I'm not anti-organic or anything, but I find it odd that today it's quite normal to equate healthy to organic. In 1960, there was no such thing. Or at least it wasn't differentiated. Eating habits are certainly a cause of the weight gain, but one doesn't have to buy organic to correct this. Just buy food you have to cook yourself and you'll likely be fine (microwaving hot dogs 5 days a week is not what I'm talking about )
I'm 100% into healthy lifestyle research it hardcore every day, know people that have encyclopedic knowledge on the subject and what I can surmise is that the word organic is less meaningful than most people think. In a recent study biochemists tested "organic" produce from a number of stores in Canada and nearly every product had traces of genetic modification.
However, on average there is a substantial gap between quality in produce at different stores. Safeway, CO-OP or Superstore have produce that is barely food and in many cases I'd rather just eat a frozen pizza instead because the produce is so nutritionally depleted it's nearly inedible.
Compare that to places like Planet Organic or Community Natural Foods where the food is generally much more flavorful, nutritious, fresh, less genetically modified and less sprayed with chemicals. You are sort of correct, organic is not made up, it means composed of carbon and by that definition every store has organic food. Still, the nutritional gap is huge between organic grocery stores and normal ones not because of the word organic. I use the word organic more as a word of convenience when really I mean highly nutritious and more natural than it's non "organic" counterparts. It's not something to get stuck up on.
The difference in food quality can be tough to detect for someone with a skewed pallet because the body gets so little nutrients it can't detect the difference between garbage and quality. For example
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"Most importantly, the concentrations of a range of antioxidants such as polyphenolics were found to be substantially higher in organic crops/crop-based foods, with those of phenolic acids, flavanones, stilbenes, flavones, flavonols and anthocyanins being an estimated 19 (95 % CI 5, 33) %, 69 (95 % CI 13, 125) %, 28 (95 % CI 12, 44) %, 26 (95 % CI 3, 48) %, 50 (95 % CI 28, 72) % and 51 (95 % CI 17, 86) % higher, respectively."
"Newcastle University’s Professor Carlo Leifert, who led the study, says: “This study demonstrates that choosing food produced according to organic standards can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals."
"The study, funded jointly by the European Framework 6 programme and the Sheepdrove Trust, found that concentrations of antioxidants such as polyphenolics were between 18-69% higher in organically-grown crops. Numerous studies have linked antioxidants to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers.
Substantially lower concentrations of a range of the toxic heavy metal cadmium were also detected in organic crops (on average 48% lower).
Nitrogen concentrations were found to be significantly lower in organic crops. Concentrations of total nitrogen were 10%, nitrate 30% and nitrite 87% lower in organic compared to conventional crops. The study also found that pesticide residues were four times more likely to be found in conventional crops than organic ones."
"Most importantly, the concentrations of a range of antioxidants such as polyphenolics were found to be substantially higher in organic crops/crop-based foods, with those of phenolic acids, flavanones, stilbenes, flavones, flavonols and anthocyanins being an estimated 19 (95 % CI 5, 33) %, 69 (95 % CI 13, 125) %, 28 (95 % CI 12, 44) %, 26 (95 % CI 3, 48) %, 50 (95 % CI 28, 72) % and 51 (95 % CI 17, 86) % higher, respectively."
The team of scientists led by Carlo Leifert, professor of ecological agriculture at Newcastle University in England, did not conduct any new original laboratory or field work. The study was funded by the European Union and the Sheepdrove Trust, a British charity that funds research in support of organic farming–in other words, it’s in part an organic industry funded study.
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There have been three other similar meta-analyses since 2009, which have all concluded that there are few, if any, differences in the nutritional content of organic and conventionally grown foods.
further more
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The paper also reports a decrease in protein, nitrates and fibre in the organically grown crops, which may be undesirable
Last edited by Dan02; 06-22-2015 at 02:57 PM.
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What if I said that the health care boogey man is NOT being overweight. Even being obese isn't all that bad. And the real problem is lack of exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
(apparently this Youtube video from Toronto doctor Mike Evans received newfound noteriety after being mentioned in Orange is the New Black in the episode where Piper wanted a running track at the prison)
What if I said that the health care boogey man is NOT being overweight. Even being obese isn't all that bad. And the real problem is lack of exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
(apparently this Youtube video from Toronto doctor Mike Evans received newfound noteriety after being mentioned in Orange is the New Black in the episode where Piper wanted a running track at the prison)
Even if that's true, don't the two kinda going hand in hand? I mean if your getting enough exercise, unless you have a serious health problem, is it possible for you to be obese or severally overweight? You don't need to be cut, but c'mon, I doubt anyone who is truly moving as much as they should be is obese (barring serious health issues, as I already said.)
I don't see a lot of fat people exercising. This is not to be a slam, it's just saying, once you start exercising, you generally start to shed pounds. However, I have lived with a roommate that wanted to drive across the street (not even down the street, but simply ACROSS the street) to get to the corner store.
Even if that's true, don't the two kinda going hand in hand? I mean if your getting enough exercise, unless you have a serious health problem, is it possible for you to be obese or severally overweight? You don't need to be cut, but c'mon, I doubt anyone who is truly moving as much as they should be is obese (barring serious health issues, as I already said.)
I don't see a lot of fat people exercising. This is not to be a slam, it's just saying, once you start exercising, you generally start to shed pounds. However, I have lived with a roommate that wanted to drive across the street (not even down the street, but simply ACROSS the street) to get to the corner store.
I bike to work every day. I typically ride 1-2 hours per day on the weekend, or go for a run and also lift weights once or twice a week. In the winter, its cross country skiing, and walking home from work (5km). I'm sure I get more exercise than average. Sadly, I am "obese". I also don't eat out much due to being celiac. Some people just have a hard time losing weight. My father-in-law is skinny as a rake and never does any exercise at all, while eating whatever he wants.
In my opinion people are far too concerned about the numbers on a scale.
I haven't weighted myself in years. If I was too guess I say I am around 190-200 lbs.
Not directed at the UCB but I'd suggest people (as a whole) probably shouldn't be actively ignoring what the scale is telling you. Cleary UCB isn't saying that but if you don't look at what is going on, how are you supposed to adjust/have a proper feedback loop. No sane person is going to think that a good financial plan is to never look at your bank account or finances.
I understand that it might not feel good to see the numbers/reality but you're putting yourself behind already by ignoring it.
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Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist
You realize Canada is in the top 10 got fattest nations and actually relatively close to the US?
But that's the thing. We've basically accepted and normalized being fat.
Our comparisons are against the most egregious or worse off samples. You always hear things like "Well, I am under/near/sorta close to the average". But the average here you are comparing against is already overweight if not obese. Complaints about the fat/skinny minority about being unreasonable examples or that they must puke after every meal. Hell, it's now a thing to be aggressively proud of being fat.
It's the same reason you see BMI complaints all the time. Sure, there are rare specific cases that the measurement may not fit or evaluate quite well. But people use that to try to dismiss the fact that the number keeps growing and growing and growing.
It's like standing inside your home complaining that the wallpaper on the one wall doesn't match that well with the lamp - when your entire house is in fact full engulfed in flames and is starting to slide off the side of a cliff. You might be right but you're missing the big picture.
Not directed at the UCB but I'd suggest people (as a whole) probably shouldn't be actively ignoring what the scale is telling you. Cleary UCB isn't saying that but if you don't look at what is going on, how are you supposed to adjust/have a proper feedback loop. No sane person is going to think that a good financial plan is to never look at your bank account or finances.
I understand that it might not feel good to see the numbers/reality but you're putting yourself behind already by ignoring it.
But that's the thing. We've basically accepted and normalized being fat.
Our comparisons are against the most egregious or worse off samples. You always hear things like "Well, I am under/near/sorta close to the average". But the average here you are comparing against is already overweight if not obese. Complaints about the fat/skinny minority about being unreasonable examples or that they must puke after every meal. Hell, it's now a thing to be aggressively proud of being fat.
It's the same reason you see BMI complaints all the time. Sure, there are rare specific cases that the measurement may not fit or evaluate quite well. But people use that to try to dismiss the fact that the number keeps growing and growing and growing.
It's like standing inside your home complaining that the wallpaper on the one wall doesn't match that well with the lamp - when your entire house is in fact full engulfed in flames and is starting to slide off the side of a cliff. You might be right but you're missing the big picture.
I guess my point was that you can't let the number on the scale drive "you". I would suggest that how you feel physically/emotionally might be the better option. Now I agree that it can be difficult for people to understand how they are feeling physically and emotionally.
My point is that I know plenty of "fat" fit people and plenty of unfit "skinny people.
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Eating properly couldn't be more simple, it can be summed up in a single sentence with two commas.
Eat food, not too much, mostly vegetables.
Pretty much this. Just try to cut out fried foods and anything with a lot of added sugar, eat more vegetables, and drink a lot of water.
I recently decided I need to start eating better. I'm not really incredibly overweight (maybe 10-15 pounds at the most), I just got sick of feeling unhealthy and lazy. It's only been around a month since I made this change, but I already feel so much better.
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Originally Posted by CroFlames
Before you call me a pessimist or a downer, the Flames made me this way. Blame them.
I bike to work every day. I typically ride 1-2 hours per day on the weekend, or go for a run and also lift weights once or twice a week. In the winter, its cross country skiing, and walking home from work (5km). I'm sure I get more exercise than average. Sadly, I am "obese". I also don't eat out much due to being celiac. Some people just have a hard time losing weight. My father-in-law is skinny as a rake and never does any exercise at all, while eating whatever he wants.
I know cases like this exist, as I spoke about in my post. Just that it's hardly typical. On average I don't think this would be the case if most other obese people had the same regimen.
In your case, it would be an actual disability. I just have a hard time believing it's the case for most overweight people. Again, with the example of my roommate, he lost a lot of weight eventually.
Most people just don't give a crap. And it's not just overweight people. It's drive in general. It's much easier to catch up on Netflix than write a book, or start a business, or take the dog for a walk. We're all in a culture of laziness and excess.
I was just responding to DA's remark that exercise is more important than weight control. For 99.9 percent of the population, that's really the same thing. They wouldn't be getting proper exercise and still be overweight.
Most people just don't give a crap. And it's not just overweight people. It's drive in general. It's much easier to catch up on Netflix than write a book, or start a business, or take the dog for a walk. We're all in a culture of laziness and excess.
It's also a problem of lack of instant results. I have been working out 4-6 days a week (a combination of weight training and bicycle riding) for almost 3/4 of a year now. If you look at just the numbers, I have lost...1 pound reliably. But you have to look at it the other way, I haven't GAINED the 10-12 I would have by 'the old way'.
I also have a feeling I'm at a point where I'm finally going to start seeing some bigger results. But with most folks, you don't see results within a week or two, and it's time to quit for a new 'fad' diet.
Last edited by WhiteTiger; 06-25-2015 at 10:33 AM.
I bike to work every day. I typically ride 1-2 hours per day on the weekend, or go for a run and also lift weights once or twice a week. In the winter, its cross country skiing, and walking home from work (5km). I'm sure I get more exercise than average. Sadly, I am "obese". I also don't eat out much due to being celiac. Some people just have a hard time losing weight. My father-in-law is skinny as a rake and never does any exercise at all, while eating whatever he wants.
Not picking on you personally, but it's comments like these that I think are a bit part of the problem. When I'm out with friends and family, I typically eat much more / less healthy than I would otherwise, because I'm in good company and want to enjoy myself. However, outside of gatherings like that I eat very little and stick with as healthy food as possible.
So I know many people's perception of me is "he eats whatever he wants and never exercises, but he's thin". I think it's just used to rationalize their behaviour and that weight is somehow out of their control.
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Much like a sports ticker, you may feel obligated to read this
Eat tasty "bad" food, smoke, drink and f*** anything = you die.
Live healthy, eat clean, don't drink = you die.
When you get older you realize that anyone can die regardless of how you take care of yourself but being in one group over the other puts you at better odds of dying later.
Not picking on you personally, but it's comments like these that I think are a bit part of the problem. When I'm out with friends and family, I typically eat much more / less healthy than I would otherwise, because I'm in good company and want to enjoy myself. However, outside of gatherings like that I eat very little and stick with as healthy food as possible.
So I know many people's perception of me is "he eats whatever he wants and never exercises, but he's thin". I think it's just used to rationalize their behaviour and that weight is somehow out of their control.
Don't discount the role of genetics in all this. It is a factor - not just something people use to rationalize their behaviour.
When you get older you realize that anyone can die regardless of how you take care of yourself but being in one group over the other puts you at better odds of dying later.
The problem is, those extra years are added on to the worst part of life.
Obviously moderation is key, you don't want to die when you're 40, but man, you get one life. Enjoy it.
)
