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Evolution of american diets
Americans'unhealthy eating
Evolution of american diets
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It is no secret that an alarming amount of Americans today are overweight, we rank in at the second heaviest nation in the world with Mexico as our only forerunners. Everyday we are influenced subconsciously by subliminal advertisements by food companies, advertisements that influence the way we eat. These companies control everything, they control the quality of the food, they influence us to eat it, they even have control over what goes into government funded school lunches. The government impacts our eating as well, one of the largest crops subsidized by the government is corn. The reason? High fructose corn syrup, which is implemented into almost every food product on supermarket shelves. After doing some research for my own gain several …show more content…
I beg to differ, people who purchase these products are easily comparable to smokers; no matter how much the price increases, people addicted to smoking still buy cigarettes because they are addicted to the nicotine contained within. Similarly, sugar is an addictive substance, and food companies use this to their advantage, loading products with it in order to obtain repeat customers. So, no matter the price, those who are severely overweight and, or addicted to sugar will continue to purchase these products no matter how much tax the government …show more content…
A typical medium bagel was four ounces, double the USDA 's two ounces.
A typical medium muffin was six ounces, triple the USDA 's two ounces” (Liebman).
Restaurants, food stores, and food manufacturers use this to their advantage. Many times people will buy or eat more food “in bulk” because they believe they are getting more for their value. Over the years serving sizes have increased incredibly. Studies show that when presented with more food, people will eat more, it is a simple concept. This binge styled eating may have been appropriate when humans were just starting to evolve, but in our industrialized society, we have no need to eat these high fat, high sugar foods in order to survive. Yet we continue to eat them, and eat them excessively, which contributes to our high obesity
Everyday Americans die from the diseases they carry from obesity. Many Americans overeat because of their social problems or because they are hereditary. Many plans have been discussed, but finding the solution is the problem. Junk foods and unhealthy beverages have corrupted children’s minds all over the nation, and putting a stop to it could lead to other benefits. Unhealthy foods and drinks should be taxed and healthy foods should be advertised to help prevent American obesity.
This is an increasingly concerning factor in the growing national epidemic of obesity. Adverts often mask foods that are unhealthy by emphasising their positive nutritional features – such as dietary fibre and protein. While at the same time ignoring its negative features – including the high amounts of saturated fat and sugar content. In some cases, even products that mention any alleged health benefits are usually outweighed by the health risks associated with consuming the product, that they just fail to mention. In summary, big businesses are using recurring and manipulative persuasive techniques on vulnerable consumers to try to convey the false message of health and nutrition in products when they are in fact more harmful than helpful.
This dramatic quote from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states the appalling: we are getting fatter and fatter every day. One of the main reasons for this is the giant increase in portion sizes, or “portion distortion”.
The food that we as a nation consumes reflects the health and well being of the American people. We have become so accustomed to fast food and easy, unhealthy, diet choices that diseases like diabetes has become very prevalent and on the rise. One in every three Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes. In the film “Food Inc.” takes a look into a typical grocery store and reveals the illusion of variety. Most of the food in the industry leads back to corn. High fructose corn syrup, a sweetener made from corn starch, is found in many of the foods and beverages that we consume. High fructose corn syrup has been linked to metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Corn has become very affordable and abundant and big food
Obesity in America has risen dramatically in the last forty years. Many believe high fructose corn syrup is to blame for this and other health related issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. High fructose corn syrup was invented by Richard O. Marshall and Earl R. Kooi in 1957 (Production of high fructose corn syrup). Scientists have done tests and many reports and found many statistics showing the same thing: once high fructose corn syrup (or HFCS) was added to food and beverages in 1975, obesity rose without warning. The U.S. has the highest obesity rate in the world: “roughly two-thirds of adults and one-third of young people in the U.S. are now overweight or obese” (McMillen). That’s a massive amount, and it’s growing at a steady pace with little sign of ending any time soon. We also eat more mass produced food than any other country in the world. High fructose corn syrup has taken over the food market and has found its way to almost all of our food and drinks.
The sole purpose of a company is to offer goods and services while making a profit. If people have a liking for food products with so many unhealthy items and are willing to buy them, the companies have no obligation to reduce the amount of added ingredients. The companies aren’t the ones forcing the public to overeat. However, these companies shouldn’t market their products to people who they can easily exploit, like children and those who are penurious. Michael Moss, author of the article “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food” interviews several people who worked for certain big brand companies and gives us an abundant amount of information on how the food companies make and market their food to “get us hooked”.
Michael Pollan makes arguments concerning the eating habits of the average American. Pollan suggests, in spite of our cultural norms, we should simply “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.”
Obesity is a serious problem that increases year after year and affects the lives of many Americans. It is a problem that needs to be eradicated, but who is responsible for this problem? Some argue that individuals are responsible for their own weight; that it is a private concern. Some others, on the other hand, argue that it is a public concern; therefore, the government should play a significant role to stop reduce obesity from the public domain. They also argue that advertisements for junk food are factors that increase obesity. As persuasive as the advertisements can be and even with the help of the government, it is our decision to not eat healthy and end up in a state of obesity.
With this concept in mind, I am going to analyze the Guardian online 2012 article “Why our food is making us fat,” by Jacques Peretti. The article mainly speaks about the rapid rise in obesity and the main contributor to it, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). The article also points out some of the economic and political influences behind HFCS. HFCS is used for almost every food product in the food industry. However, if we look at HFCS from a limited point of view, we just see it as something present in our food and not the health factors behind it.
Nutritionism and Today’s Diet Nutritionism is the ideology that the nutritional value of a food is the sum of all its individual nutrients, vitamins, and other components. In the book, “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan, he critiques scientists and government recommendations about their nutritional advice. Pollan presents a strong case pointing out the many flaws and problems that have risen over the years of following scientific studies and government related warnings on the proper amount of nutrients needed for a healthy diet. Pollan’s main point is introducing science into our food system has had more of a negative impact than a positive one, we should go back to eating more of a traditional diet. I believe food science has given us
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity now ranks as the 10th most important health problem in the world (“Obesity Seen as a Global Problem”). Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Centers for Disease Control and Protection estimates that obesity contributed to the deaths of 112,000 Americans in 2000 (“Obesity in the U.S. Fast”). It is estimated that annual medical care cost of obesity are as high as $147 billion (“Obesity in the U.S. Fast”). Government-provided food stamps are often expended on junk or fast food, because it tends to be less expensive than fresh or cook food. Governments fund producers of meat and dairy products to keep prices low. For now, governments are taking a smarter and more productive approach through regulation, and by working with manufacturers.
...er and obesity rates could be lower, but until greed is eliminated, there is always going to be someone backing up the fast food and junk food industries. Halkett also states, “Since the 1990s, the food and beverage industry has been one of the United States' biggest political campaign donors, spending almost $107 million on congressional and presidential campaigns.” Sugary and unhealthy foods and drinks are made to be, both, accessible and good. With people willing giving in to these companies because they satisfy and meet the need of convenience, which is affordability and taste, and these major companies give money and support the government, they will continue to be supported.
Sugar or its evil twin, high-fructose corn syrup, is commonly packed into processed foods. The consumption of sugar is associated to devastating diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. On top of that, processed food substances, high in sugar and artificial ingredients, can lead to overconsumption and become addictive. Food companies know that people’s appetites gravitate towards food that are sweet, salty, and high in fat, therefore they generate more “desirable” food, knowing that consumers will continue to eat these foods. Individuals need to avoid highly processed foods and search out healthier
In America over 300,000 people are obese and that number continues to grow because the about of junk food that is being consumed. This cost the economy one hundred billion dollars. That more damage done than smoking or drinking. (Crowley, Michael 5) There are other health problems, such as heart diseases, chronic diseases, and type-two diabetes that occur because of junk food. Increasing the price of junk food, by adding tax, researchers hope that this will prod people to reject unhealthy foods. Taxes will also encourage a healthier lifestyle, even in low-income families (Franck, Caroline 2).
Proper nutrition is one of the most essential elements to being healthy and living a long life. People deal with food every day, and food has been a part of life since the beginning of civilization. What we eat becomes our diet, and our diet plays a major role in deciding how healthy we are and how well our body functions. Without proper diet, our body cannot carry out the functions it needs to perform. Most people have some common knowledge on what is good and what is bad for the human body to consume. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains are some common items people think of when they think of healthy foods. However, it is not enough just to know what foods are good for your body, it is also important to understand why certain foods are good for you and what they do to help the body function.