~ Food for thought ~

As Ludwig Feuerbach, the German Philosopher and Anthropologist, in 1862 wrote in an essay  "man is what he eats". That phrase holds good even after 152 years.

This TED talk by Robyn O'Brian provides some very interesting insights on how the food we intake might be the cause for various allergies

& diseases, influx of GM food over the period of time, business model of many food companies & health companies, etc. 

Most of her research & analysis might be specific to the food supplies in the US market. That shouldn't matter, it still worth watching as Urban Indians are consuming produce & food products from supermarkets that sell imported ones. Better to expand your knowledge on the food items that you include in your everyday diet.

As Robyn rightly says, "None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something. Together we can bring the change". So invest 14 minutes of your time and spread the word.

~ Sugar: The bitter pill ~

We often don't pay attention to what we eat. Do watch the video & that should provide you some food for thought on the impact of Sugar consumption in your daily life. Next time you crave for those Donuts, Cake, Pastries, etc do think twice on the amount of sugar intake. 

Watch what you eat & live healthy!

~ Fastfood & Obesity ~

Just another sunny Sunday afternoon lazing at home & changing channels came across this documentary "The men who made us fat" that was being shown on BCC World.

It's a 3 part documentary on how the fast-food giants have made an impact on public health & how young people are consuming more than required food with access to cheap food. The fast-food doesn't really bring in much nutrition rather adds a lot of fat to your body.

US & UK have both experienced obesity due to fast-food chains. It's time we Indians eat some health food & not indulge much in fast-food. As fast-food chains are mushrooming across various cities & towns of India, it's up to the parents to decide what makes a good diet for kids and their health. Hope the adults have enough sense between their ears to decide what to eat.

~ Episode 1 ~

~ Episode 2 ~

~ Episode 3 ~

If you wish to read additional posts related to health.

~ Tasty doesn't mean healthy ~

Popular Spanish proverb goes like "The belly rules the mind". Indeed true for most of us, at all times. Not many of us read or care to know what we eat. I feel we should cultivate awareness towards what we eat & our dietary habits, in this current age. It wouldn't have mattered much 50 years ago. Now that we have so many fast food chains {FFC} mushrooming everywhere be, it local or glocal doesn't really matter.

Not really sure how many of you have observed or paid attention to the taste of items which you get at these FFC, the tastes remains the same no matter no matter how many repeats you order or anywhere across the globe. That itself should raise some alaram bells in your head as to how could it be so consistent plate after plate across the world. This rule doesn't just limit to FFC, they apply to the juice which are served out cartons. 

Orange, Apple, Cranberry, Mango - juice was part of my morning diet for 16 months during 2007-2008. I preferred Tropicana, Real, Naturals. Tropicana tastes the same be it in India, UK or US. Then sometime in late 2008 I came across this 'The Secret Ingredient In Your Orange Juice'. After reading the article I haven't consciously had juice from a carton. 

Today morning I came across this tweet from UberFacts

Chicken McNuggets and breast implants are made from the same thing! Learn more HERE: bit.ly/LtMhwNsp
— UberFacts (@UberFacts) January 21, 2013

Googled and found out that it indeed was true. CNN broke the news about Chicken Nuggets way back in 2010.

McDonald’s says the differences are based on the local tastes: In the United States, McNuggets are coated and then cooked, in the United Kingdom, they are cooked and then coated. As a result, the British McNuggets absorb less oil and have less fat.

Dimethylpolysiloxane is used as a matter of safety to keep the oil from foaming, [Lisa McComb, who handles global media relations for McDonald's,] says. The chemical is a form of silicone also used in cosmetics and Silly Putty. A review of animal studies by The World Health Organization found no adverse health effects associated with dimethylpolysiloxane.

TBHQ is a preservative for vegetable oils and animal fats, limited to .02 percent of the oil in the nugget. One gram (one-thirtieth of an ounce) can cause “nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse,” according to “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives.”

So once again we know that most of the large scale food companies use chemicals within reasonable limits to give you the same taste every time. It might be used within reasonable limits, but in long term these chemicals might have an impact your metabolism. 

No doubt, the belly rules the mind. Use your mind before you choose the food you eat the next time. It won't be easy, but it will surely make you healthy.

References: CNN | SFGate | Chicken Nuggets Ingredients | TBHQ |  Polydimethylsiloxane | 6 Disgusting Things You're Eating (And You Don't Even Know It!) | The Secret Ingredient In Your Orange Juice