The Healthy Food Epidemic/Scam

[Lafleur]

[COLOR=DarkRed]This is somthing that struck me today when my mom said that we were never buying White Bread (Which I happen to like considerablly more than the alternatives) because of all the perservatives etc. So I thought to myself 'Is that true? Is White Bread really that bad?' and went to investigate. What I found was shockingly not surprising. I compared the ingrediants (I made a list) and found that literally the only difference between the two was the Whole Grain. That's it. Everything bad in White Bread is in Brown Bread. And this was in the 1# Healthies Bread in the Country (Or so it claimed) so I thought... Wait a tec... If this is a scam what ELSE is a scam?

Although I don't have any particular proof for this, this is what conclusion I came up with. Is it possible, just maybe, that the Health Food craze is really just a market-orchistrated scam to boost profits? It is a fact that food with less sugar and preservatives is cheaper to sell, and if you spread the rumour that it's good for you it flies off the shelves. I've also noticed that formerly good-tasting foods (Coke, Mug Rootbeer, Delissio Pizza etc etc) have slowly but surely begun to taste like crap, while making claims that they are reducing the sugar. Is it possible that maybe it was the Corporations that started this whole craze in a masterfully orchistrated plan to boost profits? Afterall, the longer they live the longer they consume, eh? They get off with selling things for the same price without putting the same into thme; it's a scam! Now even we of the Taste-Over-Life Persuasion cannot even get cereal with [I]sugar[/I] anymore! This has got to stop!

What are your opinions? Think that this is in anyway right? Think it's not? I'm up for a good debate, and I can site some more examples of the Corporations posing as Health-Food-People to boost profits.

BTW, anyone wan't to join my orginisation? Put the Sugar back in Coke (PTSBIK).

PS, I have taken my proposal (The PTSBIK Contract) to Parliment Hall and they laughed in my face, literally, and I was forced to send several letters to my MP, but to no avail. I need to gather supporters and try again!

All that and I didn't swear once! Yay! [/COLOR]

[kenshinsbabe]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Georgia]Go you! Not swearing kicks a**! XD

I have actually noticed this and wondered. I mean, you only get to live life once. What's the point of living it if all you do when you're alive is eat like a rabbit? That's not how life works. You're supposed to do stuff the way [I]you[/I] want to, not how society wants you to.

Anywho, back on subject. It does seem very likely that it all is a scam by the big wigs to keep us eating crap because it's "good for us" only because most people won't look a gift horse in the mouth. They see or hear the words "healthy" and "helps you lose weight", no one will think twice about buying it. Which leads back to the vanity of this country, but I'll spare you that rant.

I'm not interested in joining your organization though. I'm more of a Pepsi girl. XD[/FONT][/SIZE]

[Retribution]

[QUOTE=kenshinsbabe][SIZE=3][FONT=Georgia]Go you! Not swearing kicks a**! XD

I have actually noticed this and wondered. I mean, you only get to live life once. What's the point of living it if all you do when you're alive is eat like a rabbit? That's not how life works. You're supposed to do stuff the way [I]you[/I] want to, not how society wants you to.

Anywho, back on subject. It does seem very likely that it all is a scam by the big wigs to keep us eating crap because it's "good for us" only because most people won't look a gift horse in the mouth. They see or hear the words "healthy" and "helps you lose weight", no one will think twice about buying it. Which leads back to the vanity of this country, but I'll spare you that rant.

I'm not interested in joining your organization though. I'm more of a Pepsi girl. XD[/FONT][/SIZE][/QUOTE]
[SIZE=1]You're not 'eating like a rabbit,' you're eating so that you remain healthy and don't die at age 60 from all these new-age preservatives or whatever the crap they toss in food nowadays. You're just cutting back on the junk food. Put down that extra bag of chips, and go for a walk. No one's forcing carrots down your throat, or making you go on the Atkins diet.

Society and the 'big-wigs' aren't buying your groceries for you, either. You buy your own food, you make your own food decisions. Yes, there is a weight-loss craze going on, but only because people look for those easy ways out, those miracle pills, the lyposuction. People, unless it's a genetic disorder, go outside and ride your bike, put down the McDonalds, and don't touch that cake, either. Get with the "eat less exercise more diet."

As for the white bread being just as bad for you as wheat? Not true. You see, they heavily refine the wheat in the white bread, and take out all the healthy stuff like vitamins, and put in things like transfats (hydrogenated oils, I think). Now, this isn't a blanket for ALL white bread versus ALL wheat, but it's generally true that white is less healthy than wheat.

In closing, Ilium, your "we can't get sugar cereals anymore" comment was hilarious. Are you living in like... China where they police everything? Go to your supermarket -- pick up that Cap'n Crunch, Fruit Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and chow down. I really hope you were joking there, lol.[/SIZE]

[Lafleur]

Again? Woohoo...

[QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1]You're not 'eating like a rabbit,' you're eating so that you remain healthy and don't die at age 60 from all these new-age preservatives or whatever the crap they toss in food nowadays. You're just cutting back on the junk food. Put down that extra bag of chips, and go for a walk. No one's forcing carrots down your throat, or making you go on the Atkins diet.

Society and the 'big-wigs' aren't buying your groceries for you, either. You buy your own food, you make your own food decisions. Yes, there is a weight-loss craze going on, but only because people look for those easy ways out, those miracle pills, the lyposuction. People, unless it's a genetic disorder, go outside and ride your bike, put down the McDonalds, and don't touch that cake, either. Get with the "eat less exercise more diet."

As for the white bread being just as bad for you as wheat? Not true. You see, they heavily refine the wheat in the white bread, and take out all the healthy stuff like vitamins, and put in things like transfats (hydrogenated oils, I think). Now, this isn't a blanket for ALL white bread versus ALL wheat, but it's generally true that white is less healthy than wheat.[/SIZE][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed]
It's not so much the healthy alternatives, it's the fact that even food that is supposed to taste good is now being turned into horrible food just because it's healthy. That is, in my opinion, the last straw. If they ever force Poutine-makers to stop deep-frying the fries in lard and take away the thick-as-mollases Gravy there'd be a revolt in my home-town, it should be the same everywhere! At this rate Sugar will be practically banned from food!

The most unfortunate part is that places like McDonalds, that are the ones that aren't exactly going healthy, are the places that make food thats bad tasting and bad for you. Pretty soon the only place you'll be able to get a good-tasting meal will be at the local diners, and I will not stand for it!

Oh, and I never said it JUST as bad for you. I said that all that crap about white bread being full of big-bad preservatives is just that, crap. The preservatives are in both, and even then Preservatives aren't incredibly bad anyway. [/COLOR]

[Harry]

I've never heard anyone say white bread is bad for you because of the preservatives, I've only heard that whole grain bread is better for you than white bread, which is true.

Also your idea that coporations are doing this is wrong. It's the fat consumers who are demanding healthier foods, and the coporations are happy to feed them that. This isn't a conspiracy, it's basic facts. Pizza is not good for you, greasy hamburgers are not good for you, and lots of sugar is not good for you. On a final note, Coca-Cola doesn't have sugar in it, it has corn syrup so they are already saving money.

[Sara]

[color=#6699cc]Completely as an aside, I love corn syrup.

Do I see a conspiracy? No, I don't. Do I see a lot of lazy people looking for an easy fix for their weight problems? Yeah. Yeah, I do.

On the topic of health food, I don't really see the point. Eating "healthy choice" candy bars isn't going to help you lose weight, especiallly when you buy them a dozen at a time. Sure, if you drink soda at every meal, switching to "diet" will help... [i]marginally[/i]. But it would be so much better to cut out the soda and drink something healthier. I mean, fruit juice is still incredibly sweet. A cup of OJ or apple juice is better for you than a can of soda, all around. Is it high in sugar? Yeah, it is, but it's half the amount you'd get in a regular can of soda. Does it taste better than the diet cola? Heck yes. Does it kick you over the top for your needed Vitamin C? You bet.

And the real problem, in my experience, isn't that the food you eat is necessarily unhealthy. You just eat [i]too much[/i] of it. I'm sure everyone here has heard some one go on about how a Big Mac or Whopper meal contains, like, quadruple your recommended daily calorie intake. Once in a while, your body can take that in stride. But even once a week? You're gonna gain weight.

I'm in college, and most folks I know keep snack food in their room. It might work for them, but it would be a hugely bad idea for me. Why? Because I'd snack all the time. If there's food around, I munch on it until it's gone. I know this, so I make a point not to keep food in my room. Because even if it's just a bag of baked, lo-fat (the lack of a "w" signifies just how lo-fat it is :)) tortilla chips, I'll snack on them all day, and not be hungry for dinner.

As a result, what have I eaten that day? A bag of tortilla chips. Is it healthier than eating deep-fried potato chips? Well, maybe. But it's sure not what's going to keep me healthy. I [i]know[/i] this about myself, so I make sure I avoid those circumstances

The issue isn't that people need diet or healthy versions of the food their eating now. The issue is that people have no self-control and don't care about their health enough to bother making a real change. [/color]

[Mitch]

[QUOTE=Lore][color=#6699cc]
The issue isn't that people need diet or healthy versions of the food their eating now. The issue is that people have no self-control and don't care about their health enough to bother making a real change. [/color][/QUOTE]

I have nothing else to say.

But I'll say more.

I used to weigh about 200 pounds and was somewhat chubby - this was years and years ago. Since then, I've taken it into my own hands. I've stopped eating so much, and I've started eating better foods.

But, mainly, I exercise daily. DDR, I've found, is perfect for me - it makes exercising fun. I still run every so often, too (ran about 2 and a half miles today), and I also lift three times a week.

The problem is people don't make a lilfestyle change. Instead, they just diet, and after a while they've lost their weight so they go back to their usual way of eating.

Health isn't a destination, it's a journey. You never get to your arrival point and you just keep going. . .Too few people realize this.

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

[quote name='Lore][color=#6699cc]And the real problem, in my experience, isn't that the food you eat is necessarily unhealthy. You just eat [i]too much[/i'] of it. I'm sure everyone here has heard some one go on about how a Big Mac or Whopper meal contains, like, quadruple your recommended daily calorie intake. Once in a while, your body can take that in stride. But even once a week? You're gonna gain weight. [/color][/quote]

Exactly, it?s not entirely what you eat but the quantity you eat as well, it?s all well and good changing to healthier foods so long as you make an effort to cut down the portions of what you eat and add some moderate exercise to the mix. I personally think eating healthy is a good thing, you don?t have to eat like a rabbit or a supermodel to stay healthy but eating packets of crisps/potato chips and orders of fast food everyday and washing it down with litres of soda is not a healthy way to live. It?s all about moderation really, having a portion of fries and a burger is OK once a week or so, but you have to have the exercise to balance it out and burn it off. Drinking plenty of water is enormously important too, most of the time you?re actually thirsty when you think you?re hungry.

As for whether brown bread is better for you than white bread, I don?t know, I?ve heard it?s better for you but I honestly prefer white in a sandwich purely for taste reasons.[/SIZE]

[Godelsensei]

White bread is bleached to look that way, just so you know. It can be bad for you. Also, it doesn't taste like anything.
I prefer rye, myself.

Eating healthy isn't a "scam". It's common sense. What would you sooner tell your children to eat--a piece of steak, baked potato, some bread, and a salad or a McDonald's burger and fries?
They're essentially the same thing--beef, vegetables, bread and potato--but one isn't packed full of salts and fats your body doesn't need, in order to make it last longer. (Hence, "preservatives".) If this wasn't the case, you could likely get by on an all-burger diet just fine. But it's not just the burger you're eating.

The food you consume affects not only your weight and other physical attributes/processes, but your mind as well. You can almost instantly tell the difference between a kid with health-conscious parents and one who's been raised on pop-tarts and hot dogs. One of them will be better at concentrating and getting along and generally being calm and rational.
After my aunt and uncle replaced a lot of the less wholesome foods from my cousin's diet, he was like a different child altogether.

The most important thing is to not buy into just any "health food" label. You have to pay attention to what you're eating. Why fill your body with manufactured, chemical junk when you could be filling it with a perfectly natural bit of junk you made yourself that wont have any negative effects on your body, aside from a bit of weight gain?

[Morpheus]

[quote name='Harry'] Pizza is not good for you[/quote]
Just an FYI, pizza is actually very healthy. Just as you said with hamburgers, the [I]grease[/I] makes them unhealthy. Pizza (the good stuff at least) doesn't have much grease.

This really reminded me of a "miracle diet" I saw at Target several years back. If you drink the entire bottle (about 64 ounces), then you can lose up to ten pounds in 48 hours. More specifically, it will dehydrate ten pounds right out of you, and, in turn, make you feel so bad that whatever wedding/social gathering you were planning on going to is comepletely out of the question. :sick:

[Harry]

[QUOTE=Morpheus]Just an FYI, pizza is actually very healthy. Just as you said with hamburgers, the [I]grease[/I] makes them unhealthy. Pizza (the good stuff at least) doesn't have much grease.
[/QUOTE]
What magical pizzas do you eat that are healthy for you?

[Retribution]

[quote name='Harry']What magical pizzas do you eat that are healthy for you?[/quote]
[SIZE=1]Pizza is bread, with cheese and tomato sauce on top. There's plenty of pizza that's healthy, just not anything from Pizza Hut or Dominos.[/SIZE]

[Mitch]

Pizza is healthy for you [i]in moderation[/i]. The main thing that makes pizza bad for you is the high fat content of the cheese and its overall high calorie content. Having 2 -3 pieces isn't bad for you but eating it often and eating more slices than that isn't. The great thing about pizza is that it contains a lot of the food groups all in one - there's grain, there's dairy, there's vegetable, and even more depending on the toppings. There's a lot healthier food you can eat, however, if you want to implement a lot of food groups into one thing you eat. Such a thing would be a sandwich, etc. There's honestly a lot healthier choices than pizza out there, but pizza every now and again won't hurt. Variety is what makes eating so enjoyable, you know.

[Sara]

[quote name='Harry']What magical pizzas do you eat that are healthy for you?[/quote][color=#6699cc]Actually, you know what's really good? Pita bread with sauce, cheese, and lots of fresh veggies. You don't even need to cook it. Oh, for yumminess. [/color]

[AzureWolf]

[QUOTE]As for whether brown bread is better for you than white bread, I don?t know, I?ve heard it?s better for you but I honestly prefer white in a sandwich purely for taste reasons.[/QUOTE] [COLOR=teal]There's only one thing that separates white bread from whole wheat (aka "brown") bread: the fiber. There's a significantly larger amount of fiber in whole wheat. Fiber is essential only for an easier pooping.

As Sara and Mitch pointed out, it's all about willpower and changing your unhealthy lifestyle. Hey, if you are overweight and continue to be, there is something about the way you live that's unhealthy!

In the end, though, it all comes down to calories. Even if you eat all carbs, all protein, or all fat everyday, if you consume less calories than you burn per day, you will lose weight.

There are other factors to consider, though. Everyone going on a diet will lose weight fast at first, but then the loss will slow down, and may even stop if you do not do certain things. First off, eating less may not be enough in some cases. If you do not consume enough proteins and other daily essentials (vitamins), then your body will make physiological changes to make your body capable of expending less calories per day. That is, your body may reduce your muscle mass so you don't use up so much energy per day, making it even harder for you to lose weight.

So, if you aren't going to excercise and only reduce your caloric intake, at the least, make sure you get all your daily required nutrients. Otherwise, it'll bite you in the rear later.[/COLOR]

[Dan L]

although actually, there are a few people in this world who genuinely want to produce drinks and stuff with no additives of any sort, just the raw ingredients. The most prolific one in the UK is [url="http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/"]http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk[/url]

that is, if you can get the damn link to work. I've been to the site before, and I swear I did actually get through :p but right now it's a no-show

the basic idea is that these guys make fruit smoothies- but rather than just make fruit smoothies, they.. well, actually yeah, they just make fruit smoothies.. not fruit-and-god-only-knows-what smoothies. Which hey.. they may not be as bad for you as people may think.. but at least there's someone out there trying to get right back down to basics :p

These guys have done pretty good though- those drinks are sellling all over the country, even in Sheffield :p, and they've built up a good reputation for themselves

(they're costly though- £2.97 (about $5?) for a 1L (just under 2 pints) carton of the stuff- but that's cos they honestly don't pad the drinks out with water and stuff to make it taste like they've not padded it out with water :p)

[Mitch]

Another thing no one seems to realize is you can't lose fat. Your body has a certain number of fat cells, and those stay there. When you lose weight you're just making those fat cells smaller.

The exception to the not being able to lose fat rule is liposuction, of course.