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The Extraordinary Science of Junk Food
bostonwolf
Posts: 3,038 Member
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=1&hpw
Great article about how food companies tweak their foods to make them more addictive and crave-inducing.
Great article about how food companies tweak their foods to make them more addictive and crave-inducing.
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Replies
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didnt read the article but sure why not they need to pay their bills too0
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Yes, but doing so at the expense of the health of their clients is the issue, IMO. And they know that this is exactly the tradeoff they are making.
Read the article, it's worth the time.0 -
Bump0
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Yeah, but look at big tobacco, totally the same story with them as well. In it to make a buck. Is it right? No, but it's there.
On another note, I think it was Coca-Cola that actually posted something about them being aware that drinking soda can make you fat...kind of made a big splash about it. I'll look for the YouTube video and post it.0 -
Yeah, what's wrong with helping to send people to early graves with obesity if it pays the bills? :noway: Next you'll be dissing crack dealers. Those guys have to make ends meet to you know. Don't judge!
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Great article, thanks for sharing! Reaffirms my decision to try not to eat this kind of crap anymore. :sick:0
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A New York Times article on why food companies are evil? I'm shocked! Of course, any excuse someone wants to use for lacking self control is fine with me. It's their life.0
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Srsly?didnt read the article but sure why not they need to pay their bills too0 -
found it!
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50139028n CBS article
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHhCP5ad-zM the actual ad 0 -
A New York Times article on why food companies are evil? I'm shocked! Of course, any excuse someone wants to use for lacking self control is fine with me. It's their life.
Food conglomerates are purposely addicting people to substances that will destroy their health. Why should we blame their victims? Shouldn't we blame drug peddlers who set out to addict children to street drugs? The food processors are taking advantage of the ignorance of people who eat their crap. That is why we need to help people to understand the deadly nature of junk food.0 -
Food conglomerates are purposely addicting people to substances that will destroy their health. Why should we blame their victims? Shouldn't we blame drug peddlers who set out to addict children to street drugs? The food processors are taking advantage of the ignorance of people who eat their crap. That is why we need to help people to understand the deadly nature of junk food.
Sure. Keep playing victim and encouraging others to do the same. Those of us leading healthy lives will continue to look on in utter amazement at the self delusion.0 -
We can only be victims if we accept it. I for one isn't going to blame junk food for being fat. I did this to my self and I am taking action to rectify it.
Food conglomerates are purposely addicting people to substances that will destroy their health. Why should we blame their victims? Shouldn't we blame drug peddlers who set out to addict children to street drugs? The food processors are taking advantage of the ignorance of people who eat their crap. That is why we need to help people to understand the deadly nature of junk food.0 -
Srsly?
Jeesh I was being silly. Of course it's not a good thing but addiction is how they maintain a hold on the consumer. MSG has no flavor but it is a very common additive because it tells the brain that this is yummy. It's not surprising to me they are in the business to make money.0 -
whew
Jeesh I was being silly. Of course it's not a good thing but addiction is how they maintain a hold on the consumer. MSG has no flavor but it is a very common additive because it tells the brain that this is yummy. It's not surprising to me they are in the business to make money.0 -
Sure. Keep playing victim and encouraging others to do the same. Those of us leading healthy lives will continue to look on in utter amazement at the self delusion.
The fact that said food companies aren't literally putting a gun to my head to eat their products doesn't negate the ethical concerns. It's more complex than blaming either the companies or the consumers.0 -
That was fascinating! Thanks for sharing that article.
It really makes me want to try as hard as I can to give up my prepackaged type foods. And by low sodium of as many things as I can.0 -
Yeah, but look at big tobacco, totally the same story with them as well. In it to make a buck. Is it right? No, but it's there.
On another note, I think it was Coca-Cola that actually posted something about them being aware that drinking soda can make you fat...kind of made a big splash about it. I'll look for the YouTube video and post it.
Except that big tobacco was forced to publicly admit that their product was killing people. And note that in the article a Coca-Cola executive is quoted about how difficult it is to attract new customers, so getting current ones to consume more is the thrust of their advertising.0 -
Sure. Keep playing victim and encouraging others to do the same. Those of us leading healthy lives will continue to look on in utter amazement at the self delusion.
Perhaps you should read the article before dissing the source. Just an idea.0 -
It's always anybodies fault but your own. Stupid Leftist ideology has taken over everywhere in our society. It's called personal responsibility ... get some.0
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The fact that said food companies aren't literally putting a gun to my head to eat their products doesn't negate the ethical concerns. It's more complex than blaming either the companies or the consumers.
Are you saying that perhaps you would like to see people better educated about these products so they can make better/healthier decisions?! :noway: Stop playing victim! :explode: I hope you enjoy getting laughed at by those superior beings who are amazed that others want to share information about unhealthy choices. 0 -
That was fascinating! Thanks for sharing that article.
It really makes me want to try as hard as I can to give up my prepackaged type foods. And by low sodium of as many things as I can.
Then you are buying the marketing. If they lower sodium, they are increasing fat and sugar. If they lower fat, they are increasing salt and sugar.
Eat food as close to the way nature created it as possible. I'm not saying don't ever splurge, but their are a lot of people who eat processed food almost exclusively.0 -
Sure. Keep playing victim and encouraging others to do the same. Those of us leading healthy lives will continue to look on in utter amazement at the self delusion.
I no longer have a problem and I have lost 51 pounds. But that doesn't stop me from being sympathetic to others caught in the junk food trap.0 -
I read this article and was a little startled. Perhaps I should have known food companies were aggressively creating very unhealthy products but I was surprised at the aggressive push to create very unhealthy junky foods for children.
The article made me very sad but I am glad I read it. As a mom, I need to continue to be vigilant of the foods my children get.0 -
Sure. Keep playing victim and encouraging others to do the same. Those of us leading healthy lives will continue to look on in utter amazement at the self delusion.
I think that companies should be forced to be more transparent about the consequences of eating their products, but I also think the term addictive is bandied around too much.
Addiction comes from doing something that changes you neurologically and/or physically that you then desire to happen again so you repeat the pattern of behaviour. By this definition exercise is also addictive as it releases endorphins and will physically change your body.
Nearly all food is addictive not just food that is bad for you. The term needs to be used more carefully and less as an excuse for people taking responsibility for their actions.0 -
Are you saying that perhaps you would like to see people better educated about these products so they can make better/healthier decisions?! :noway: Stop playing victim! :explode: I hope you enjoy getting laughed at by those superior beings who are amazed that others want to share information about unhealthy choices.
LMAO seriously! :laugh:0 -
Then you are buying the marketing. If they lower sodium, they are increasing fat and sugar. If they lower fat, they are increasing salt and sugar.
Eat food as close to the way nature created it as possible. I'm not saying don't ever splurge, but their are a lot of people who eat processed food almost exclusively.
And you somehow believe that the term 'whole food' is not a marketing gimmick? I'm not saying the advice is bad, but people who sell 'whole foods' are really the same people who sell the junk food, they just have a different audience and marketing strategies.0 -
We can only be victims if we accept it. I for one isn't going to blame junk food for being fat. I did this to my self and I am taking action to rectify it.
I grew up being addicted to sugar and wheat. Does everyone get addicted? No--no more than others get addicted to street drugs or alcohol. But enough do that we need to take a close hard look at how we can educate children to avoid the addictive traps (and there are MANY). I am no longer addicted and I have been able to lose 51 pounds more or less effortlessly, once I learned the truth about sugar and its role in the promotion of food addiction. Here is an article that some of you may find interesting about the role of sugar (and specifically the fructose portion of it--sucrose is 50% fructose) that is instrumental in food addiction: http://www.foodaddictionsummit.org/docs/johnson-359fructoseindex.pdf
p.s. By the way, this paper was among a number of other papers given at the Food Addiction Summit that pointed to sugar and simple carbs as a major part of the food addiction picture.0 -
What about websites and games that design them so people want to keep coming back to them, wasting time that could be spent more productively.
Or, of course publications which put the appropriate 'spin' on graphics and media to keep people coming back?0 -
I grew up being addicted to sugar and wheat. Does everyone get addicted? No--no more than others get addicted to street drugs or alcohol. But enough do that we need to take a close hard look at how we can educate children to avoid the addictive traps (and there are MANY). I am no longer addicted and I have been able to lose 51 pounds more or less effortlessly, once I learned the truth about sugar and its role in the promotion of food addiction. Here is an article that some of you may find interesting about the role of sugar (and specifically the fructose portion of it--sucrose is 50% fructose) that is instrumental in food addiction: http://www.foodaddictionsummit.org/docs/johnson-359fructoseindex.pdf
I see fewer alcoholics raging against alcohol than I see supposed "sugar addicts" railing again sugar and "junk food." It's an excuse pure and simple. Either one takes responsibility for his/her own life or not. Blaming others is a symptom of a lack of self control.0 -
I see fewer alcoholics raging against alcohol than I see supposed "sugar addicts" railing again sugar and "junk food." It's an excuse pure and simple. Either one takes responsibility for his/her own life or not. Blaming others is a symptom of a lack of self control.
It is much easier to avoid alcohol than it is to avoid junk food. Everyone must eat to live---no one needs to drink alcohol to live. You missed my point. I am not longer addicted to sugar and wheat because I simply don't eat them--just like an alcoholic understands that he can't "drink in moderation". I am free of all inclination to eat them. And I have NO problem staying within my calorie allotment. It is a simple matter of avoiding sugar and wheat for me.0
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