Diet and Health.

LikeAnOcean

Is it really worth it to eat crap food and be sick all of the time?

I know too many people who do this. I always hear about their health ailments, trips to the doctor, but then take notice of what the eat and can't help but think it's all related.

For instance, my buddy's girl friend. The girl never eats fruit or veggies. She practically lives off of mac and cheese, foods high in saturated fat. She eats potato salad and left over pizza for breakfast and lays on the couch all day, never exercises, yet wonders why she is sick all of the time. And when I say sick, it takes her a MONTH to shake a common cold, and she thinks drinking tons of orange juice alone when she is sick will solve her problem, but there's much more than vitamin C her body needs.

Same with my boss. They drink pop/soda/coke ALL day. Eat twinkies, snacks, RARELY healthy, and are calling in sick and going to the doctor all the time.


Do people just not realize how important the food we eat plays in our health, and its not just calories that we need???

Is it worth being sick and having tons of health problems because we don't take notice of what we are putting into our body?

ponner1us

I'm tired all of the time. I don't eat crap, but I also don't eat all that healthy. Although I do avoid "fast food" like the plague. Any recommendations on a good cookbook?

mca47

From my experience those people either haven't been educated about proper nutrition, or they just don't care to eat the right things.


I don't want to turn this into a health care debate, but those people make up a HUGE part of the problem with the health care and insurance systems.

I really believe that there should be mandatory "Health and Nutrition" classes in our schools across the country. I'm not talking the typical bullshit "health class" taught by some gym teacher, but a real class taught by healthcare professionals or nutritionists.

The up-front cost would be pretty steep, but I believe it would eventually and drastically reduce healthcare costs across the board.



In the meantime...I'm going to continue my healthy lifestyle because a) I'm very healthy and fit and b) I feel amazing for doing so.

he still stands

I used to eat like that until I was 22/23... graduated from college and all of the sudden I noticed I was kinda fat.

First thing I did was stopped the soda and fast food, and started lifting and running... within a week I felt so much better. Now I lift 4/5 times a week and run 2/3 times a week.

I'm kinda crazy with all this stuff, this was my food intake yesterday:

cereal, skim milk, banana
yogurt
protein shake after a 50 minute workout
3 hard boiled eggs, assorted veggies
chicken pita wrap with lettuce, peppers, cheese (1 slice), light mayo, skim milk to drink
lots of water...

I'm bald so I can't be fat, too.

LikeAnOcean

ponner1us wrote:

I'm tired all of the time. I don't eat crap, but I also don't eat all that healthy. Although I do avoid "fast food" like the plague. Any recommendations on a good cookbook?

lol, well I don't cook, but eat lots of greens, polyunsaturated fats, protein, beans.. anything with lots of anti-oxidants in it will help your body with energy. It's better to get them naturally, but if you have to, Quecertin is a good energy booster/ anti-inflammatory suppliment.

polaris_x

what does it mean when it costs less to eat shit from fast food chains then fresh local foods?

he still stands

polaris_x wrote:

what does it mean when it costs less to eat shit from fast food chains then fresh local foods?

that you're getting HOSED at the local food market....

mca47

he still stands wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

what does it mean when it costs less to eat shit from fast food chains then fresh local foods?

that you're getting HOSED at the local food market....

Processed foods typically are (per ounce) much, much cheaper than fresh, non-processed foods (produce).

I see what you are saying though. It IS possible to go cheap and healthy, but the fact remains that per dollar you can get more food buying shitty processed foods than you can purchasing fresh produce.



An aside...
I also try to eat local and organic as much as I can...thank god I have a good job that pays really well!

LikeAnOcean

mca47 wrote:

From my experience those people either haven't been educated about proper nutrition, or they just don't care to eat the right things.


I don't want to turn this into a health care debate, but those people make up a HUGE part of the problem with the health care and insurance systems.

I really believe that there should be mandatory "Health and Nutrition" classes in our schools across the country. I'm not talking the typical bullshit "health class" taught by some gym teacher, but a real class taught by healthcare professionals or nutritionists.

The up-front cost would be pretty steep, but I believe it would eventually and drastically reduce healthcare costs across the board.



In the meantime...I'm going to continue my healthy lifestyle because a) I'm very healthy and fit and b) I feel amazing for doing so.

I think it would be good to point out what lack of certain nutrients can cause over time. I don't think people realize the reason they get headaches, joint ahces, can't shake common viruses is because of months and months, maybe years of poor nutrition.

he still stands

food that has been processed and packaged is definitely more expensive... I don't know what you guys are talking about. Organic may be more expensive but (IMO) there is no reason to buy organic, just locally grown produce... NO I will not get into the debate on organic food!

Here is a list of 50 healthy foods for less than $1 per pound:

Apples - One a day keeps the cheapskate away.
Asparagus - HUGE store special at 99 cents a pound during Easter week. I bought 10 pounds, blanched it, and then froze it.
Bananas - Potassium for pennies.
Barley - A tasty alternative to rice and potatoes.
Beans - Canned or dried. Kidney, pinto, navy, black, red, and many more.
Bok choy - Steam and serve with a little soy sauce.
Broccoli - Yes, a store special. Usually closer to $2 per pound.
Bulgar wheat - Try it in pilaf or a tabouleh salad.
Cabbage - Green and red. I like mine fried.
Cantaloupe - No, sorry, I can't; I'm already married.
Carrots - Raw or steamed. Rich in carotenes, a healthy antioxidant.
Celery - Stir-fry it for a change.
Chicken - Whole or various parts, on sale.
Chickpeas - AKA garbanzo beans -- mash 'em up as a healthy sandwich spread.
Cornmeal - "Polenta" is all the rage these days, but I loved it 40 years ago when Mom called it "cornmeal mush."
Cucumbers - Try peeling, seeding, and steaming with a little butter and salt.
Daikon radish - My new favorite raw veggie.
Eggs - Don't overdo them, but eggs provide high quality protein and still cost about $1 per pound. (Plus, there are many eggscellent things you can do with the shells.)
Green beans - Frozen, but fresh are sometimes on sale for under $1 a pound in-season.
Greens - Kale, mustard, turnip, and collard greens are rich in vitamins and a good source of fiber. Here's how I cook 'em.
Grapes - Store special at 99 cents a pound.
Grapefruit - Bake with a little brown sugar on top for a healthy dessert.
Lentils - Perhaps the perfect food -- healthy, cheap, and versatile. Think soups, salads, sandwich spreads -- and those are only some of the "s" possibilities.
Liver - Chicken livers usually cost under $1 a pound, and sometimes beef and pork liver can be found in the DMZ ("Dollar Maximum Zone").
Mangoes - High in fiber and vitamins A, B6, and C.
Milk - Yep, on a per-pound basis, milk still costs well under $1 a pound.
Napa cabbage - Delicious steamed or raw in a salad.
Oatmeal - The good old-fashioned "slow cooking" kind ... that takes all of five minutes.
Onions - Try baking them whole in a cream sauce.
Oranges - Frequent sale price when in-season.
Pasta - Store special at 89 cents a pound -- I nearly bought them out!
Peanut butter - Special sale price, but stock up because it usually has a long shelf life.
Pork - Inexpensive cuts of pork frequently go on sale for 99 cents per pound or less; sometimes even ham during the holidays.
Potatoes - White and red, Baked, mashed, boiled, broiled, steamed.
Pumpkin - Yes, you can eat the same ones you buy as holiday decorations, and they usually cost under 50 cents a pound.
Rice - White for under $1 a pound; brown, a little more expensive but better for you.
Rutabagas - Hated them as a kid; can't get enough of them now.
Sour cream - 99 cents on sale, but long shelf life, so stock up. My cucumber awaits.
Spinach - Frozen (but Popeye doesn't care).
Split peas - Add a hambone and make the ultimate comfort soup. Try it in the crock-pot!
Squash - Try baking acorn squash with a little brown sugar.
Sweet corn - Canned or fresh on the cob, in-season. (Try this recipe for summer corn fritters.)
Tomatoes - Canned are often better than fresh to use in cooking, and occasionally you can find fresh on sale for under a buck, in-season.
Turkey - A popular bargain-priced, loss-leader around the holidays -- buy an extra bird and freeze it for later.
Turnips - Make me think of my grandparents, who always grew them.
Watermelon - Whole, in-season melons can sometime cost less than 20 cents a pound if they're on sale and you find a big one.
Wine - Well, at least the stuff I drink -- a 5-liter box (approximately 11 pounds) for about 10 bucks, on sale. (BTW, the beer I drink is even less expensive per pound.)
Yams/sweet potatoes - One of the healthiest foods you can eat, and usually available year-round for under $1 a pound.
Yogurt - 8-ounce containers on sale, two for $1.
Zucchini - OK, they're a type of squash (above). But I love them so much they deserve their own place on the list. Plus they look great in pantyhose.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/50-h ... d-1677000/

mikalina

If you don't watch what you eat your body will eventually get sick. Stay away from fast food and junk food and just eat healthy. Its very simple.

I always say - food can also be your worst enemy....

chadwick

my health sucks dong.
i am working on getting better.
exercise and eating smaller healthier portions is the goal.
it is difficult to do much exercise when every bone in my body aches.
it is hard to get out of bed in the morning.
i think i need a nurse, a personal trainer, 5 or 6 doctors, and a kick to the balls.

facepollution

The biggest problem is that health authorities have managed to convince people that fat and saturated fat in particular, are the enemy, and that carbs are the best type of fuel, when science actually proves otherwise. Obesity is a precursor to many illnesses, yet most people don't even know why or how the body stores fat. For anyone interested, you have your three food groups, carbs, fats and proteins; and in order for fat to be stored, your body has to produce insulin. So in order to maintain a slim healthy body, you want to keep your blood sugar low and steady. But hear's the kicker, it's not protein or fat that produce significant insulin responses, it's carbs. Of course this is on a sliding scale from pure sugar to fiberous whole grains etc, but the fact remains, you physically can not lose body fat whilst insulin levels are raised. Yet what do people do when they want to lose weight? They go super low fat on everything, which may be low in calories, but it's usually still high in carbs, and thus much of the weight lost comes from muscle tissue (after all energy must come from somewhere if you are eating less calories than you burn). Consequently you get that skinny fat look where your body shrinks, you have less muscle structure, but still loads of unsightly fat hanging off your frame.

Fat is a perfectly healthy source of fuel which the body can use very effectively - what do people think their body is fueling itself on when they lose weight?! That's right, their own saturated body fat! It's only harful when combined with massive quantities of carbs, i.e the western diet.

adropinthepark

he still stands wrote:

food that has been processed and packaged is definitely more expensive... I don't know what you guys are talking about. Organic may be more expensive but (IMO) there is no reason to buy organic, just locally grown produce... NO I will not get into the debate on organic food!

Here is a list of 50 healthy foods for less than $1 per pound:...

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/50-h ... d-1677000/

Thank you for sharing the list. When I saw the family on Food, Inc. make excuses for their diet, I was disgusted. They are doing themselves and most importantly their children a huge disservice. There are many affordable, nutritious foods available. Your list demonstrates that perfectly.
I think we're all just too lazy. Whenever I'm not eating as healthy as I should be, it's because I haven't done any meal planning and I reach for the fastest easiest thing. Most times it's crap food. I know better, but I still have to remind myself that when I get hungry at the grocery store that the best solution isn't going across the parking lot for some french fries. There's some great fast food available in the produce department and bulk bins.

I'm currently working on becoming healthier. It's a work in progress.

Pats54

I hear it all the time at work. People are too lazy and don't really care they always look for the easy way out. One woman prob 30-40 lbs overweight said she is looking at the lap band surgery, while she is stuffing her face with french fries and a fried buf wing sandwich. I was like are you f'n kidding me. Eat sensible meals and get out an excercise the weight will fall off. However, like everything in this country that would require too much work. Everyone wants a pill or quick fix for everything it is maddening.

iluvcats

do a little online research about what acidic foods do to your body and it's not just tomatoes or o.j. they cause inflammation (like to your joints.) so does chocolate :( I was becoming a junk food addict in my windowless office, suffering from chronic pain. yesterday i took some canned yams (1 serving) for a snack at work. sure it has sugar but i'm trying to wean myself off, at least it was not a candy bar...

I listen to an all news station. recently they quoted a doctor who said there is no scientific evidence about a new shoe women have been wearing to tone their legs (I think victoria secret sells them). he said they cause injury like fractures and some people are walking incorrectly. he said "try eating 1 less bagel and walk 30 minutes daily instead to tone up." however i know a chiropractor who said his patients got positive results from the shoes (thongs?)

i have a family member who has been very sedentary for the past 30 yrs and she knows how to cook healthy but was raised where you flavor your food with bacon grease! so her clogged arteries may have started when she was young. she has nearly every ailment but cancer. She is 90 pounds overweight. when she is lonely, she calls for a carry out pizza and is not allowed to have spices due to digestion problems. listening to her problems drains me, it's a sad situation, with soooo many doctors' visits and prescriptions.

iluvcats

Pats54 wrote:

I hear it all the time at work. People are too lazy and don't really care they always look for the easy way out. One woman prob 30-40 lbs overweight said she is looking at the lap band surgery, while she is stuffing her face with french fries and a fried buf wing sandwich. I was like are you f'n kidding me. Eat sensible meals and get out an excercise the weight will fall off. However, like everything in this country that would require too much work. Everyone wants a pill or quick fix for everything it is maddening.

so do you think she will change after the surgery?

Pats54

iluvcats wrote:

Pats54 wrote:

I hear it all the time at work. People are too lazy and don't really care they always look for the easy way out. One woman prob 30-40 lbs overweight said she is looking at the lap band surgery, while she is stuffing her face with french fries and a fried buf wing sandwich. I was like are you f'n kidding me. Eat sensible meals and get out an excercise the weight will fall off. However, like everything in this country that would require too much work. Everyone wants a pill or quick fix for everything it is maddening.

so do you think she will change after the surgery?

Not sure probably not. I think most people think it is a majic bullet or something. The truely lose weight it takes an entire lifestyle change.

_

he still stands wrote:

I'm bald so I can't be fat, too.

(I don't know why this cracked me up, but it did.)

mca47 wrote:

Processed foods typically are (per ounce) much, much cheaper than fresh, non-processed foods (produce).

Not only is it my experience that this is true, but I could have sworn it's actually been proven somewhere. Add to that the fact that many people don't have produce nearly as available to them as processed food and that some people have to work such long hours that they have much less time to plan meals and cook and we have three things right there that can be addressed to help us get in better shape on a population level.

LikeAnOcean wrote:

I think it would be good to point out what lack of certain nutrients can cause over time. I don't think people realize the reason they get headaches, joint ahces, can't shake common viruses is because of months and months, maybe years of poor nutrition.

I think this is true. People just don't put 2 & 2 together, or when they do it's more of an abstract than concrete concept, if that make sense. And then when they really do start to consciously understand, they have often already formed bad habits that are hard to break. Re-learning cooking and eating habits from scratch can be like learning to walk all over again.

HeavyHands

garbage in = garbage out

/truth

Lizardjam

he still stands wrote:

food that has been processed and packaged is definitely more expensive... I don't know what you guys are talking about. Organic may be more expensive but (IMO) there is no reason to buy organic, just locally grown produce... NO I will not get into the debate on organic food!

Here is a list of 50 healthy foods for less than $1 per pound:



http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/50-h ... d-1677000/

I looked at the article as well. Barely any of that stuff is under $1 per lb. Even on sale. I can't remember the lat time I saw apples for under $1 even on sale! And that's just the beginning of the list! What crap!

But, even if you eat that and avoid fast food, it costs the same. You don't spend on the eating out, you just move it to spending at the grocery store but you definitely feel it in your waistline and health.