Why is Our Food Making Us Fat?

[marmar]

from Civil Eats:




Why is Our Food Making Us Fat?

April 8th, 2011
By Nicolette Hahn Niman


As a rancher and environmental lawyer, when I write or speak about America’s food system, usually it’s related to impacts on natural resources–air, water, and soils. But these last few years I’ve also become increasingly interested in how what we eat, and the way we eat, affects our health. With diet related problems like obesity and type II diabetes reaching dangerous levels, public officials finally seem poised to take action on what has grown into a crisis. At the same time, thousands of diverse individuals all over the country–from moms to school administrators to farmers–are taking food matters into their own hands. The reality is that truly changing the way America eats and produces its food will require both public and private action.

It’s no secret why we’re seeing more policy initiatives to remake America’s diet. Two out of every three Americans are now heavier than is recommended for good health. From just 1970 to 2003, the average US caloric intake increased by 523 calories. Sugar consumption has skyrocketed, increasing over 60 percent from 1900 to 2000. And that’s all while we’ve become dramatically less active, driving everywhere and performing less physical labor. (Interestingly, saturated fat consumption has actually decreased by more than 20 percent over the 20th century–because people have shifted away from using animal fats in cooking and baking–but that’s another story).

Did you know that your kids are swallowing a whopping 48 teaspoons of sugar with each Double Gulp from their neighborhood 7-11?

Americans’ sugar addiction is one reason why the concept of taxing soda pop is rapidly gaining popularity among several states and cities. As Dr. Kelly Brownell, of Yale University’s Rudd Center, explains, we select the defaults when making food choices–things that are cheap, easy and convenient. And unfortunately, sodas–often huge ones over 50 ounces–have now become the default beverages for many American adults and children. Data shows that simply raising the price on sodas would lower total average calories consumed by over 100 calories a day, helping to shrink American waistlines. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2011/04/08/why-is-our-food-making-us-fat/

[FLPanhandle]

1. Lots of empty calories and little exercise

We probably consume more calories than any generation before us and exercise our bodies less than any generation before us.

No surprise we are a nation of expanding waistlines.

[gateley]

And all the crap in "convenience" foods and packaged stuff, is pretty un-healthy. nt

[Beam Me Up]

2. "Sugar: The BItter Truth" (youtube video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

In this detailed presentation, Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin. He also explains the convergence of economic and political interests that have led to the institution of increasing amounts of sugar in the American diet. This video will change your understanding of what we are doing to ourselves and our families.

[pansypoo53219]

5. except it's HFCS, not sugar.

preservatives. and kid's are playing video games instead of playing outside.

[Beam Me Up]

7. watch the video, please

[KittyWampus]

30. No, it's sugar AND HFCS. Excess Sugar is less bad than HFCS, but it's still not healthy.

There are sugars that are digested lower in the gut and much lower on the glycemic scale.

The alcohol sugars Xylitol & Eyrithritol for instance.

Then there is Stevia.

[stuntcat]

33. ty

.

[gateley]

3. Recommend. I'm happy to see that more of us are realizing that the "healthy"

foods we find in stores is anything but. We're becoming label readers and seeking out local growers and sellers. We need to go back to how our grandparents lived and ate.

[Shandris]

4. Yeah, we remember how well taxing cigarettes worked early on.

They had to raise the tax until the cost had QUINTUPLED for it to finally become somewhat unacceptable. The simple truth is this -- there are a lot of people who 'rely' on soda. Whether its because their drinking water is tepid, because they don't ~have~ drinking water, because its 60 times more filling than drinking water...whatever the reason is, there's a reason that its' primarily the poor who have the biggest problems with sodas.

Find an answer to the problem before you go raising yet another regressive tax on those getting fucked already.

[libodem]

6. Sugar is just empty calories

Which is bad enough but HFCS ls poison. Our bodies do not produce insulin in response to corn syrup so it free floats in the blood stream until it is laid down as FAT.

Soda is full of HFCS. Even yoplait light and fit has the poison in it. Read your labels.


Who ever heard of insulin resistance until the last few years? Diabetes dx has sky rocketed.

And look at corn subsidies. Corn is for pigs. It makes them FAT.

[KittyWampus]

31. Just a comment. It isn't just insulin, it's leptin. We develop leptin resistance and feel hungry

and hour after eating a full meal.

[unc70]

8. Other factors: Adenovirus, Soy protein, Folate enrichment, Less physical activity

A bunch of things are contributing to the problem. Since they are not part of the diet, exercise, weight loss, etc. mega-industry, most people see and hear little about them.

Adenovirus: Lots of research confirming viruses are triggering obesity, particularly the morbid obesity epidemic that started 20-25 years age, many with sudden-onset weight gain even on restricted diet, atypical cholesterol, and higher rates of diabetes. Effects confirmed in animal studies.

Soy Protein: It is hard to find prepared food that does not include some form of soy protein. Almost none 25 years ago, now everywhere. Most of us routinely eating many times the amounts consumed in Japan which is the example used to refute concerns about its effects in our diets.

Folate enrichment: The enrichment of flour, etc. with folates/folic acid in now routine in the US. As expected, this is dramatically reducing the rates for certain birth defects. Unfortunately, well designed double-blind placebo studies show it causing a dramatic jump in rates of prostrate cancer. So its good for younger women, bad for older men. Might be contributing to earlier onset of puberty and to earlier and slightly greater weight gain associated with it.

Of course, recess and gym class are almost disappearing from modern schools,


P.S. I agree about HFCS.

[LetTimmySmoke]

9. I just finished teaching a unit on this.

The ridiculous corn subsidies play a huge role in this, making High Fructose Corn Syrup artificially economically viable where it would otherwise not be. HFCS, though pound for pound equivalent to sugar, satiates far less than table sugar, and even more far less than honey. I knew a guy who told me he used to drink a 6-pack of soda a day stateside and still be able to eat a full meal - but when he went abroad where soda is made with regular sugar, he was full after 2 sodas.

Excess sugar is the main culprit - that and a sedentary lifestyle.

The worst part of all is that unhealthy food is subsidized in this country, but healthy food is not. Not only that, but the vast majority of these farm subsidies go to big corps like Monsanto, not to small farmers trying to make ends meet.

[JuniperLea]

12. Have you read The Omnivore's Dilemma?

We are children of the corn! Scary stuff!

[badtoworse]

10. Because we're eating too much it - nt

[JuniperLea]

11. Most of it is phony bastard food...

And should be outlawed as poisonous murder weapons.

[Codeine]

13. Because we put too much of it in that hole in our face.

Soda should not be our default beverage, and fast food should not be our default dinner.

[Dorian Gray]

25. Yes

yes yes yes....

I love a soda once in awhile. I have maybe three diet cokes a week. I'm not a food purist.

But if you are going to ingest full sugar sodas and fast food at every meal, you are getting WAY more calories than you think you are getting. Way more.

[shanti]

14. it's much more than making us fat

it's making us SICK! :grr:

[mistertrickster]

15. Except sugar isn't the most fattening thing we eat. What is? Fat.

Like cooking oil, the "marbling" of well-marbled beef, nuts and their oil, butter and bread spreads, cheese which is 60 to 75 percent fat (by calories) and peanut butter which is mainly fat.

[Dorian Gray]

26. Not necessarily true

fats can be more filling than sugars. If you eat unsaturated fats that are heart healthy, they can be strategic weight loss aids. But you need to be mindful. Keep to twenty almonds, not a whole freaking container of them. Lean proteins, even steaks (filet mignon or bison) can be a part of a healthy diet. But stick to 4-6 oz, not a 20 ounce steak.

It's all about mindfulness and carefully choosing foods. If you are going to eat a Big Mac, be aware of the sodium, calories, and saturated fats you are eating. And don't have that for lunch and chinese take out for dinner.

[Modern_Matthew]

16. Eating too much and not enough activity. I changed both and lost 90 pounds. Go figure. nt

[bobbolink]

17. And yet...not ONE WORD about High-Fructose Corn Syrup...?

Could you possibly have a reason to be ignoring that, Nicolette?

[WatsonT]

18. We subsidize the hell out of corn

making it's byproducts (corn syrup, corn oil, etc) as well as animal by products (meat and milk) abnormally cheap compared to vegetables and fruits.

End corn subsidies, use the money on the other end for food stamps but limited.

Stop subsidizing the least healthy foods simply because they have good lobbyists/powerful senators.

[AndyTiedye]

19. Let the People Dance!

HFCS has been around for awhile, yet the "obesity epidemic" is generally
considered to have started about 10 years ago. That was when they started
seriously shutting down raves in most parts of the country. Dancing is
very good exercise and it's way more fun than anything the gym has to offer!

Let the people dance!

[RagAss]

20. Build muscle....burn fat.

There's really no other way.

[Obamanaut]

21. Quite often we are fat because we consume more calories than we use. nt

[BOG PERSON]

22. i know why our food is making us fat...

we're eating too much of it!

[shockra]

23. Not surprised that a rancher would blame sugar.

However, she's been a vegetarian for over 20 years.

http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/nicolette-hahn-niman-interview-part-2/

I knew I recognized the name Niman from somewhere. A DUer posted an article his friend (a disabled vegan) wrote a couple weeks ago, on how she debated Niman on the issue of "humane meat." I found it very interesting because I'd never thought about the issue from this perspective before.

Niman justifies eating animals as natural. Sunaura Taylor argues against this.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/can-animals-save-us/humane-meat-no-such-thing

Throughout the debate I argued that limited interpretations of what is natural and normal leads to the continued oppression of both disabled people and animals. Of the 50 billion animals killed every year for human use, many are literally manufactured to be disabled—bred to be “mutant” producers of meat, milk, eggs, and other products but unable to function in many ways.

Nature is one of the most common justifications for animal exploitation. The arguments range from romantic declarations about the cycles of nature to nuanced discussions of sustainable farming. But the assertion that something is “natural” (or “unnatural”) has long been used to rationalize terrible things.

As a disabled person I find arguments based on what’s “natural” highly problematic. Throughout history and all over the world, I would have, at worst, been killed at birth or, at best, culturally marginalized—and nature would have been a leading justification. Disability is often seen as a personal tragedy that naturally leads to marginalization, rather than as a political and civil rights issue. Many people now reject using “nature” to justify things like sexism, white supremacy, and homophobia but still accept it as a rationale for animal exploitation and disability discrimination.

[Dorian Gray]

24. Simple answer

because we are eating too much of it, and it's too caloric.

[yellowwood]

27. Somebody's got to eat all of this stuff that's subsidized

http://farm.ewg.org/progdetail.php?fips=00000&progcode=corn

[heppcatt]

28. People over eat?

I know at times I eat past the point when I know I'm full.

[Vinca]

29. Yesterday I filled out a survey sent to me by a hospital after a recent 3 day stay.

Everything got excellent ratings except the food. What a shocker. The stuff was overprocessed, straight from the can, god awful glop. It's not just the fast food restaurants.

[JNelson6563]

32. Does over-eating play a role?

I see so many reasons why America is over-weight but seldom does anyone think to add over-eating as a part of the problem. I had a friend in politics who always fought weight gain. We drove together a meeting that was a couple of hours away. Afterwards we were hungry. We stopped at a fast food place and ate lunch. It was not very good as fast food tends to be. I felt a bit sick after but not hungry anymore. Then she pulls into Dairy Queen drive thru and gets a massive dessert. Ugh!


I think portions are out of control BTW. I don't have a problem not eating everything that's put in front of me and neither should anyone else.

Julie