Question:
Hi everyone!
I am just over 200 pages into a book called Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. This is the book that inspired the movie -Super Size Me.
The book goes into great detail to explain how McDonalds, KFC, Wendys, Carls Jr. Jack in the Box and so many others spend hundreds of millions every year to buy lobbiest votes with regard to the meatpacking industry.
It highlights the amount of hormone put into cattle, to fatten them up. It describes the exact break down of whats done with each part of the meat harvested from them, including how it is STILL legal to feed the cattle the remaining bits of the "unusable parts".
It also explains what "natural flavors" consist of, and how they are genetically altered in New Jersey- the biggest food flavor plant in the world. He tells how artifical flavors are made as well and how many of the ingredients are toxic by deffinition but have been deemed "acceptable at these levels".
Its not just about the fast food industry either. It goes on to explain how they system (FDA) works. What the laws are (do you know that if there is tainted meat, the fast food industry is under NO obligation to publicly announce where this meat comes from?!)
I love meat- I will on occasion eat fast food but I will MOST CERTAINLY be at the Farmers Market this Friday and am going in search of an organic market for beef, chicken and fish needs.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. Its beyond what goes into fast food and more about what is involved in processing food for feeding the nation.
Its extremely disturbing and I cant help but wonder if the spike in cancer, skin disease and heart disease are truely brought on by these treatments and processes.
Its back on the NY Times best sellers list and you can find it on E-bay.
The movie "Super Size Me" was inspired by this book and was disturbing enough that I wanted to look into it some more.
Now, I can not unlearn what I have already learned.
If you saw the movie, or read the book, I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Best,
MelissaLynn
Eric ( not the webmaster ) saw the movie and liked it very much. He swore off fast food ( not sure for how long ) after he saw it. He doesn't read the Board as often as he used to, so I'll e-mail him a link to this thread.
Mike
i didnt see the movie but you know darn well thats a big reason for alot of the health problems in this and other countries.but atleast we are now getting a choice in the fast food places in salads. witch i eat regular my question is how healthy are there salads ? how much msg am i consuming trying to eat right .ekkkk i take one day a week and spurge( somthing besides a salad) and only one burger a month .and i love my burgers (glady pay you friday for a hamburger today) call me whimpy
and i read somthing a while back about the combination of frying patatos how it releases a cancer causing combination . bull or not that im not sure.
nobody eats as bad as we do down here . omg we were so uninformed for so many years here on how our diets were killing us . we had to completley change everything we had learned about cooking here .
this is a informative thread thanks xSx
Hi Melissalynn,
We watched Supersize Me a month or two ago and I have to say, it was interesting, but I was positively DISGUSTED! How sick and gross the guy ended up by the end of the movie was so disturbing! It really is an eye-opener. I can say for sure that I will never eat another chicken mcnugget!!!! YUCK!
mari
Is this one of those Michael Moore Movies? Anyway, I've been wanting to see it.
It's that kind of movie Brad, but not him...I'm trying to remember the guy's name but it's not coming to mind...ahh I looked it up. It was done by a guy named Morgan Spurlock. I'd say it's worth renting.
mari
I haven't seen it but my bf did...he just told me that this guy eats only McD's for a month and ends up vomiting everywhere...I have sworn off fast food completely...I only eat meat I have bought and cooked myself, organic and free range with no antibiotics at that. And as far as the meat industry, there was an article in "Good Housekeeping" recently about some women whose children almost died because these meat co's don't have to recall meat even if they know it's bad...interesting.
Lots of lawsuits now.
I was reading an interesting book called "Inflammation Nation" last night that goes into detail on how non organic steroid and antibiotic pumped meat can adversely affect all inflammatory diseases, ie...ding ding ding! psoriasis. Anyone else read this?
I'd love to see this topic on the main board.
Hi Jgirl, I saw the author of inflamation nation on the Today show. I only caught the end of the interview but it caught my attention also. especially when he mentioned auto immune disease. I am buying this book for sure!
I gave up fast food a long time ago, although I am forced to go sometimes, I get a salad.I just don't believe all that fast food is healthy at all. look how fat we are as a nation. full of heart disease and other problems.look at our asian friends eating fresh seafood and vegetables, not much fried either. they show low heart disease and are quite fit.
Sharon,
I didn't buy the book, just browsed it at the bookstore. Please post when you're done reading it!
I saw the movie. I haven't stopped eating McD's, too tasty, but I east less of it. It's hard to get the image of that big jar of fat at the end out of my mind, lol. The sugar I don't care about, but that jar was gross! I used to eat McD's once a week, every Tuesday. I didn't even have to say anything, the cashiers all knew me, I'd go in and they'd ring up a Big Mac meal with Coke and 2 apple pies. Now I go once a month, but they still remember me. All things in moderation I say. Well, not all, some cocaine or some heroin wouldn't be a good idea, but a Big Mac or two I won't worry about.
Hey!
I have heard TONNES about super size me, and i have only seen a tiny clip of it at school once... BUT... Edmonton has somebody who is currently doing the same type thing... mcdonalds only for 30 days...im not sure what the point is... i just think its disgustingly gross!
~Kim~
Bumping this up for Cat...
I guess it wasn't Melissalynn talking about Inflammation Nation, but jgirl and chromediva.. maybe ask them?
mari
Where to start...
First of all have not read the book or seen the movie...have heard tons about both, just have not got around to watch the movie and right now I have 3 other books on my block to read right now...
Now what I know...I guess!!!!
I grew up with what I like to call "Hippie Parents"...They ran a CO-OP, made all my food, including peanut butter, vitamins, cereal...etc...The garden consisted about 3/4 of our yard, which included everything. I hated "harvest time". Picking Green Beans three times a season and packing half of our basement freezer with food was not fun. We "never" ate meat. Was not even allowed to have eggs or real milk or sugar, nothing processed. No Microwave, No TV, No Dishwasher (except myself), wood heat...You name it. As I look at it today, I still feel like I was a pretty Healthy kid-skinny but healthy.
Could you imagine a teenager that really has never had anything that was processed go off to college? I was hell on wheels. I don't think I ate a veggie the full time I was at school. LOL...But I did have my problems with getting back to what is "real food". I was so sick...probably like the guy in the movie. But then again it was a bad time in my life and during that time I became anirexic (another story).
We are raising our girls with kinda the same concept as my parents. I am not going as far as No Microwave, No TV and DH is the Dishwasher, but we do have a garden, freezer (not one that fills the house), we do not eat red meat...unless it is venison that DH shot or we have bought a quarter of a cow from a friend who raises cattle. The only time we eat out is when we are on trips. We do eat red meat out... We try to buy our Chicken from Amish farms when we can but otherwise we buy it in 6lb bags at Sams Club (bad me).
Now after you have heard me tell all this stuff, you are wondering why...right? Hee! Hee!
Someone said something about heart disease, skin disease, and cancer being on the rise...Well my parents were like this all my life and before that there really was not anything like fast food, microwaves...etc...
Well both my parents have had cancer...Not just cancer but life threating cancer. They are both cancer free today but it was a battle for my mom.
I guess life is in God's hands.
And that is my two cents.
M
At least your parents LIVED through cancer! My mother didn't she died at 46.
I think the studies regarding fast food are done on a large scale basis, with thousands of people. They would have to be to be deemed credible.
Then again, who am I to argue with God?
I agree with you that some things don't make sense. To that, I would say that there are many factors that contribute to disease, some known Like stress and genetics)and some probably unknown (like environmental toxins that are relatively new to our world)
Perhaps their diet is part of the reason they are still here, since you have 2 kids it sounds like they are older than 46.
Then again, we could all die at ANY second!
Live right and to the fullest. I like eating right cause I FEEL better and it helps the p.
Jgirl
I agree with you totally.
Sorry to hear about your mom.
I was just telling my story. I don't agree with what my parents put me through-totally. I do know that I like to eat. I do sometimes take my girls out to eat at Mickie Dee's and my youngest loves hotdogs...which is totally bad for her.
I just figure that not having a mircowave when I was a kid really has not helped me in life.
M
Another website you all need to see is The Meatrix. To see how all these animals live until their slaughter just makes you cringe! And these are the same ones that are shipped to supermarkets and fast food places. Absolutely sickening!
That is an excellent site.
More than offering a synopasis of factory farming- it has a link that lets you enter a zip code and lists all the stores, resturaunts and farms that dont participate in high dose antibiotics, use grass rather than grain to feed cattle. Have totally ommitted hormone use and other -what SHOULD be basic things, that are fundamental to health.
I have found 4 places within 5 miles of my home that I NEVER knew existed. Places where I can buy fresh food without toxic additives.
Thanks SOOO much for that link.
Ive been shopping online for all kinds of organic sites. This afternoon I am going to take a ride to one of these grocery stores.
Check out the site guys, if you are are interested in hearing more about what we actually eat- not even from going to a fast food resturaunt, but just from the local Vons, Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, Ralphs, Food for Less, Super Walmart- etc.
I am hoping that by eating less "dirty" meat (hormones, antibiotic filled, feces contaiminated, high temperature "dissinfected" meats) Ill give my already down immune system a little boost.
MelissaLynn
sorry to hear of your mom jgirl. that was pretty young. i have been to a couple of sloter house's. that is some thing to see. for me if you want to eat good meat. eat deer meat. but you have to watch some because of a liver d (some thing wrong). it can be bad for you. great thread.
have a good night all
richard
Hi Marielle!
That was a terrific story- well, all but the part about your parents and cancer. I am so happy to hear that they actually BEAT cancer. I would say thats 2 points for the garden!
Seriously though, Its so crazy that in this day, people barely have a house to call their own, let alone a yard. I am good at keeping my plants alive and flowering- but I dont know how to plant, grow or pick a string bean. (though I have every intention of someday learning).
I am a big time meat eater. I like all kinds of meat and belive that for my body, its what I perform best on.
However, I am disgusted to be reminded of the conditions under which cattle are "grown" "harvested" and "treated". The cost of a steak from the grocery, vs. the cost of a steak from an organic farm is about 40% more.
A bag of carrots for 99 cents at the typical grocery store will now be a $2.99 investment.
Where I live, in Southern California- we wouldnt THINK of drinking water from the tap. Even when I lived in Oxford, Ohio and in Boston and in Connecticut- wouldnt tough the stuff. Not even to brew coffee. I dont even think about it anymore, really. I just buy my "Brita" refils every month or my gallons of bottled water.
Genetically engineered corn, potatos. cattle, chickens etc. is all maddening to me. So, I need to keep things very basic. Im not eating fast food anymore. Fast food is the biggest purchaser of meat in the entire USA. Farms are not local any more. I prefer to try and give my body a fighting chance with more "whole" foods. Ugh. Im not going to be one of those people... you know the judgemental kind that look at you funny for buying a frozen pizza- but I am going to eliminate the frozen food section from my shopping list. (bye-bye eggos and breakfast sandwhiches) yikes!
If I start eating dirt- start worrying. If I boil it first to get rid of potential pesticides- force feed me a cheeseburger.
Okay, okay- Ive been researching this stuff for the last week and Im overwhelmed.
Its my day off today and my glands are swollen- my roommate has strep and 2 ear infections.
Im in a terrific mindset today to sit home and think about things.
-Yeah, right!
Im going to get some horehound tea and suck on some Brita Ice.
Thank GOD that smoking is good for you.
At least I have something going for me.
MelissaLynn
Melissa,
Conratulations on your decision to eat better! Expensive as it is, I have been eating primarily organic for awhile now...One good "side effect" is that after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting my weight finally seems to have stabilized at 125 lbs. - 10 lbs less than I weighed senior year in high school, ten years ago. And I really don't even exercise like a fanatic anymore either, like I used to when I weighed more and wore bigger clothing sizes, just a few times a week, yoga or dance I don't even do cardio, I'm too lazy! (Treadmills BORE me so).
In that book "Inflammation nation" he talks about how non-organic beef and farm-raised rather than wild caught fish can have a very negative effect on our p, whereas wild caught fish is excellent. Has to do with the amount of arachidonic acid, which causes inflammation.
yeah, the organic food is expensive, but I figure I'm saving out on Jenny Craig dues and doctor's bills in the long run. Also, since we absorb more nutrients from organic foods in time you will pronanly need to eat less, and still thrive.
P.S. try a co-op or perhaps a Farmer's Market for better priced organic stuff. Also, sometimes when I am REAL tight for $ sometimes I'll rotate a trip to Whole Foods with a trip to Ralph's, the overall pesticide load would still be lessened that way. Lately I have been strict 'cause I want p to go away completely, it's grudgingly leaving day by day.
Off to drink my SE.
I didn't have a microwave or dishwasher either, unless you count my brother and I. No McDonalds, but we did have KFC occasionally or pizza but that was from a real pizza place, not a big chain. Veggies and meat(or fish) every meal, water to drink, never pop, never juice. Fruit for snacks. I never ate McD's untill I was about 21, I was in a band and the guys liked to go to McD's after jamming. I got tired of going home so tried a filet-o-fish and got hooked. They must put crack in their food or something, it's junk but I HAVE TO HAVE IT, lol.
Today I rarely eat red meat, not for health or animal rights reasons but it's a byproduct of the byproducts I ate as a kid, lol. In an effort to save money, we were poor, my dad always bought livers and kidneys and hearts and tongues and gizzards and all that other nasty stuff or if it was "real" meat it was fatty and gristly. To this day the rubbery texture of fat in my mouth induces a gag reflex, hence my disgust at that jar of fat in Super-Size Me. I only eat red meat in burgers, all ground up, can't find the fat and gristle. Fish and chicken I love though, but only white meat and no skin. Fish I can share with my aquarium so I've been eating less and less chicken and more and more seafood. I grew up in Nfld Canada though, so seafood is no stranger to me. But I still love eating crap, it just tastes so good.
McD's is fond of put lots of fat, sugar and salt in one item, so your taste buds sort of go into orgasmic mode. Sneaky, huh. :cool:
One key thing for me in terms of eating better has been learning to flavor foods so they can compete. For example, I ate kale last night but it was sauteed in olive oil (healthy fat), garlic, and salt (my splurge) Like fries but with kale, which gets a sweet taste when cooked.
All in the name of fighting the p (and the bulge, and fatigue...)
we got the DVD lastnight will likely watch it some time today
:cool:
I finished the book from cover to cover and I am offically "in the know"- more specifically- disgusted.
Now I have to read the book "the Jungle" its about the meat production and standards from the 1920's.
Best to you all
MelissaLynn
I am just over 200 pages into a book called Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. This is the book that inspired the movie -Super Size Me.
The book goes into great detail to explain how McDonalds, KFC, Wendys, Carls Jr. Jack in the Box and so many others spend hundreds of millions every year to buy lobbiest votes with regard to the meatpacking industry.
It highlights the amount of hormone put into cattle, to fatten them up. It describes the exact break down of whats done with each part of the meat harvested from them, including how it is STILL legal to feed the cattle the remaining bits of the "unusable parts".
It also explains what "natural flavors" consist of, and how they are genetically altered in New Jersey- the biggest food flavor plant in the world. He tells how artifical flavors are made as well and how many of the ingredients are toxic by deffinition but have been deemed "acceptable at these levels".
Its not just about the fast food industry either. It goes on to explain how they system (FDA) works. What the laws are (do you know that if there is tainted meat, the fast food industry is under NO obligation to publicly announce where this meat comes from?!)
I love meat- I will on occasion eat fast food but I will MOST CERTAINLY be at the Farmers Market this Friday and am going in search of an organic market for beef, chicken and fish needs.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. Its beyond what goes into fast food and more about what is involved in processing food for feeding the nation.
Its extremely disturbing and I cant help but wonder if the spike in cancer, skin disease and heart disease are truely brought on by these treatments and processes.
Its back on the NY Times best sellers list and you can find it on E-bay.
The movie "Super Size Me" was inspired by this book and was disturbing enough that I wanted to look into it some more.
Now, I can not unlearn what I have already learned.
If you saw the movie, or read the book, I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Best,
MelissaLynn
Answers:
Eric ( not the webmaster ) saw the movie and liked it very much. He swore off fast food ( not sure for how long ) after he saw it. He doesn't read the Board as often as he used to, so I'll e-mail him a link to this thread.
Mike
Answers:
i didnt see the movie but you know darn well thats a big reason for alot of the health problems in this and other countries.but atleast we are now getting a choice in the fast food places in salads. witch i eat regular my question is how healthy are there salads ? how much msg am i consuming trying to eat right .ekkkk i take one day a week and spurge( somthing besides a salad) and only one burger a month .and i love my burgers (glady pay you friday for a hamburger today) call me whimpy
and i read somthing a while back about the combination of frying patatos how it releases a cancer causing combination . bull or not that im not sure.
nobody eats as bad as we do down here . omg we were so uninformed for so many years here on how our diets were killing us . we had to completley change everything we had learned about cooking here .
this is a informative thread thanks xSx
Answers:
Hi Melissalynn,
We watched Supersize Me a month or two ago and I have to say, it was interesting, but I was positively DISGUSTED! How sick and gross the guy ended up by the end of the movie was so disturbing! It really is an eye-opener. I can say for sure that I will never eat another chicken mcnugget!!!! YUCK!
mari
Answers:
Is this one of those Michael Moore Movies? Anyway, I've been wanting to see it.
Answers:
It's that kind of movie Brad, but not him...I'm trying to remember the guy's name but it's not coming to mind...ahh I looked it up. It was done by a guy named Morgan Spurlock. I'd say it's worth renting.
mari
Answers:
I haven't seen it but my bf did...he just told me that this guy eats only McD's for a month and ends up vomiting everywhere...I have sworn off fast food completely...I only eat meat I have bought and cooked myself, organic and free range with no antibiotics at that. And as far as the meat industry, there was an article in "Good Housekeeping" recently about some women whose children almost died because these meat co's don't have to recall meat even if they know it's bad...interesting.
Lots of lawsuits now.
I was reading an interesting book called "Inflammation Nation" last night that goes into detail on how non organic steroid and antibiotic pumped meat can adversely affect all inflammatory diseases, ie...ding ding ding! psoriasis. Anyone else read this?
I'd love to see this topic on the main board.
Answers:
Hi Jgirl, I saw the author of inflamation nation on the Today show. I only caught the end of the interview but it caught my attention also. especially when he mentioned auto immune disease. I am buying this book for sure!
I gave up fast food a long time ago, although I am forced to go sometimes, I get a salad.I just don't believe all that fast food is healthy at all. look how fat we are as a nation. full of heart disease and other problems.look at our asian friends eating fresh seafood and vegetables, not much fried either. they show low heart disease and are quite fit.
Answers:
Sharon,
I didn't buy the book, just browsed it at the bookstore. Please post when you're done reading it!
Answers:
I saw the movie. I haven't stopped eating McD's, too tasty, but I east less of it. It's hard to get the image of that big jar of fat at the end out of my mind, lol. The sugar I don't care about, but that jar was gross! I used to eat McD's once a week, every Tuesday. I didn't even have to say anything, the cashiers all knew me, I'd go in and they'd ring up a Big Mac meal with Coke and 2 apple pies. Now I go once a month, but they still remember me. All things in moderation I say. Well, not all, some cocaine or some heroin wouldn't be a good idea, but a Big Mac or two I won't worry about.
Answers:
Hey!
I have heard TONNES about super size me, and i have only seen a tiny clip of it at school once... BUT... Edmonton has somebody who is currently doing the same type thing... mcdonalds only for 30 days...im not sure what the point is... i just think its disgustingly gross!
~Kim~
Answers:
Bumping this up for Cat...
I guess it wasn't Melissalynn talking about Inflammation Nation, but jgirl and chromediva.. maybe ask them?
mari
Answers:
Where to start...
First of all have not read the book or seen the movie...have heard tons about both, just have not got around to watch the movie and right now I have 3 other books on my block to read right now...
Now what I know...I guess!!!!
I grew up with what I like to call "Hippie Parents"...They ran a CO-OP, made all my food, including peanut butter, vitamins, cereal...etc...The garden consisted about 3/4 of our yard, which included everything. I hated "harvest time". Picking Green Beans three times a season and packing half of our basement freezer with food was not fun. We "never" ate meat. Was not even allowed to have eggs or real milk or sugar, nothing processed. No Microwave, No TV, No Dishwasher (except myself), wood heat...You name it. As I look at it today, I still feel like I was a pretty Healthy kid-skinny but healthy.
Could you imagine a teenager that really has never had anything that was processed go off to college? I was hell on wheels. I don't think I ate a veggie the full time I was at school. LOL...But I did have my problems with getting back to what is "real food". I was so sick...probably like the guy in the movie. But then again it was a bad time in my life and during that time I became anirexic (another story).
We are raising our girls with kinda the same concept as my parents. I am not going as far as No Microwave, No TV and DH is the Dishwasher, but we do have a garden, freezer (not one that fills the house), we do not eat red meat...unless it is venison that DH shot or we have bought a quarter of a cow from a friend who raises cattle. The only time we eat out is when we are on trips. We do eat red meat out... We try to buy our Chicken from Amish farms when we can but otherwise we buy it in 6lb bags at Sams Club (bad me).
Now after you have heard me tell all this stuff, you are wondering why...right? Hee! Hee!
Someone said something about heart disease, skin disease, and cancer being on the rise...Well my parents were like this all my life and before that there really was not anything like fast food, microwaves...etc...
Well both my parents have had cancer...Not just cancer but life threating cancer. They are both cancer free today but it was a battle for my mom.
I guess life is in God's hands.
And that is my two cents.
M
Answers:
At least your parents LIVED through cancer! My mother didn't she died at 46.
I think the studies regarding fast food are done on a large scale basis, with thousands of people. They would have to be to be deemed credible.
Then again, who am I to argue with God?
I agree with you that some things don't make sense. To that, I would say that there are many factors that contribute to disease, some known Like stress and genetics)and some probably unknown (like environmental toxins that are relatively new to our world)
Perhaps their diet is part of the reason they are still here, since you have 2 kids it sounds like they are older than 46.
Then again, we could all die at ANY second!
Live right and to the fullest. I like eating right cause I FEEL better and it helps the p.
Answers:
Jgirl
I agree with you totally.
Sorry to hear about your mom.
I was just telling my story. I don't agree with what my parents put me through-totally. I do know that I like to eat. I do sometimes take my girls out to eat at Mickie Dee's and my youngest loves hotdogs...which is totally bad for her.
I just figure that not having a mircowave when I was a kid really has not helped me in life.
M
Answers:
Another website you all need to see is The Meatrix. To see how all these animals live until their slaughter just makes you cringe! And these are the same ones that are shipped to supermarkets and fast food places. Absolutely sickening!
Answers:
That is an excellent site.
More than offering a synopasis of factory farming- it has a link that lets you enter a zip code and lists all the stores, resturaunts and farms that dont participate in high dose antibiotics, use grass rather than grain to feed cattle. Have totally ommitted hormone use and other -what SHOULD be basic things, that are fundamental to health.
I have found 4 places within 5 miles of my home that I NEVER knew existed. Places where I can buy fresh food without toxic additives.
Thanks SOOO much for that link.
Ive been shopping online for all kinds of organic sites. This afternoon I am going to take a ride to one of these grocery stores.
Check out the site guys, if you are are interested in hearing more about what we actually eat- not even from going to a fast food resturaunt, but just from the local Vons, Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, Ralphs, Food for Less, Super Walmart- etc.
I am hoping that by eating less "dirty" meat (hormones, antibiotic filled, feces contaiminated, high temperature "dissinfected" meats) Ill give my already down immune system a little boost.
MelissaLynn
Answers:
sorry to hear of your mom jgirl. that was pretty young. i have been to a couple of sloter house's. that is some thing to see. for me if you want to eat good meat. eat deer meat. but you have to watch some because of a liver d (some thing wrong). it can be bad for you. great thread.
have a good night all
richard
Answers:
Hi Marielle!
That was a terrific story- well, all but the part about your parents and cancer. I am so happy to hear that they actually BEAT cancer. I would say thats 2 points for the garden!
Seriously though, Its so crazy that in this day, people barely have a house to call their own, let alone a yard. I am good at keeping my plants alive and flowering- but I dont know how to plant, grow or pick a string bean. (though I have every intention of someday learning).
I am a big time meat eater. I like all kinds of meat and belive that for my body, its what I perform best on.
However, I am disgusted to be reminded of the conditions under which cattle are "grown" "harvested" and "treated". The cost of a steak from the grocery, vs. the cost of a steak from an organic farm is about 40% more.
A bag of carrots for 99 cents at the typical grocery store will now be a $2.99 investment.
Where I live, in Southern California- we wouldnt THINK of drinking water from the tap. Even when I lived in Oxford, Ohio and in Boston and in Connecticut- wouldnt tough the stuff. Not even to brew coffee. I dont even think about it anymore, really. I just buy my "Brita" refils every month or my gallons of bottled water.
Genetically engineered corn, potatos. cattle, chickens etc. is all maddening to me. So, I need to keep things very basic. Im not eating fast food anymore. Fast food is the biggest purchaser of meat in the entire USA. Farms are not local any more. I prefer to try and give my body a fighting chance with more "whole" foods. Ugh. Im not going to be one of those people... you know the judgemental kind that look at you funny for buying a frozen pizza- but I am going to eliminate the frozen food section from my shopping list. (bye-bye eggos and breakfast sandwhiches) yikes!
If I start eating dirt- start worrying. If I boil it first to get rid of potential pesticides- force feed me a cheeseburger.
Okay, okay- Ive been researching this stuff for the last week and Im overwhelmed.
Its my day off today and my glands are swollen- my roommate has strep and 2 ear infections.
Im in a terrific mindset today to sit home and think about things.
-Yeah, right!
Im going to get some horehound tea and suck on some Brita Ice.
Thank GOD that smoking is good for you.
At least I have something going for me.
MelissaLynn
Answers:
Melissa,
Conratulations on your decision to eat better! Expensive as it is, I have been eating primarily organic for awhile now...One good "side effect" is that after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting my weight finally seems to have stabilized at 125 lbs. - 10 lbs less than I weighed senior year in high school, ten years ago. And I really don't even exercise like a fanatic anymore either, like I used to when I weighed more and wore bigger clothing sizes, just a few times a week, yoga or dance I don't even do cardio, I'm too lazy! (Treadmills BORE me so).
In that book "Inflammation nation" he talks about how non-organic beef and farm-raised rather than wild caught fish can have a very negative effect on our p, whereas wild caught fish is excellent. Has to do with the amount of arachidonic acid, which causes inflammation.
yeah, the organic food is expensive, but I figure I'm saving out on Jenny Craig dues and doctor's bills in the long run. Also, since we absorb more nutrients from organic foods in time you will pronanly need to eat less, and still thrive.
P.S. try a co-op or perhaps a Farmer's Market for better priced organic stuff. Also, sometimes when I am REAL tight for $ sometimes I'll rotate a trip to Whole Foods with a trip to Ralph's, the overall pesticide load would still be lessened that way. Lately I have been strict 'cause I want p to go away completely, it's grudgingly leaving day by day.
Off to drink my SE.
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I didn't have a microwave or dishwasher either, unless you count my brother and I. No McDonalds, but we did have KFC occasionally or pizza but that was from a real pizza place, not a big chain. Veggies and meat(or fish) every meal, water to drink, never pop, never juice. Fruit for snacks. I never ate McD's untill I was about 21, I was in a band and the guys liked to go to McD's after jamming. I got tired of going home so tried a filet-o-fish and got hooked. They must put crack in their food or something, it's junk but I HAVE TO HAVE IT, lol.
Today I rarely eat red meat, not for health or animal rights reasons but it's a byproduct of the byproducts I ate as a kid, lol. In an effort to save money, we were poor, my dad always bought livers and kidneys and hearts and tongues and gizzards and all that other nasty stuff or if it was "real" meat it was fatty and gristly. To this day the rubbery texture of fat in my mouth induces a gag reflex, hence my disgust at that jar of fat in Super-Size Me. I only eat red meat in burgers, all ground up, can't find the fat and gristle. Fish and chicken I love though, but only white meat and no skin. Fish I can share with my aquarium so I've been eating less and less chicken and more and more seafood. I grew up in Nfld Canada though, so seafood is no stranger to me. But I still love eating crap, it just tastes so good.
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McD's is fond of put lots of fat, sugar and salt in one item, so your taste buds sort of go into orgasmic mode. Sneaky, huh. :cool:
One key thing for me in terms of eating better has been learning to flavor foods so they can compete. For example, I ate kale last night but it was sauteed in olive oil (healthy fat), garlic, and salt (my splurge) Like fries but with kale, which gets a sweet taste when cooked.
All in the name of fighting the p (and the bulge, and fatigue...)
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we got the DVD lastnight will likely watch it some time today
:cool:
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I finished the book from cover to cover and I am offically "in the know"- more specifically- disgusted.
Now I have to read the book "the Jungle" its about the meat production and standards from the 1920's.
Best to you all
MelissaLynn
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