Never eat meat again.

[6thGen]

And your point?

Was "If Americans (including our parents and grandparents) read one book on food, diet, nutrition, etc every ten years we'd be far healthier than we are at the current pace where such books typically populate the best sellers list" not clear enough? My point is that Americans follow trends such as Atkins, South Beach, vegetarianism, veganism, low fat, low carb, eggs are bad, eggs are good, wait - egg whites are good but the yolks are bad ($1 to Lewis Black), Rachel Ray, Oprah Diet, cabbage soup diet, slim fast, master cleanse, etc and have higher instances of diet related illnesses than cultures who generally eat what they've been eating for the past several centuries.

 

[Gidget]

Was "If Americans (including our parents and grandparents) read one book on food, diet, nutrition, etc every ten years we'd be far healthier than we are at the current pace where such books typically populate the best sellers list" not clear enough? My point is that Americans follow trends such as Atkins, South Beach, vegetarianism, veganism, low fat, low carb, eggs are bad, eggs are good, wait - egg whites are good but the yolks are bad ($1 to Lewis Black), Rachel Ray, Oprah Diet, cabbage soup diet, slim fast, master cleanse, etc and have higher instances of diet related illnesses than cultures who generally eat what they've been eating for the past several centuries.

This thread was started because of the inhumane treatment of animals we eat. Obviously, we would be far better off eating foods that are not what I like to call gimmick foods and stick to basics as you suggest. But the average American is uneducated about the way animals we eat are raised. The book I mentioned, before you posted, is on our options if we are to eat meat. We cannot continue to consume without consciousness.

G

 

[6thGen]

This thread was started because of the inhumane treatment of animals we eat. Obviously, we would be far better off eating foods that are not what I like to call gimmick foods and stick to basics as you suggest. But the average American is uneducated about the way animals we eat are raised. The book I mentioned, before you posted, is on our options if we are to eat meat. We cannot continue to consume without consciousness.

G

Society must consume without consciousness. The alternative is moving the entire populace onto a vegan diet (laying hens are treated far worse than broilers, and dairy cattle aren't really living it up either) which would (as I posted above) lead to higher instances of diet related illness, even with calcium, vitamin B and D and omega-3 supplements.

That said, I prefer the grass-fed beef, the "free range" egg and local food from local farmers. More often than not I eat the subsidized-corn fed beef, the factory farmed egg and the lamb shipped from Australia since all are much easier to find here and I deal with my own cognitive dissonance. Seeing that the former is not readiliy available to many consumers due to location or price, I believe it would be better not to force consumers to watch the slaughterhouse videos like Alex in A Clockwork Orange at least until alternatives are more readily available.

 

[Bob]

who knew food could provoke anger?

 

[Bobby J]

I believe we would all be better off if we just ate food... The majority of the American diet is not even food. Our diets are so full of preservatives and additives that what we eat can not even be pronounced... Then we wonder where all this cancer comes from. Alternatives will only be readily available when the consumer demands change. The consumer will not demand change until they learn and believe the truth.

 

[scooterbug44]

I believe we would all be better off if we just ate food... The majority of the American diet is not even food. Our diets are so full of preservatives and additives that what we eat can not even be pronounced... Then we wonder where all this cancer comes from. Alternatives will only be readily available when the consumer demands change. The consumer will not demand change until they learn and believe the truth.

Food is good for you, chemicals are typicslly not. A wide variety (and sensible portion size) of fresh local foods is the way to go.

Finally watched Food Inc last night. Nothing really new here. Just reinforced the idea of local local local when we have the choice - and that we vote every time we check out at the store as to whether or not we want to participate in factory farming and GMO's. I vote NO!

G

I was actually quite surprised at how vanilla their footage of the different processing facilities was. There is MUCh worse footage out there.

Loved how the one farmer basically said - you ask for it, we'll find a way to produce it - it's what we do! That's true whether you want cheap unnutritious food, or great local produce. Enuogh people demand it, and we'll get it...............many companies are getting into organic because of the profit margin, not their consciences.

 

[traderx]

Anyone with blood sugar levels that are out of whack would be wise to give up caffeine. Amazing how so many do not make that connection and blame certain foods though. Caffeine can really do a number on blood sugar. Glad you made the connection.

G

According to the Mayo Clinic, in folks with type II diabetes, it takes five cups of java to cause a small rise in blood sugar levels.

Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar? - MayoClinic.com

 

[Alicia Leonard]

According to the Mayo Clinic, in folks with type II diabetes, it takes five cups of java to cause a small rise in blood sugar levels.

Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar? - MayoClinic.com

Insulin is what comes into play for me, as my body does not respond to it as well as some.

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD

Feb. 6, 2002 -- Caffeine is one of the most widely used "drugs" in the world. And now researchers have found that caffeine affects how well insulin -- the hormone that regulates blood sugar -- works in the body.​

​

Caffeine is able to enter the brain and directly increase blood pressure and stimulate the release of stress hormones. These hormones are known to affect insulin and blood sugar in the body. So the researchers investigated whether caffeine has any harmful effects on blood sugar metabolism.​

​

Lead researcher Gerben B. Keijzers, MD, and colleagues gave either caffeine or a placebo -- through a vein in the arm -- to 12 healthy volunteers. They then measured blood levels of insulin and stress hormones.​

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The caffeine was given at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram. For a 120 pound woman, that's equal to 160 mg of caffeine. For a 170 pound man, that's 230 mg.​

​

The researchers then calculated insulin sensitivity. This is a measure of how well the body is using insulin. When insulin sensitivity goes down, this indicates that your body is less able to take blood sugar into the cells to be used for energy.​

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Caffeine decreased insulin sensitivity by 15%, a significant decline compared to placebo. Plus, stress hormone levels in the blood increased with caffeine. Blood pressure increased to a small degree as well.​

​

A brewed 7 oz. cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. A 12 oz. cup of iced tea has 70 mg. Here are some examples of caffeine amounts in various soft drinks:​

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Mountain Dew 55 mg​

Coca-Cola 46 mg​

Mr. Pibb 41 mg​

Dr. Pepper 40 mg​

Pepsi-Cola 37 mg​

​

It's important to keep in mind that these were healthy people. The question of whether caffeine might decrease insulin sensitivity and thus raise blood sugar in someone with diabetes is still unanswered. The results of this study suggest that it might.​

 

[scooterbug44]

I think it really depends on the person - I know people who drink coffee or caffienated beverages all day and are fine, whereas I am bouncing off the walls w/ ADD and talking at double speed if I have more than one cup.

 

[Bobby J]

According to the Mayo Clinic, in folks with type II diabetes, it takes five cups of java to cause a small rise in blood sugar levels.

Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar? - MayoClinic.com

I only have problems with my caffeine intake if I have too much before any sort of strenuous activity. My blood sugar bottoms out. It took me years to finally figure out what it was but now I can have a great workout or surf session if I limit my caffeine intake. But.... That's just me.