So my aunt Andrea will be very proud of this post. My dad (her brother) on the other hand, is going to think I've taken a turn over to the dark side. Sorry, dad!
You all should know by now, once I get a new idea bouncing around in my head it stays there until I've reached a full understanding of whatever it is, or had a serious epiphany on the matter. Well I'm interested in doing further research on this one but I have had a TON of epiphanies.
A friend of mine recently showed me a video of a man explaining all of his research on processed foods. The guy basically thinks the government is intentionally putting things in our foods to lower the population. Ok... Lets calm down, thats a little nutso! However, I was disgusted to learn the things that go in our everyday "junk foods." This drove me to further question other things.
So my dad is a very intelligent man who does his research and does what he can to lives by biblical principals. 9 times out of 10 I just follow him on the politics front. He thinks all these organic people are nutso and thinks we live in the greatest country in america because we can have a variety of foods, (cheese, salmon, beef, etc.) for an extremely affordable price. I agree with you on that one! But how far have we gone to be able to have that kind of convenience or luxury, moreover? The way things are processed makes it easier, more affordable, and more addictive.
Yes, dad I know what you're thinking, the majority of people wouldn't be able to afford to live a %100 organic lifestyle. The only way we could afford that is if we grew all of our own vegitables, and killed/processed the cow ourselves. You know, like how they had to did it way back when? Wait a minute! Hmmm... Epiphany!!
Like Phil Robertson, I agree that the old school way is always the best way. "how did people ever live before cell phones." I say things like that all the time! We have so many modern day conveniences that are nothing more than wants. They are NOT needs.
Well, how in the world did people ever live before processed foods? Well, probably a lot healthier for one thing. Sure it didn't taste as good as that mcdouble you got for lunch for a DOLLAR and they probably had to work a little harder for it but, this question got to me. I then got curious, "how popular were things like diabetes, cancer, or MS way back when?" I asked myself. I've yet to do any legit research but what I did find on google said, people lived a lot better before processed foods. The difference in mortality rates on cancer was astronomical.
I caught Harrison a little off guard as I tried to bring up this new idea bouncing around in my head. "The government is trying to decrease the population by killing us off so I want to grow a garden," I blurted. "Ummm, no." Was his immediate response.
I have no intentions whatsoever to become a health natzi. However, I am concerned about what long term exposure to a large intake of certain foods will do to our bodies. Especially Harrison. That man got handed the short end of the stick on the family tree. Diabetes for one thing is a serious concern for him. So I'm worried about what 4 diet mt. Dews a day and a jar of peanut butter every week can do after a period of time. If anyone is going to get cancer from diet drinks, it WILL be my husband.
I have decided that on certain items like that, we need to find substitutes. But don't you think for a second we aren't going to indulge on our chicken nuggets and mcdoubles on our way home from church on a Sunday afternoon. And it goes down so nicely with a fizzy diet soda. Supersize on the fries please!! Yes, we will still let things like this be apart of our diet but not our EVERYDAY diet. Hello moderation!
Taylor, I like your adventure and researching. I don't know that it is the government plot, but yes, we are certainly have more illness. I remember in high school when my aunt was diagnosed with cancer. It was the first I ever heard of cancer. And I am so aware of the fattening of America. It is easier notice when you have been out of the country and then come back. I think the cause of the food situation is many fold. Consumers want quick, easy to fix food: lots of flavor (even if it is artificially added); we want a long shelf life; convenience and all food always available. Our lives are at such a quick pace that we don't want to take time to cook. All this is done the most effectively by taking things out of food; putting things in; using boxes and bags and using fertilizers and pesticides.
ReplyDeleteMy mantra is real foods; dense nutrition. It helps to buy only real food (organic is nice)and stay away from packages. I do not do this perfectly. But I do it so much better this year than last year. You might want to research paleo diet and gluten-free. Some people have huge physical benefits right away. I just had removal of foggy brain and sugar highs and lows. That I am very grateful for.
Oh, by the way, word has it that the dairy assoc is trying to gain permission from the govt to add an artificial sweeter to milk and not have to list it for an ingredient. It is an interesting time we are living in. Here's to your health.
Hi Taylor! ;->
ReplyDeleteGood one kiddo! ;-> There's a very good book out there, written by Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore, titled 'Confessions of a Greenpeace dropout'. That's a great way to research things even further, on the food front. Also, I'd recommend watching (10) episodes of the Discovery television series 'The Last Frontier'. A modern day multi-generational, homesteading family in Alaska. A list of variables below that come with advent of the 20th century, and not found in the 19th century:
1.) Automobile (was man ever meant to travel @ 60 miles an hour...all the time?)
2.) Man no longer riding on horseback (why is "horse therapy" so popular these days?)
3.) The light bulb
4.) The Television
5.) Home Computers
6.) Cell Phones
7.) AVG Hours worked per week increased
8.) AVG Hours of sleep per night decreased
8.) Sitting behind a desk
9.) Not working on the farm
10.) Increase in # of mothers working outside the home
11.) Increase in # of children in daycare (what happened to "pre-school"?)
12.) Increase in # of two income families (we don't even hear the phrase "latch key kid" it is so common now)
13.) In-home video game consoles (first mainstream console was Atari - 1981)
14.) Kids playing in-doors, and not out-doors (reduced exposure to natual immunity builders)
15.) Vaccines (Polio, etc..)
16.) Airplane travel
Are we certain that our clean "bubble", created by the many inventions to battle diseases of the 19th century is not a factor? That our immune systems are less stable in the 20th and 21st centuries due to a reduced exposure to the out-of-doors, and from an early developmental age? You've spoken to me about the relationship of sustained stress conditions and cancer. I view the list above as stress inducers and/or stress enhancers.
Thomas Jefferson wished for our nation to refrain from industrialization and remain an agricultural state. Also, in the 20th century, America experienced an exodus from the Farm unlike like of any other working age, especially in that of our nations history.
Does the increase in divorced families in America have any bearing on cancer statistics? Also an area of incredible increase. Knowing another child, when I was in elementary school, who came from a divorced family, was very rare.
Does the decrease in church attendance have any relationship on Cancer rates in the US?
There are so many environmental factors that run stride for stride in their appearance of newness (think cell phones, televisions, and light bulbs) and cancer rates in America that pinning the cancer rates in America down to an exact 1:1 ratio of food to cancer ignores a multitude of other key players, or key factors.
Also, we must remember to factor in longevity. Average lifespan of the US Male in 1900 was 46.3 years of age. In 2010 that life expectancy was 78 years of age. That is a (30) year increase in average US male life expectancy.
The country having the highest average male life expectancy is Japan, at 82 years of age. The US, overall (male/female) cancer rate per 100,000 in 2012 was 300/100,000. Japan's rate was 247/100,000.
A little, VERY little, food for thought, as you continue your research in your attempts to "find a better way".
One very last thing, and this upholds your last comment on "moderation", and was given to me by my first neurologist: "better general health is always better". ;->
Ok...maybe not "very last thing": Remember, the basic tenant of the scientific method is that you can only "disprove", you can never "prove".
I love you so much Taylor!
Tim (channeling Lena Howard from the Grave) Howard ;->