame the marketing strategies of big name food companies. Mark Bittman attributes it to big name food companies not distributing “healthy” food to the public. He insists that they instead distribute food that is terrible for you. Loaded down with excess amounts of sugar, calories, and fats, the food companies have begun to appear to be selling “better” food to society. In his article, “Parasites, Killing Their Hosts: The Food Industry’s Solution to Obesity,” he dives deeper into the corrupted world of public health versus company profit. Published in the New York Times on June 17, 2014, his article covers the world of obesity and how the food industry contributes to this dystopia we’re working towards. Mark Bittman is an American food journalist, columnist for the New York Times, and author of 14 books and cookbooks. One of these books was awarded the James Beard Award for General Cooking. Working for the New York Times since 1996, Bittman has slowly worked his way up to the current lead food writer for the paper. He has been featured on NPR, The Today Show, and PBS’s 2008 American food and travel series “Spain…on the Road Again." As Bittman writes his article he begins to analyze how little the food industry really cares about its consumers. He states...
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...Forks Over Knives Americans are consuming sugars and fats at an alarming rate that are killing and costing millions. Foods like these are becoming main food groups for a lot of people and families. The film Forks Over Knives, is an eye opener to what these types of foods are do to he health of the body. The film points out the specific contributions to many health related diseases, and directs it at the foods that are being consumed. Lee Fulkerson and Joey Aucoin are living proof. Their lifestyles were very similar, they both ate foods with high amounts of fats and sugars, as well as drinks with high amounts of sugar. Their lives take a major turn as they are followed in the documentary. The three main components to the film that caught my attention were the nutrients that our bodies were being deprived of such as essential nutrients that the whole foods plant based diet can give, diabetes and health related problems can be reversed with a healthier lifestyle, as well as how a whole foods plant...
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...Farm Subsidies Farming has been around since the beginning of time and has undergone significant developments since the time of the earliest cultivations. It hard to believe that farming is still an important tool for producing food since we are all surrounded by fast food restaurants. The United States Agriculture Department, USDA, has always supported the Agricultural business through Farm Subsidies programs. The U.S Agriculture Department has distributed between 10 billion and 30 billion into their Farm subsidies programs to large farm businesses. These subsidies consists of direct payments, counter-cyclical payments and marketing loans to the contracted farm producers. Just to better understand how each payment works direct payments are granted to farm producers based on the usage of their land and their history of crop production. This means that some individuals may receive direct payments for land they own, even if they are not currently producing commodity crops. Like direct payments, counter-cyclical payments are tied the production of crops, so farmers may receive payments for crops they are no longer growing. The marketing loan program guarantees minimum prices for crops. Producers can take out marketing loans, using their crops as collateral, in order to hold the crops and sell them when prices rise. Most of the Government’s farm subsidies funds go to farmers that produce the following top five commodity crops which include wheat, corn, soybeans, rice and cotton. The...
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...We Deserve Better Food Growing up, our parents have exposed us to plenty of processed and fake food. As a child, this has consequently caused the feeling of emptiness if we are not able to have our beloved snacks. We thrive on being able to get our hands on something that is not so good for us and most of the time we are not educated on what is actually in our packaged or fast foods. All we know is when we eat it, we enjoy every second of it until it is gone and then we crave more. The brain is always subconsciously thinking about the time our body is going to eat. In recent years, it has been more focused on knowing about what is going in our bodies, but growing up it was far less important to give the ingredients in our food the time of day. Fed Up is the most effective in convincing their audience on changing eating and shopping habits because the movie gives real life examples in American households and shocking statistics that force one to sit down and rethink the way they are living....
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...FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT Foods that Make You Fat and Destroy Your Health Page | 1 Copyright ©2010 Eat Healthy Secrets ISBN XXXXXXXX All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Printed in the United States of America Page | 2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................5 THE DANGER OF PROCESSED FOODS ......................................................................8 REFINED SUGAR IS POISON ......................................................................................12 THE TRUTH ABOUT FAT .............................................................................................27 WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP ..................................32 WATCH OUT FOR ASPARTAME .................................................................................40 AVOID MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE ..........................................................................55 OTHER FOOD ADDITIVES YOU SHOULD AVOID ......................................................62 THE PROBLEM WITH BREAKFAST CEREALS ..........................................................73 THE PROBLEM WITH DIET SODAS ......................................................................
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