This blog is a summary on the reading of The end of over eating by David. A Kessler, MD. Kessler explores why some people crave and become dependent on certain foods. Though his research of other scientists observations, he show us how the human body demands certain taste once they have been introduced to us.
The reading gives us scientific explanations to why some people over eat. It explains how palatable foods stimulate the brain to release opioids. Palatable foods are foods that please our senses. These foods usually contain a mixture of fat, salt and sugar. They stimulate the appetite and prompt us to eat more. Opioids are chemicals produced in the brain that release pleasurable feelings throughout the body. The effects of the opioids are similar to the effects of drugs like heroin and morphine. These drugs are known to have additive properties. “Eating high in sugar, fat and salt makes us eat more foods high in sugar, fat and salt” (Kessler pg 14). If a person consumes food high in the above ingredients they’ll want to devour more of them. This stimulation or anticipation of it causes us to seek out more foods like this.
Human’s dependency or addition to palatable foods maybe a reason why companies such as Mc Donald’s are so profitable. Most of the foods sold at Mc Donald’s are palatable, high in sugar, fat and salt. Mc Donald’s French fries have a distinctive taste which is addictive to some people. “ Mc Donald’s cooked its French fries in a mixture of about 7 percent cotton seed oil and 93 percent beef tallow”( Schlosser pg 120). This means the French fries great taste comes from a high concentration of fat. This maybe the reason why Mc Donald’s makes so much money their customers are becoming hooked to the taste of their palatable foods. It is this addiction that may ultimately jeopardizes the person’s health. They risk developing diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and the possibility of becoming obesity. For the individuals who are prone to palatable foods, they will also be faithful customers to pharmaceutical companies as their health declines.
hey camille, ur writing about was nearly perfect but there is a slight problem u didnt mention the side effects of over eating in ur thesis statement. ur citation and qoutations were good but can u explain more about the sources for example 'schlosser'. this blog was very interesting because before this i never knew why we eat so much but from now on i have to watch my diet n not to visit places like mcdonalds too often.
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ReplyDeleteI liked that you got entirely straight to the point with thedirection this blog is supposed to headed in, it was effective and informative. One thing you should keep note of is thatwhen you state the title of a book of reference you should quote and capitalizethe beginning of the title lettering. I think that you should lengthen your introduction and make it so that itincludes a clearer idea of what your main idea is. An important concept I liked was yourexplanation of the opioids and its connection to the cravings we have for fats,sugars, and salts, although you should probably have made a deeper connectionwithin the similarities of these addictive ingredients in comparison to drugslike heroin and morphine. You could alsodevelop a stronger idea, bringing up this whole idea of “danger” and “fear” ofwhy these things can be so damaging to our abilities to separate our wants andneeds from one another. Again, you argue “If a person consumes food high in theabove ingredients they’ll want to devour more of them. This stimulation oranticipation of it causes us to seek out more foods like this.” State your position on this argument you usea good quote for supporting that idea but mention how it effects lives andbodies, even the corporations. Is this good? Bad? I like the keywords “palatablefoods” but assume the reader does not know what palatable foods are or whatthat means, take that cue to show your knowledgeable side of the argument.Define palatable foods and use a situation to compare it to so that the readercan relate. Towards the end you bring upa very interesting point involving this idea “For the individuals who are proneto palatable foods, they will also be faithful customers to pharmaceuticalcompanies as their health declines.” Great opportunity to turn attention to theconnection between food corporations who promote bad health and the healthcorporations who depend upon the fast food corporations to benefit. Hmm…interestingfacts come up with further research. Youhave cited the material correctly just work on transitioning from eachparagraph so that it flows more and has a more sophisticated accent. Very great start though Camille. -- From Kadeshia
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