Comments on: Study Finds Exposure to Chemical Pollutants Increases Fat: http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 1Watt http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1723 1Watt Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:50:19 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1723 If you want to be scared to the bone:<br /><br />http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/endocrine.bisphenol.summary.php<br /><br />and the FDA claims not to have authority to regulate it. If you want to be scared to the bone:

http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/endocrine.bisphenol.summary.php

and the FDA claims not to have authority to regulate it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1716 Anonymous Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:07:36 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1716 I think you can add in car culture as a contributing factor as well. Americans drive more and walk less than almost anyone else in the world. If everyone would walk ten minutes to a subway or light rail stop on their way to and from work, rather than walking to their garage and getting in the car, then walking two minutes from the parking lot into their work, which is more typical in the US than anywhere else, we wouldn't struggle so much to "find time to exercise" -- at least some exercise would be part of everyone's normal day. <br /><br />Not to mention the pollutants dumped into the atmosphere in the process of making and using so many cars. Even if the cars were all electric, the electricity has to come from somewhere, and you still have to build and maintain the roadways. Sorry Detroit Auto Inc.--ultimately the auto business probably isn't sustainable. I think you can add in car culture as a contributing factor as well. Americans drive more and walk less than almost anyone else in the world. If everyone would walk ten minutes to a subway or light rail stop on their way to and from work, rather than walking to their garage and getting in the car, then walking two minutes from the parking lot into their work, which is more typical in the US than anywhere else, we wouldn't struggle so much to "find time to exercise" — at least some exercise would be part of everyone's normal day.

Not to mention the pollutants dumped into the atmosphere in the process of making and using so many cars. Even if the cars were all electric, the electricity has to come from somewhere, and you still have to build and maintain the roadways. Sorry Detroit Auto Inc.–ultimately the auto business probably isn't sustainable.

]]> By: Patrick Haskell http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1715 Patrick Haskell Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:47:02 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1715 It is our fault for lack of discipline. Corporations know we have little discipline and are happy to make money off that. That's what corporations do. We can protest, fight to get our government to regulate them, or we can get them where it really hurts, by not buying their product. <br /><br />However, making a decision to not purchase HFCS isn't going to help by itself. They'll just adapt and produce a version of their product with sugar in it, and American's who avoid HFCS will get just as fat or almost just as fat. Self-discipline is an essential feature of the equation. <br /><br />Put down the sweet stuff. You don't even need to read the label. It will do wonders for your health. It is our fault for lack of discipline. Corporations know we have little discipline and are happy to make money off that. That's what corporations do. We can protest, fight to get our government to regulate them, or we can get them where it really hurts, by not buying their product.

However, making a decision to not purchase HFCS isn't going to help by itself. They'll just adapt and produce a version of their product with sugar in it, and American's who avoid HFCS will get just as fat or almost just as fat. Self-discipline is an essential feature of the equation.

Put down the sweet stuff. You don't even need to read the label. It will do wonders for your health.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1713 Anonymous Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:01:37 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1713 "American corporations put it in everything"- High fructose corn syrup is the result of US government agricultural policy. "American corporations put it in everything"- High fructose corn syrup is the result of US government agricultural policy.

]]> By: Serious Implications http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1710 Serious Implications Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:27:11 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1710 A simple, minor subversive act: when you read a label in the grocery store and find corn syrup among the ingredients, replace the item on the shelf, upside down and backwards. <br /><br />It's better than nothing. A simple, minor subversive act: when you read a label in the grocery store and find corn syrup among the ingredients, replace the item on the shelf, upside down and backwards.

It's better than nothing.

]]> By: bob, NY http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1709 bob, NY Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:01:31 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1709 Dr Cole,<br /><br />If you ever get the chance, watch the documentary Food Inc.<br /><br />It clearly explains why in the US the poorest people end up being the fattest..an interesting juxtaposition given the starving masses in other countries.<br /><br />Its a deadly combination of syrup, grease and cheap fast food compared to the much pricier "real food" that leads to obesity among the poor. They thrive on it. Dr Cole,

If you ever get the chance, watch the documentary Food Inc.

It clearly explains why in the US the poorest people end up being the fattest..an interesting juxtaposition given the starving masses in other countries.

Its a deadly combination of syrup, grease and cheap fast food compared to the much pricier "real food" that leads to obesity among the poor. They thrive on it.

]]> By: John Knapp http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1708 John Knapp Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:36:25 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1708 Thank you for giving some column space to the issues of obesity and food chain contamination. As an RN engaged in graduate nursing studies, I can attest to the truthfulness of your observations. We are facing a global tsunami of chronic health problems directly related to that cost externalization machine we know as the corporate food culture. Add in environmental contamination, resource depletion, lack of clean air and water, and you have the perfect storm that is only now making landfall. It is disgraceful what the corporate food lobby is doing in Washington. So much for our vaunted free market economy and democracy. Thank you for giving some column space to the issues of obesity and food chain contamination. As an RN engaged in graduate nursing studies, I can attest to the truthfulness of your observations. We are facing a global tsunami of chronic health problems directly related to that cost externalization machine we know as the corporate food culture. Add in environmental contamination, resource depletion, lack of clean air and water, and you have the perfect storm that is only now making landfall. It is disgraceful what the corporate food lobby is doing in Washington. So much for our vaunted free market economy and democracy.

]]> By: Jack Fertig http://www.juancole.com/2010/01/study-finds-exposure-to-chemical.html#comment-1707 Jack Fertig Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:50:22 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4921#comment-1707 We can't completely dismiss discipline and selectivity. People still choose what we put in our mouths. Granted it can be damned difficult to find healthy real foods. Tax breaks for corporations amount to government subsidies for junk "food." <br /><br />I find it incredible that schools are debating whether or not to remove soda vending machines. When did those go in? We always just had water fountains. Schools should be teaching good nutrition, not promoting soda pop. Even if school lunches weren't always very tasty at least they were nutritious, balanced meals back in the day. Now one reads about fast food chains selling their processed crap in the schools.<br /><br />So sure, we can and should talk about discipline and making intelligent choices, but we also have to lay the groundwork in the schools, and switch agricultural policies to promote healthy eating, not GM, fatty, sugary, factory junk. "Sugary?" I wish. High Fructose Corn Syrup is such a nightmare that white cane sugar is promoted as a healthy alternative! Who ever thought we'd sink so low that "White Death" would be the good stuff? We can't completely dismiss discipline and selectivity. People still choose what we put in our mouths. Granted it can be damned difficult to find healthy real foods. Tax breaks for corporations amount to government subsidies for junk "food."

I find it incredible that schools are debating whether or not to remove soda vending machines. When did those go in? We always just had water fountains. Schools should be teaching good nutrition, not promoting soda pop. Even if school lunches weren't always very tasty at least they were nutritious, balanced meals back in the day. Now one reads about fast food chains selling their processed crap in the schools.

So sure, we can and should talk about discipline and making intelligent choices, but we also have to lay the groundwork in the schools, and switch agricultural policies to promote healthy eating, not GM, fatty, sugary, factory junk. "Sugary?" I wish. High Fructose Corn Syrup is such a nightmare that white cane sugar is promoted as a healthy alternative! Who ever thought we'd sink so low that "White Death" would be the good stuff?

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