I really wish more videos like this would come out. 'I was lovin' it' is a nice ending to the ad along with the McD' arches.
It is an image to sap the flabbiest of appetites. An overweight, middle-aged man lies dead on a mortuary trolley, with a woman weeping over his body. The corpse's cold hand still clutches a half-eaten McDonald's hamburger.
A hard-hitting US television commercial bankrolled by a Washington-based medical group has infuriated McDonald's by taking an unusually direct shot at the world's biggest fast-food chain this week, using a scene filmed in a mortuary followed by a shot of the brand's golden arches logo and a strapline declaring: "I was lovin' it."
The line is a provocative twist on McDonald's long-standing advertising slogan, "I'm lovin' it" and a voiceover intones: "High cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks. Tonight, make it vegetarian."
The commercial, bankrolled by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), goes further than most non-profit advertising and has drawn an angry reaction from both the Chicago-based hamburger multinational and the broader restaurant industry.
The National Restaurant Association criticised it as "irresponsible" and said it was an attempt to scare the public with a "limited" view of nutrition. A McDonald's spokesman said: "This commercial is outrageous, misleading and unfair to all consumers. McDonald's trusts our customers to put such outlandish propaganda in perspective, and to make food and lifestyle choices that are right for them."
The commercial, to be aired initially in the Washington area but potentially in further US cities, comes amid an increasingly lively debate in the US about healthy eating. The first lady, Michelle Obama, has made nutrition a signature issue and is leading a campaign to encourage physical fitness and improved diets – particularly among American children, a third of whom are overweight.
The recession has hardly helped the healthy eating cause. McDonald's has enjoyed a relatively prosperous financial crisis as diners opt for its affordable offerings in place of more expensive high-street restaurants. Its global profits for the six months to June were up 12% to $2.3bn, powered by sales rises both in the United States and Britain.
The PCRM's director of nutrition education, Susan Levin, made no apologies for singling out the golden arches: "McDonald's is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. Its name and its golden arches are instantly recognisable. We feel we're making a point about all fast food when we talk about McDonald's."
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
September 14, 2010
September 12, 2010
The Only Great Start to Your Morning
It costs about $1.40 and each can contains 10 ounces of the milkshake drink, which tastes like a pancake, but doesn’t have any of the nutritional benefits of the pancake. Apparently, the Morinaga pancake mix is a Japanese tradition, like Bisquick or Aunt Jemima in the States.
This is just a way for the Japanese to get their pancake on without having to bake flapjacks in the morning before heading out to catch the bullet train. If you want food on the go, there’s no solution like a canned sandwich washed down with a canned pancake milkshake! Sound yummy?
August 15, 2010
Everything You Need to Know About Fast Food
The saddest fact in all of this: The daily average calorie intake for Americans is 3760
August 9, 2010
Crazy McNugget Lady
Everyone should have learned their lesson by now: STOP EATING AT MCDONALDS!!!
Dushane flew into a rage after being told she couldn't have McNuggets.
She reached through the window and struck the worker in the face several times.
The worker fought back, but Dushane wouldn't give up.
After the window was forced shut, Dushane smashed the glass with an object she grabbed from her car.
She took off, but was later arrested. [I like that last part]
March 18, 2010
Pepsi Removing Sugary Drinks from Schools...Keep Going!
This move by Pepsi or any future deal by that other evil drink corporation only eliminates one small place where children can continue to increase the obesity percentage. Parents who don't think second about how many bottles little Timmy & Susie gulps down everyday will still fill up their lunch-box/book-bag when the schools are vacated from Pepsi's stockpile of carbonated sugar syrup.
Next move: Parents get graphically educated on what this stuff does to your child's body over time. Step in and make changes for you first then your family. See the current worldwide percentages for obesity by country...Guess who is at the top!
Read more:
- Is Pepsi's Removal of Sodas from Schools Just a Publicity Stunt?
- Soda Makers Claim War on Sugary Drinks in Schools Is Won
Affecting Your Healthcare:
Extra weight increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, some types of cancer and other health problems. Americans who are obese cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008...
Overall, about 31.7% of kids are obese or overweight, compared with 29% in 1999... - from USAToday.com
March 3, 2010
Obama - Leading the Unhealthy American Way
Well for one, he jokingly asks that no one tell the first lady.
"I don't want any lectures about my cholesterol," he told the press. "Don't tell Michelle."
Keep up the oblivious work, Mr. Obama, of driving more citizens into your rapidly expanding health bill.
October 21, 2009
Fun-Fried Friday
I'm pretty excited about this Friday, the 23rd. It'll be a couple of firsts for me...the NC state fair & seeing Jeremy Camp in concert. The family & Shan will show me around to all the redneck festivities, ultra-American fatty food items, and strange animal/people showcases. Then, it's off to see Tenth Avenue North & Jeremy Camp lead everyone in a worship concert. It's going to be exciting!
April 9, 2009
Food Portion Sizes Study
[ABC Note]Last year I posted an article on today's food portions compared to past portions...here is some more in depth information on why most Americans are blind into what they are eating:
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill analyzed three government surveys taken over two decades and reviewed answers to the average portion size consumed for specific foods, such as snacks, desserts and soft drinks. They also looked at whether the eating was done at home or out.
"Between 1977 and 1996, food portion sizes increased both inside and outside the home for all categories except pizza," Samara Joy Nielsen and Barry M. Popkin write in the Journal of the American Medical Association. According to the study, Americans are eating per portion, on average:
* 93 more calories from salty snacks, such as potato chips, pretzels and popcorn.
* 49 more calories from soft drinks.
* 97 more calories from hamburgers.
* 68 more calories from French fries.
* 133 more calories from Mexican food, such as burritos, tacos, enchiladas.
"The most surprising result is the large portion-size increases for food consumed at home - a shift that indicates marked changes in eating behavior in general," the researchers reported.
Americans' waistlines are keeping up with the portion increase trend. Nearly 60 percent of the country is overweight, with the numbers growing, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Clearly the problem is that Americans are eating too much food," Popkin said. "The shifts in where we are eating, as well as the types of food and how much, are critical."
Food Portion Sizes - Distortion
Nutrition experts said the study confirmed what many thought: Americans aren't aware of how much they're eating.
"We're getting so used to eating out and used to (restaurants') portion sizes," said Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition services with Dietwatch.com. "We're getting a distorted view of what portion sizes are. We're not likely to make a distinction between restaurant sizes and real sizes when going home."
Food Portion Sizes - Effects of Supersizing
"An extra 10 calories per day translates to one pound gained per year," Drayer explained. "So you can see how all of these calorie increases combined can translate to weight gain over the long-term." The most important thing, according to Drayer, is to be able to eyeball portion sizes and know how much you are really eating. They key is to relate portion sizes to every day objects.
For example, the USDA food pyramid recommends an average American consume 5-7 servings of vegetables. But just what is a serving? Drayer says if you remember that a fruit serving looks like a tennis ball, you can get a better idea of what you're putting away at the table.
According to a 2002 American Dietetic Association survey, Americans tend to overestimate the recommended serving sizes for many foods. Fewer than half of the respondents accurately estimated the recommended serving sizes of pasta, meat or vegetables.
Food Portion Sizes - Supersizing Restaurant
Also, watch out for the "more is better" mentality, especially at fast food restaurants.
"We're often encouraged to buy larger-sized portions and 'value meals' because they provide a better value for our money," Drayer says. "But while these oversized portions may be good for our wallets, they are not necessarily good for our waistlines or our health."
Portion Control
What are other ways to avoid portion distortion? Here are some other tips to slim down portions at home, according to Drayer and the American Dietetic Association:
* Beware of unconscious eating. "This is where we're not aware of how much food we're putting in our mouths," Drayer said. "We snack more, we're eating by ourselves, in front of the TV or talking on the phone."
* Use smaller plates. You won't be tempted to fill up all the space of a big platter with extra food you don't need.
* Serve yourself what you would normally dish out, but then cut everything in half and save the rest for lunch the next day.
* "Kill the plate," or make whatever is left on the plate unavailable to nibble on, whether it's a napkin across the food, or, in an extreme move, pouring salt over the leftovers.
[ABC Note] Check out the book above, Mindless Eating, for reasons on why we eat like we do. It should clear our thoughts on food and change our eating habits.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill analyzed three government surveys taken over two decades and reviewed answers to the average portion size consumed for specific foods, such as snacks, desserts and soft drinks. They also looked at whether the eating was done at home or out.
"Between 1977 and 1996, food portion sizes increased both inside and outside the home for all categories except pizza," Samara Joy Nielsen and Barry M. Popkin write in the Journal of the American Medical Association. According to the study, Americans are eating per portion, on average:
* 93 more calories from salty snacks, such as potato chips, pretzels and popcorn.
* 49 more calories from soft drinks.
* 97 more calories from hamburgers.
* 68 more calories from French fries.
* 133 more calories from Mexican food, such as burritos, tacos, enchiladas.
"The most surprising result is the large portion-size increases for food consumed at home - a shift that indicates marked changes in eating behavior in general," the researchers reported.
Americans' waistlines are keeping up with the portion increase trend. Nearly 60 percent of the country is overweight, with the numbers growing, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Clearly the problem is that Americans are eating too much food," Popkin said. "The shifts in where we are eating, as well as the types of food and how much, are critical."
Food Portion Sizes - Distortion
Nutrition experts said the study confirmed what many thought: Americans aren't aware of how much they're eating.
"We're getting so used to eating out and used to (restaurants') portion sizes," said Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition services with Dietwatch.com. "We're getting a distorted view of what portion sizes are. We're not likely to make a distinction between restaurant sizes and real sizes when going home."
Food Portion Sizes - Effects of Supersizing
"An extra 10 calories per day translates to one pound gained per year," Drayer explained. "So you can see how all of these calorie increases combined can translate to weight gain over the long-term." The most important thing, according to Drayer, is to be able to eyeball portion sizes and know how much you are really eating. They key is to relate portion sizes to every day objects.
For example, the USDA food pyramid recommends an average American consume 5-7 servings of vegetables. But just what is a serving? Drayer says if you remember that a fruit serving looks like a tennis ball, you can get a better idea of what you're putting away at the table.
According to a 2002 American Dietetic Association survey, Americans tend to overestimate the recommended serving sizes for many foods. Fewer than half of the respondents accurately estimated the recommended serving sizes of pasta, meat or vegetables.
Food Portion Sizes - Supersizing Restaurant
Also, watch out for the "more is better" mentality, especially at fast food restaurants.
"We're often encouraged to buy larger-sized portions and 'value meals' because they provide a better value for our money," Drayer says. "But while these oversized portions may be good for our wallets, they are not necessarily good for our waistlines or our health."
Portion Control
What are other ways to avoid portion distortion? Here are some other tips to slim down portions at home, according to Drayer and the American Dietetic Association:* Beware of unconscious eating. "This is where we're not aware of how much food we're putting in our mouths," Drayer said. "We snack more, we're eating by ourselves, in front of the TV or talking on the phone."
* Use smaller plates. You won't be tempted to fill up all the space of a big platter with extra food you don't need.
* Serve yourself what you would normally dish out, but then cut everything in half and save the rest for lunch the next day.
* "Kill the plate," or make whatever is left on the plate unavailable to nibble on, whether it's a napkin across the food, or, in an extreme move, pouring salt over the leftovers.
[ABC Note] Check out the book above, Mindless Eating, for reasons on why we eat like we do. It should clear our thoughts on food and change our eating habits.
February 4, 2009
A Proper Food Power Tool
No, it's not needed and no, it doesn't really have a real working saw, but who wouldn't want the Pizza Pro 3000 Circular Saw? For those of you who have the regular boring pizza cutter in the kitchen...pick up your pizza's next best friend, and be sure to make a saw noise whenever you're cutting through the next Digiorno.Note: Don't attempt to use an actual circular saw for this. Blood is probably not the best topping on a pizza.
January 5, 2009
Hot Pockets now Causing Wrecks!
Available in Asia, Romania, and Europe already, you may soon be able to get your hands on an addition to your morning commute. This addition will help cut oodles of your time off your breakfast making and probably add more calories to your diet in the process.Feel like making a pie then eating the entire dessert? Sure. Just get it all together before cranking up the car then presto...four minutes later your pie is done and ready to be eaten, dropped on your clothes and smeared all over your car. Oh, and a pizza can be finished in as little as two minutes!
Sure it's rated at only 175 watts when hooked up to the cigarette lighter, but that's just for your light-weight mobile cooking. In the need to really nuke something? Just pull over and hook it up directly to your battery. You & your little new mobile friend be blessed with 660 watts to nuke anything to your hearts desire.
Now a Hot Pocket on the go has never been easier! It's yours for around $180.
Just please don't get in front of me when your about to take a bite or you will be rear-ended. Cell-phones are bad enough, now you can pack on more weight while sitting and commuting. and paying even less attention to the road. It might now stop there. Just wait for the 2-in-1 driver's seat/toilet for cars.
Bacon...Straight from the Source.
This kid's got it right that he likes bacon, just a little quick on the taste test.October 27, 2008
Sunlight Melting Hotdogs & Steel?
October 1, 2008
Stop Paying: 15 Free Services
With rising prices for services or for the need to save money, here are some helpful resources to cut back at monthly costs. Everyone needs to spend less, period.
-------------------------------------
Free Television
Cut that cable bill and use Hulu.com for your movie and television viewing pleasure. Hulu offers full episodes of your favorite current and classic TV shows, full-length movies and thousands of clips– all for free!
Free College Fund
Upromise offers a great way to beef up Junior’s college fund without costing you a penny. Upromise puts a percentage of the money you spend on every day purchases into a special 529 Plan. It’s completely free.
Here’s a tip for small business owners. Check out BillingBoss.com for an easy (and completely free) way to create, send and track invoices.
If you need software for word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, and presentations, check out OpenOffice.org. It’s a completely free download for anybody.
At Snapfish.com you won’t pay for prints– at least not right away. The first 50 are completely free when you register on the site. After that they're $.09 each.
Need to spruce up your garden? Order some free trees at FreeTreesandPlants.com . It’s a non-profit charity that utilizes the help of disabled employees to process orders.
Free Credit Report
Once a year you are allowed free access to your credit report. Check out AnnualCreditReport.com to check your credit and stop identity theft. Free Diet Help
Can’t afford a personal trainer or a dietician to help you stay healthy? Try visiting SparkPeople.com for free meal plans, fitness tracking and exercise demos. You can also download a free printable tape measure to measure your success.
Free DVD Rentals
Rather than subscribing to a movie rental service or visiting your neighborhood video store every Friday night, try visiting your local library. Their selection of DVD’s might surprise you, but it won’t come as a surprise that it’s completely free. After all, it is the library.
Free Music
Save money on your music fix by trying out free online streaming radio. Sites like Pandora.com and Free Napster let you decide exactly what you want to listen to. Hear the latest hits or your old favorites for free.
Free Lodging
Hotel stays can cost big bucks, but thanks to CouchSurfing.com you can find a couch to crash on in just about every city for free.
-------------------------------------
Free Television
Cut that cable bill and use Hulu.com for your movie and television viewing pleasure. Hulu offers full episodes of your favorite current and classic TV shows, full-length movies and thousands of clips– all for free!
Free College Fund
Upromise offers a great way to beef up Junior’s college fund without costing you a penny. Upromise puts a percentage of the money you spend on every day purchases into a special 529 Plan. It’s completely free.
Free Kids Meals
Want to go out to eat at a restaurant that doesn’t charge you for your little one’s meal? Simply plug in your zip code at KidsMealDeals.com and you’ll get a list of nearby eateries offering free food for youngsters.
Here’s a tip for small business owners. Check out BillingBoss.com for an easy (and completely free) way to create, send and track invoices.
Free Business Cards
Snag lots of free stuff at VistaPrint.com. We’re talking business cards, address labels, sticky notes and much more for free.
If you need software for word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, and presentations, check out OpenOffice.org. It’s a completely free download for anybody.
Free Directory Assistance
Need a number? Rather than tacking on more to your phone bill, try 1-800-Free-411. Get the digits you desire without spending a dime. You may have to listen to a short advertisement but, hey, it’s free.
At Snapfish.com you won’t pay for prints– at least not right away. The first 50 are completely free when you register on the site. After that they're $.09 each.
Free Recipes
Rather than pay for a cookbook, find free recipes on the Internet with sites like Epicurious.com and AllRecipes.com.
Need to spruce up your garden? Order some free trees at FreeTreesandPlants.com . It’s a non-profit charity that utilizes the help of disabled employees to process orders.
Free Credit Report
Once a year you are allowed free access to your credit report. Check out AnnualCreditReport.com to check your credit and stop identity theft. Free Diet Help
Can’t afford a personal trainer or a dietician to help you stay healthy? Try visiting SparkPeople.com for free meal plans, fitness tracking and exercise demos. You can also download a free printable tape measure to measure your success.
Free DVD Rentals
Rather than subscribing to a movie rental service or visiting your neighborhood video store every Friday night, try visiting your local library. Their selection of DVD’s might surprise you, but it won’t come as a surprise that it’s completely free. After all, it is the library.
Free Music
Save money on your music fix by trying out free online streaming radio. Sites like Pandora.com and Free Napster let you decide exactly what you want to listen to. Hear the latest hits or your old favorites for free.
Free Lodging
Hotel stays can cost big bucks, but thanks to CouchSurfing.com you can find a couch to crash on in just about every city for free.
September 4, 2008
Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburgers
Yes, America has done it once again. This nasty entree was served for lunch at Google NYC’s cafeteria to celebrate the birthday of the head of the cafe staff. Yuck! Who's up for one?September 3, 2008
Why Soft Drinks Contribute to Obesity - Pt2
Sugars in solid versus liquid form - does it matter?
To answer this question, 15 men and women were recruited for a short cross-over trial designed to compare the effects of equicaloric liquid and solid carbohydrate sweeteners on food intake. All participants were in their twenties and in the healthy weight range.
The trial consisted of two four-week interventions, separated by a four-week washout period and cross-over. Once a week during the two trial phases the participants presented themselves to the investigators to be weighed and supplied with weekly rations of their daily 450 kcal sweeteners. The solid load consisted of sucrose-sweetened jelly beans, and the liquid load of HFCS-sweetened soda.The
participants were free to decide when to take their daily loads, and when and what to eat. Calorie intake was estimated from self-assessments of food consumption.
Analysis of the food questionnaires indicated that during their solid phase the subjects fully compensated for the energy content of their preload; the total calorie intake from food plus test sweetener was equal to the pre-trial food energy intake. This was not the case, however, during their liquid trial phase, where food intake remained unchanged, i.e. the sweetened drink added to the total calories.
While conclusions based on self-reporting of food eaten are always questionable, these were within-subject comparisons, i.e. the same bias was likely present in their estimate of food intake after liquid and after solid preloading. Furthermore, the estimated energy intakes were consistent with measured changes in body weight. The participants experienced significant weight gains during the liquid trial phase, but not during the solid trial phase, consistent with an excess energy intake in the liquid phase.
It appears therefore that caloric sweeteners contribute to weight gain if consumed in drinks, but not in solid food.
Fructose and glucose affect appetite and food intake differently
Two hormones, insulin and leptin, act as satiety signals in the brain and thus are critical to energy homeostasis. Both insulin and leptin circulate in the blood at levels proportional to body fat content, and enter the central nervous system in proportion to their plasma levels. Low hormone levels increase appetite, and high levels act to reduce energy intake.
Insulin levels rise in response to blood glucose. Insulin-mediated entry of glucose into adipocytes (fat cells) in turn causes the release of leptin. In other words, both insulin and leptin levels react to glucose concentrations. Fructose, on the other hand, does not trigger insulin release. This in turn means that fructose doesn′t affect leptin levels either. Since it increases neither insulin nor leptin levels, fructose consumption does not generate the same satiety signals as glucose. The result is overeating and weight gain.
Summary
To summarize, the rise in obesity rates with increasing HFCS consumption was no coincidence. The increased popularity of soft drinks and HFCS-sweetened convenience foods led to a rapid increase in fructose consumption. It was this excessive fructose intake that fuelled the rapid weight gain, since fructose does not generate the same satiety signals as glucose. It is likely that sweetened drinks are worse than sweet solid foods, and that sucrose has the same effect as high fructose corn syrup.
Most studies of the effects of calorically sweetened liquids on appetite and weight gain looked at soft drinks. However, fruit juices and drinks also contain added sweeteners, typically HFCS, i.e. they pose the same obesity risk. Switching to noncalorically sweetened soft drinks isn′t the answer either, since artificial sweeteners like aspartame come with problems of their own.
Of course fruit also contains fructose ("fruit sugar"), but this obviously doesn′t mean that one should stop eating fruit. It doesn′t contain nearly as much fructose as sweetened drinks and it is a valuable source of phytonutrients and fiber, whereas soft drinks provide little more than empty calories.
Clearly, one of the best things we can do for our health is to stop drinking soft drinks. -- from naturalnews.com
To answer this question, 15 men and women were recruited for a short cross-over trial designed to compare the effects of equicaloric liquid and solid carbohydrate sweeteners on food intake. All participants were in their twenties and in the healthy weight range.
The trial consisted of two four-week interventions, separated by a four-week washout period and cross-over. Once a week during the two trial phases the participants presented themselves to the investigators to be weighed and supplied with weekly rations of their daily 450 kcal sweeteners. The solid load consisted of sucrose-sweetened jelly beans, and the liquid load of HFCS-sweetened soda.The
participants were free to decide when to take their daily loads, and when and what to eat. Calorie intake was estimated from self-assessments of food consumption.
Analysis of the food questionnaires indicated that during their solid phase the subjects fully compensated for the energy content of their preload; the total calorie intake from food plus test sweetener was equal to the pre-trial food energy intake. This was not the case, however, during their liquid trial phase, where food intake remained unchanged, i.e. the sweetened drink added to the total calories.
While conclusions based on self-reporting of food eaten are always questionable, these were within-subject comparisons, i.e. the same bias was likely present in their estimate of food intake after liquid and after solid preloading. Furthermore, the estimated energy intakes were consistent with measured changes in body weight. The participants experienced significant weight gains during the liquid trial phase, but not during the solid trial phase, consistent with an excess energy intake in the liquid phase.
It appears therefore that caloric sweeteners contribute to weight gain if consumed in drinks, but not in solid food.
Fructose and glucose affect appetite and food intake differently
Two hormones, insulin and leptin, act as satiety signals in the brain and thus are critical to energy homeostasis. Both insulin and leptin circulate in the blood at levels proportional to body fat content, and enter the central nervous system in proportion to their plasma levels. Low hormone levels increase appetite, and high levels act to reduce energy intake.
Insulin levels rise in response to blood glucose. Insulin-mediated entry of glucose into adipocytes (fat cells) in turn causes the release of leptin. In other words, both insulin and leptin levels react to glucose concentrations. Fructose, on the other hand, does not trigger insulin release. This in turn means that fructose doesn′t affect leptin levels either. Since it increases neither insulin nor leptin levels, fructose consumption does not generate the same satiety signals as glucose. The result is overeating and weight gain.
Summary
To summarize, the rise in obesity rates with increasing HFCS consumption was no coincidence. The increased popularity of soft drinks and HFCS-sweetened convenience foods led to a rapid increase in fructose consumption. It was this excessive fructose intake that fuelled the rapid weight gain, since fructose does not generate the same satiety signals as glucose. It is likely that sweetened drinks are worse than sweet solid foods, and that sucrose has the same effect as high fructose corn syrup.
Most studies of the effects of calorically sweetened liquids on appetite and weight gain looked at soft drinks. However, fruit juices and drinks also contain added sweeteners, typically HFCS, i.e. they pose the same obesity risk. Switching to noncalorically sweetened soft drinks isn′t the answer either, since artificial sweeteners like aspartame come with problems of their own.
Of course fruit also contains fructose ("fruit sugar"), but this obviously doesn′t mean that one should stop eating fruit. It doesn′t contain nearly as much fructose as sweetened drinks and it is a valuable source of phytonutrients and fiber, whereas soft drinks provide little more than empty calories.
Clearly, one of the best things we can do for our health is to stop drinking soft drinks. -- from naturalnews.com
Why Soft Drinks Contribute to Obesity - Pt1
The introduction of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the seventies coincided with a marked rise in obesity in the U.S., leading to speculations that there might be a causal connection between HFCS consumption and weight gain. This seemed all the more plausible since HFCS consumption grew much faster than any other food intake.
On the other hand, obesity rates also increased in Europe and other parts of the world where sucrose (table sugar) remained the major caloric sweetener. This seemed to argue against a connection between HFCS and weight gain, particularly since the fructose/glucose ratios of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose are quite similar.
What sucrose and high fructose corn syrup have in common, and what distinguishes them from dietary carbohydrates such as starch, is their fructose content. Fructose contributes the same amount of energy as glucose, but it doesn′t trigger the same satiety signals. The sharp rise in the consumption of soft drinks and processed foods sweetened with HFCS and sucrose led to a dramatic increase in fructose intake, a source of energy that goes essentially unnoticed.
What is high fructose corn syrup?
High fructose corn syrup is made from corn starch, a glucose polymer. First, enzymatic starch breakdown yields corn syrup which is essentially free glucose. The glucose is then further converted to fructose. After various purification steps, a mixture of 90% fructose and 10% glucose (HFCS-90) is obtained. HFCS-90 is mixed with appropriate amounts of corn syrup to make either HFCS-55 or HFCS-42, mixtures with 55% and 42% fructose, respectively. HFCS-55 is mainly used for soft drinks, whereas HFCS-42 is primarily used to sweeten baked goods.
Not only are sucrose and high fructose corn syrup similar in their fructose/glucose ratios, but soft drinks are acidic enough to hydrolyze sucrose. An analysis of sucrose-sweetened soft drinks showed that ten days after manufacture only 50% of the sucrose was still intact. After three months 90% of the sucrose was hydrolyzed, i.e. even sucrose-sweetened soft drinks contain mostly free fructose and glucose.
HFCS has largely replaced sucrose in commercial foods in North America. It is cheaper than sucrose, partly because of import tariffs on sucrose and agricultural subsidies to corn producers.
HFCS versus sucrose in drinks - is there a difference?
37 men and women in their twenties and in the healthy weight range were recruited to compare the effects of soft drinks sweetened with sucrose and HFCS on subsequent food intake At mid-morning the participants were given one of six preloads: 215 kcal from sodas sweetened with sucrose, HFCS-42, or HFCS-55, 215 kcal from 1% milk, 4 kcal from aspartame-sweetened diet soda, or no drink at all. Later all subjects were given the same lunch and they were free to eat as much as they wanted. Leftover food was weighed, giving the investigators an accurate measure of energy intake. Averaged over six lunches, the following total calorie intakes (in kcal) from preload plus lunch were found: HFCS-42 1193, HFCS-55 1182, sucrose 1170, 1% milk 1129, aspartame 1011, and no drink 1008.
Clearly, there was no significant difference between the sodas sweetened with sucrose and those with HFCS. In addition, the subjects drinking caloric preloads clearly took in more total calories than those drinking the low-cal soda or nothing at all. In other words, those who had caloric drinks before lunch did not reduce their food intake sufficiently to compensate for the preload. -- from naturalnews.com
On the other hand, obesity rates also increased in Europe and other parts of the world where sucrose (table sugar) remained the major caloric sweetener. This seemed to argue against a connection between HFCS and weight gain, particularly since the fructose/glucose ratios of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose are quite similar.
What sucrose and high fructose corn syrup have in common, and what distinguishes them from dietary carbohydrates such as starch, is their fructose content. Fructose contributes the same amount of energy as glucose, but it doesn′t trigger the same satiety signals. The sharp rise in the consumption of soft drinks and processed foods sweetened with HFCS and sucrose led to a dramatic increase in fructose intake, a source of energy that goes essentially unnoticed.
What is high fructose corn syrup?
High fructose corn syrup is made from corn starch, a glucose polymer. First, enzymatic starch breakdown yields corn syrup which is essentially free glucose. The glucose is then further converted to fructose. After various purification steps, a mixture of 90% fructose and 10% glucose (HFCS-90) is obtained. HFCS-90 is mixed with appropriate amounts of corn syrup to make either HFCS-55 or HFCS-42, mixtures with 55% and 42% fructose, respectively. HFCS-55 is mainly used for soft drinks, whereas HFCS-42 is primarily used to sweeten baked goods.
Not only are sucrose and high fructose corn syrup similar in their fructose/glucose ratios, but soft drinks are acidic enough to hydrolyze sucrose. An analysis of sucrose-sweetened soft drinks showed that ten days after manufacture only 50% of the sucrose was still intact. After three months 90% of the sucrose was hydrolyzed, i.e. even sucrose-sweetened soft drinks contain mostly free fructose and glucose.
HFCS has largely replaced sucrose in commercial foods in North America. It is cheaper than sucrose, partly because of import tariffs on sucrose and agricultural subsidies to corn producers.
HFCS versus sucrose in drinks - is there a difference?
37 men and women in their twenties and in the healthy weight range were recruited to compare the effects of soft drinks sweetened with sucrose and HFCS on subsequent food intake At mid-morning the participants were given one of six preloads: 215 kcal from sodas sweetened with sucrose, HFCS-42, or HFCS-55, 215 kcal from 1% milk, 4 kcal from aspartame-sweetened diet soda, or no drink at all. Later all subjects were given the same lunch and they were free to eat as much as they wanted. Leftover food was weighed, giving the investigators an accurate measure of energy intake. Averaged over six lunches, the following total calorie intakes (in kcal) from preload plus lunch were found: HFCS-42 1193, HFCS-55 1182, sucrose 1170, 1% milk 1129, aspartame 1011, and no drink 1008.
Clearly, there was no significant difference between the sodas sweetened with sucrose and those with HFCS. In addition, the subjects drinking caloric preloads clearly took in more total calories than those drinking the low-cal soda or nothing at all. In other words, those who had caloric drinks before lunch did not reduce their food intake sufficiently to compensate for the preload. -- from naturalnews.com
August 4, 2008
Man Calls 911 Over Incorrect Sandwich
This man below in the story...just idiotic:
Jacksonville, FL -- An unhappy Subway customer called 911 not once, but twice to complain to police that his sandwich was not made to his liking. Reginald Peterson called the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office in hopes that police could have his sandwich made to his satisfaction.
Jacksonville, FL -- An unhappy Subway customer called 911 not once, but twice to complain to police that his sandwich was not made to his liking. Reginald Peterson called the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office in hopes that police could have his sandwich made to his satisfaction. A short time later, Peterson contacted JSO again to complain that police still had not shown up.
When police did arrive Peterson told the officer he had ordered two sandwiches, checked out, and then walked outside to find the subs did not have "everything" he ordered. He told police he became "very upset" and "belligerent" because the employee making the sandwich was not doing it correctly.
Witnesses inside the store say Peterson eventually started screaming at everyone inside. When Peterson went outside to call police. Employees closed the store and locked the door to keep him from returning. According to the report, the officer tried to calm Peterson and explain to him the proper way to use 911, but he would not cooperate.
Peterson was arrested and at his request the sandwiches were thrown away.
June 6, 2008
National Doughnut Day
Being the fattest country in the world carries its retarded holidays. Enjoy this one, brought to us by Krispy Kreme.Even better, save your gas, walk or run to your local KK and pass on the doughnut altogether to combat this top honor of being the world's "biggest" country.
May 14, 2008
Portion Size 20 Years vs Today
Over the past few decades, portion sizes of everything from muffins to sandwiches have grown considerably. Unfortunately, America’s waistbands have reacted accordingly. In the 1970s, around 47 percent of Americans were overweight or obese; now 66 percent of us are. In addition, the number of just obese people has doubled, from 15 percent of our population to 30 percent.
While increased sizes haven’t been the sole contributor to our obesity epidemic, large quantities of cheap food have distorted our perceptions of what a typical meal is supposed to look like. These portion comparisons, adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Portion Distortion Quiz, give a visual representation of what sizes used to be compared to what they are today.
Those extra 350 calories, if eaten a two times a month, would put on two extra pounds a year, or forty pounds in the next two decades.
When our parents ordered a coffee two decades ago, they weren’t given as many size options—a standard cup of joe was eight ounces, the size of a small coffee cup. Nowadays, most of us feel like we don’t get our money’s worth unless the cup is at least twelve ounces; it’s not unusual to see thirty-two ounce coffee cups, four times the size they used to be. When made into a mocha, the morning coffee has as many calories as a full meal.
While the 12-ounce can used to be the most common soda option, many stores now carry only the 20-ounce plastic bottle, which contains 2.5 servings of soda. When presented with these larger sizes, humans have a hard time regulating our intake or figuring out what a serving size is supposed to be. A 2004 study, published in Appetite, gave people potato chips packaged in bags that looked the same, but increased in size. As package size increased, so did consumption; subjects ate up to 37 percent more with the bigger bags. Furthermore, when they ate dinner later that day, they did not reduce their food consumption to compensate for increased snack calories—a recipe for weight gain.
It’s not just food portions that have increased; plate, bowl, and cup sizes have as well. In the early 1990s, the standard size of a dinner plate increased from 10 to 12 inches; cup and bowl sizes also increased. Larger eating containers can influence how much people eat. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that when people were given larger bowls and spoons they served themselves larger portions of ice cream and tended to eat the whole portion.
What is normal?
Increased portion sizes give us more calories, encourage us to eat more, distort perceptions of appropriate food quantities, and along with sedentary lifestyles, have contributed to our national bulge. Unless you’re trying to gain weight, it might help to reacquaint yourself with serving sizes. The NHLBI tells us that a serving of meat should be the size of a deck of cards while one pancake should be the size of a CD. It’s unlikely that we’ll see a scaling down of food to these sizes anytime soon, so perhaps we should all become familiar with another image: the doggy bag.
Portion Distortion Quiz ONE & TWO...take them!
...article from DivineCaroline.com
While increased sizes haven’t been the sole contributor to our obesity epidemic, large quantities of cheap food have distorted our perceptions of what a typical meal is supposed to look like. These portion comparisons, adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Portion Distortion Quiz, give a visual representation of what sizes used to be compared to what they are today.
 20 years ago: 500 cal |  Today: 850 cal |
Those extra 350 calories, if eaten a two times a month, would put on two extra pounds a year, or forty pounds in the next two decades.
 20 years ago: Coffee with milk & sugar 8 ounces, 45 cal |  Today: Grande café mocha, whip, 2% milk 16 ounces, 330 cal |
When our parents ordered a coffee two decades ago, they weren’t given as many size options—a standard cup of joe was eight ounces, the size of a small coffee cup. Nowadays, most of us feel like we don’t get our money’s worth unless the cup is at least twelve ounces; it’s not unusual to see thirty-two ounce coffee cups, four times the size they used to be. When made into a mocha, the morning coffee has as many calories as a full meal.
 20 Years Ago: 5 cups, 270 cal |  Today: Tub, 630 cal |
 20 Years Ago: 3" diameter, 140 cal |  Today: 5-6" diameter, 350 cal |
 20 Years Ago: 333 cal |  Today: 590 cal |
 Original: 8oz bottle, 97 cal |  12oz can, 145 cal |  Today: 20oz bottle, 242 cal |
While the 12-ounce can used to be the most common soda option, many stores now carry only the 20-ounce plastic bottle, which contains 2.5 servings of soda. When presented with these larger sizes, humans have a hard time regulating our intake or figuring out what a serving size is supposed to be. A 2004 study, published in Appetite, gave people potato chips packaged in bags that looked the same, but increased in size. As package size increased, so did consumption; subjects ate up to 37 percent more with the bigger bags. Furthermore, when they ate dinner later that day, they did not reduce their food consumption to compensate for increased snack calories—a recipe for weight gain.
It’s not just food portions that have increased; plate, bowl, and cup sizes have as well. In the early 1990s, the standard size of a dinner plate increased from 10 to 12 inches; cup and bowl sizes also increased. Larger eating containers can influence how much people eat. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that when people were given larger bowls and spoons they served themselves larger portions of ice cream and tended to eat the whole portion.
| 32oz, 388 cal, 99¢ | 44oz, 533 cal, $1.09 | 64oz, 776 cal, $1.19 |
What is normal?
Increased portion sizes give us more calories, encourage us to eat more, distort perceptions of appropriate food quantities, and along with sedentary lifestyles, have contributed to our national bulge. Unless you’re trying to gain weight, it might help to reacquaint yourself with serving sizes. The NHLBI tells us that a serving of meat should be the size of a deck of cards while one pancake should be the size of a CD. It’s unlikely that we’ll see a scaling down of food to these sizes anytime soon, so perhaps we should all become familiar with another image: the doggy bag.
Portion Distortion Quiz ONE & TWO...take them!
...article from DivineCaroline.com
April 9, 2008
Automated Restaurant...no more tipping!
Here is BBC News reporting on the German invention that will take all those waiters & waitresses out of the picture when it comes to having a meal in this restaurant. Yes, the food is still prepared by an actual human, but do you trust a robot to take on that task yet?
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