The Joy of Soy
In Chinese, the word for soybean is ta-tou, which translates, "greater bean" (Simmons 1991). Many Americans who are trying to make changes in their health are beginning to agree with this definition. Soybeans are becoming a legume of the future.
SOY - CAN IT SURVIVE THE HYPE?
Scientific research has discovered that adding soy foods to your diet can dramatically improve your health (http://www.ncw.net/alpha/pam5.html). People that incorporate soybeans and soy products into their diet have been shown to live healthier lives. The substitution of soy proteins for animal proteins in the diet can have dramatic affects on a person's health, though many Americans have not yet discovered the use of soy in the diet. The most common form of soy protein is derived from "white flakes," that are made by dehulling, flaking, and defatting soybeans by hexane extraction. These flakes contain 50-54% protein, and these flakes can be extracted to produce soy concentrates containing 65-70% protein (Lusas, l995).
Soybeans, which were originally brought to the United States by Chinese immigrants, were discovered by Dr. John Henry Kellogg, who first used the soybean to develop a substitute for the traditional bacon and egg breakfast. He was also the first to develop meat substitutes and soymilk made from soybeans (http://www.vrp.com/soy.htm). The soybean is naturally rich in phosphatidycholine, which is an important component of the cell membranes and also an efficient delivery system of nutrients (http://www.eastcoast.com/freelife/product.htm). Recently, the soybean has undergone a transformation from food to medicine (http://www.vrp.com/soy.htm).
THE PRODUCT
Dr. Earl Mindell's company, FreeLife, has produced a line of soy-based health supplements that combine the soybean and the Japanese Grape Seed. These products are composed of Dr. Mindell's homemade Ultra Soy Complexes as well as a variety of other vitamins and minerals. These soy-based supplements are advertised and marketed on the internet; designed to catch the eye of the health-conscious reader. Dr. Mindell has hundreds of advertisements, and even his own home page. The first thought that comes to mind when reading these advertisements is, "Why should I believe this and switch my diet to a soy-based diet?" While the effects of Dr. Mindell's products may be slightly exaggerated, there may actually be more to a soy diet than many Americans would like to admit. Dr. Mindell's soy products must each be examined separately in order to discern the true effects of the product on a person's diet.
In the article “Paranoia about Fats is Driven by Junk Science” by Jill Richardson discusses the idea of how many Americans’ have false beliefs on the consumption of fats. Many think fats are bad and unhealthy for our diets, when in reality; we need them to maintain a healthy diet. For me and just like many others, I had the wrong impression on fats. Since many products today contain the label fat-free, I always believed that this was bad for diets. Since reading this article, it helped me take into account that eating omega-3 and omega-6; such as fish, greens, seeds, and oils are part of a well-balanced diet. This can be related to chapter 3, as omega-3 fatty acids are essential in preventing
Do these two ideas truly have to go together? It seems the Soylent miracle is also a challenge to the universal system of chew and swallow, where the aesthetic and taste of food are prioritized before its nutritional value. Rob Rhineheart is correct to point out a deficiency in the system, that food has acquired something of a social life to it, creating complications that increase the time, effort, and difficulty of gaining essential nutrients. In “The End of Food,” Lizzie Widdicombe shows us Soylent’s potential as a dream substance, but also presents potential despair in a future with Soylent. With its characteristics, it seems that Soylent could go either way.
In Lizzie Widdicombe’s article “The End of Food”, Widdicombe interviews Soylent’s chief executive, Rob Rhinehart. Throughout the article Rhinehart puts forth compelling arguments for the merits of a diet sustained mainly by synthetic substances like Soylent, citing nutritional benefits as well as hopes for future humanitarian uses. Soylent’s extremely affordable price and claims of better nutrition aimed at busy people make it a breakthrough product for many. The obvious nightmare of drinking pureed humans aside, it is still in debate how surviving on a diet for utility could affect cultural and social customs long linked to traditional meals. Also currently unknown is whether Soylent can really provide all of the nutrients found in real food,
With all the unregulated dietary supplements being sold and recommended, our health insurance costs will continue to rise. If the product causes severe side effects, it should no longer be permitted to be sold in stores. The only way to touch the minds of many people is to inform them of the dangers of consuming dietary supplements. Disposing of all incorrect information in product labeling and ingredient lists is important. People need to recognize the faults that plague many advertisements. In addition businesses should promote safe products instead of the harmful ones that they advocate for. The United States Congress should consider regulating dietary supplements to maintain safety. If people are aware of the many lies companies present, then dietary supplements will be one less problem to worry about.
The Soylent team is hopeful that they can create a “Soylent-producing ‘superorganism’: a single strain of alga that pumps out Soylent all day.” By completely automating agricultural production, we are solving world hunger, lowering chances of resource wars, therefore making the world a better place. The development of synthetic foods is a movement. There are many nutritional issues, both around the world and in this country, and synthetic foods are a viable solution to our problem. People are obese, overweight, diabetic, or malnourished because healthy food is too expensive.
4. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Organic Foods: Are They Safer? More Nutritious?" Mayo Clinic. 18 Dec. 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .
The problem is that the people who are being incarcerated don’t need to be incarcerated. Instead of trying to do what is best for the offenders and help them we are just throwing them in prisons for so many years and hoping it will help. Yes, this idea is working in some cases, but in other cases throwing the person in for many years is actually making it worse. They are not getting the help or treatment they need. I spoke with a man who was in prison for many years and he said getting drugs in prison is so much easier than getting them outside of prison. He also said that most drug offenders go back to prison, because they do not get help with their addictions. They are being put into a place that is just making their addictions worse.
Kallas, Julia. "Q&A: Health Impacts of Genetically Modified Foods Still Unknown." Global Information Network. 20 Oct. 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 18 May. 2014.
With prisons growing at the rate they are now, there must be more funding. 1 out of every 131 U.S citizens is incarcerated. The rest of the citizens have to pay for this person to have a place to sleep, eat, and exercise out of their taxes. These taxes can and should be used for more important issues. I...
Mandela, N. (1994). Long walk to freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Boston: Little, Brown.
Excuse me sir, may I see your pass?" These words mean very little to most Americans; however these words struck fear in the hearts of black South Africans during the times of apartheid. While apartheid was being practiced, blacks were restricted in the jobs they could hold, facilities they could use, as well as the places they could be, and all blacks had to carry passes for identification purposes. If the passes were not in order, the carrier was subject to arrest. Through these terrifying times, one man rose above all the rest in the effort to combat this terrible practice of apartheid. This man was Nelson Mandela; a man who was so dedicated to the overthrow of apartheid that he was willing to spend twenty-seven years of his live in prison for the cause. Mandela's rise to the South African presidency, after his release is well documented, but in order to truly understand Mandela, one must examine his life before his prison term, and rise to the presidency. When analyzing Mandela's life from this point of view, several questions come to the forefront. First of all, what was the extent of the apartheid laws which Mandela and the people of South Africa were facing? Secondly, what tactics did Mandela use to combat this practice of apartheid? Thirdly, what factors played a motivating force in the life of Mandela? And finally, what impact does the life of Nelson Mandela have on the rest of the world? After carefully answering each of these questions, one can easily see that Nelson Mandela was a man shaped by apartheid into a staunch nationalist that served as an example for his people and the world.
Although it may not seem like a major problem to most people in the United States, prisons are becoming overcrowded, expensive to maintain and have little to no effect on the moral discipline of inmates. The current prison system is extremely inefficient and the purpose of prisons has been completely forgotten. According to Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, the primary purpose of prisons is to punish, to protect, and to rehabilitate. Not only is there an increase in prisoners, but there is a rise in the number of repeat offenders. Alternatives such as counseling, drug rehabilitation, education, job training and victim restitution must be better enforced and organized. People do not understand the severity of the problem mainly because
Society has recently become increasingly obsessed with health and nutrition, as more and more individuals realize that they can dramatically change their quality of life by adjusting their diet and lifestyle. One such way that people have tried to pursue a healthier lifestyle, is by removing meat and other animal products from their diets, whether they become a strict vegetarian who eats no animal byproducts, or a lacto-ovo vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy. As with any other lifestyle, research is always being done to see if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and so far, the results of vegetarian diets have been encouraging. Vegetarian diets have proven to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and many other health problems. With a little planning and dedication, a vegetarian diet will be healthier and more beneficial than a traditional diet that includes meat and animal products.
Numerous people believe that a vegetarian diet is unhealthy for the reason that one is not consuming enough protein since there is a decrease in the consumption of meat. However, meat is not the only source of protein. Nuts and grains contain great amounts of protein, and by eating these in the place of meat, one not only gets protein, but avoids the harmful carbohydrates and fats that are in animal meats. Consuming supplements can also help gain nutrients if the diet is not providing enough. There are countless amounts of nutritional supplements that one can purchase, including fish oil and omega 3s. These can be fairly cheap if purchased at the right place, and easily give bodies the nutrients they crave to function.
Brazil expects a 90 million tons soybean crop, making it the world's top producer. (2013, December 12). Retrieved April 24, 2014, from Merco Press: http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/12/brazil-expects-a-90-million-tons-soybean-crop-making-it-the-world-s-top-producer