Everywhere you look, obesity is there. I am not advocating to be a food policeman, but we need to start making a voice in our land. People do not like being overweight. But certain foods are addictive and the public needs to be educated on proper unbiased nutrition. Meat and dairy products and foods that are fried are absolutely in no way beneficial to the human body. The human physiological system is completely adaptable to a total vegetarian diet. But with the refined sugars and fatty foods that poison our body and cloud our minds, addiction sets in deep and becomes 'nearly' impossible to break the bonds.
I am challenging every nurse to take up the baton on this one. If we, health care professionals cannot make the first stand on the nutrition value of America, then the general population have little to no hope.
Yes, but soy substitutes are not any better. Loaded with pseudoestrogens. Asians don't use soy like people pushing soy products would have you believe.
Some cultures don't feel the need to substitute anything for mothers milk when weaned.
I don't drink milk and don't feel the need to drink soy milk as a substitute. I just don't drink milk. (I do eat yogurt and kiefer for the probiodics, so I'm not totally anti-dairy, and I eat cheese, especially when I eat out. So I'm not an anti-dairy pro-soy guru. I don't give into either extreme).
The Japanese eat a good amount of soy compared to Americans. They don't even have a word for "hot flashes", most don't know anyone with prostate cancer. Many of their low rates of diseases such as breast and prostate cancer can be traced to their consumption of soy, and low saturated fats.
People with a pre-existing thyroid problem could have it exacerbated if they eat soy.
Much debate is out there about soy and their "pseudoestrogens", including many myths and falsehoods. No need to get into them here.
Well, get a load of this, tgibson: I'm 5'2", 215 pounds and my diet is almost exclusively vegetarian. Yea, I know cokes and white bread aren't part of a balanced diet but I think there are also things a person who believes they have all the answers about diet and health can realize.
For example, why, in spite of my obesity, my vital signs are consistently WNL? My BP rarely is over 120/70. This is probably due in part to my kidneys being nonrenin reactive. I also don't have fallen arches, my hair is very thick and shiny, and I have good skin.
Being thin (and vegetarian) doesn't guarantee good health. Most people I know with major health problems are not overweight. And as a matter of fact I do know of some very overweight elderly who have only minor health conditions that are controlled with mild meds.
First, please note the original poster is no longer a member, so no need to address him.
You're correct, skinny people don't have the market on health. I work with a bone thin underweight female that eats a couple of chicken fingers and mashed potatoes at lunch, drinks Pepsi and that's it for the day. No vegetables, no water, not enough calories.
I've know vegans who are thin and eat a few Luna bars, some pasta, potatoes, and maybe a veggie burger or two. Very unhealthy. I'd rather them eat meat.
We all know healthy obese people. And we all know at least one person who lived to be 95 smoking, drinking and eating whater it is they choose and stayed in perfect health. Most people I know who are middle aged and older and are obese do have health problems.
I'm not willing to gamble and am going to strive to maintain a health weight and avoid obesity, stay smoke free, and eat my fruits and vegetables as part of a vegetarian diet that includes moderate amounts of soy products as well as dairy and eggs. It's what works for me.
There is no "one size fits all" prescription for health. We have to find what keeps us disease free and feeling good and go with that, regardless of what people say.
There is room for me to grow, as I'm struggling with pre-hypertenion of unknown origin and am having to make ever more lifestyle changes to see if this helps before going on medication. So I'm right up there with the rest of the human race. :)
Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
I guess Americans like milk products because somewhere along the way we discovered it tastes good, and we can get to it. My cat certainly doesn't say, "no thanks" when offered warm whole milk. But, he won't touch soy milk or fat free milk. And my dog loves fresh yogurt. (Of course my dog also likes fresh cat turd) Oh well.
OK, let me revise my earlier statement. If you look at UNDOMESTICATED wild animals, they do not consume the milk of another species. Wild cats would never drink another's milk, and the adults do not also feed off a lactating mother. It's just not normal.
When you introduce humans into the picture, it does get all messed up.
OK, let me revise my earlier statement. If you look at UNDOMESTICATED wild animals, they do not consume the milk of another species. Wild cats would never drink another's milk, and the adults do not also feed off a lactating mother. It's just not normal.
When you introduce humans into the picture, it does get all messed up.
You can't really define "normal" in the human species by what is normal in other species. Some undomesticated animals have been known to eat humans, not to mention there own species. While it is true some humans munch other humans, it is generally not considered normal.
But, what do I know, I have certainly never been accused of being "normal."
Actually, I once had a nursing mommy dog that nursed her puppies, and a kitten I had decided to join in. Mommy dog nursed the kitten along with her puppies - was so cute. But no one told kitty (who was about 4 months old, btw) to nurse on doggy - it was her idea. Dangdest thang I ever saw, too! LOL
Actually, I once had a nursing mommy dog that nursed her puppies, and a kitten I had decided to join in. Mommy dog nursed the kitten along with her puppies - was so cute. But no one told kitty (who was about 4 months old, btw) to nurse on doggy - it was her idea. Dangdest thang I ever saw, too! LOL
That must have been a sight to see. LOL Weaning animals have been known to drink other's milk.
Past the weaning stage, I would venture to say humans are the only ones who choose to drink another species milk.
We can nit pick back and forth, but my original point was that it is not necessary for humans to drink milk past the weaning stage, though the current medical establishment and dairy industry has us convinced otherwise - that we have to have it.
That must have been a sight to see. LOL Weaning animals have been known to drink other's milk.
Past the weaning stage, I would venture to say humans are the only ones who choose to drink another species milk.
We can nit pick back and forth, but my original point was that it is not necessary for humans to drink milk past the weaning stage, though the current medical establishment and dairy industry has us convinced otherwise - that we have to have it.
When you think about it, it does seem strange: drinking the milk of a lactating animal. As does eating "the product of a chicken's mentral cycle" (I'll never think of eggs the same... ewwwww).
You are right it is not necessary for humans to drink milk. But it is necessary for us to ingest nutrients, and milk is a pretty good source. As is soy. And the soy industry is also trying to convince us their product is a miracle food.
I personally think being happy is very important to overall health. Cow's milk makes me happy, soy milk makes me unhappy. I love yogurt, but tofu I could live without.
All this talk about dairy is making me hungry. I think I'd go tackle that pint of "Cherry Garcia" in the freezer. Yum! Ice-cream also makes me happy!
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If I had to give up an entire food group, dairy would be my very LAST choice.......in fact, I don't think I could do it! I drink at least two glasses of plain milk every day, and that's just for starters---I love buttermilk, cheese, ice cream, pudding, yogurt, cream sauces and soups, all of it. I don't eat all of these things every day, of course, but those two glasses of ice-cold 2% at suppertime go down SO nicely, and even water isn't as good for putting out the flames from Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce!
Well, get a load of this, tgibson: I'm 5'2", 215 pounds and my diet is almost exclusively vegetarian. Yea, I know cokes and white bread aren't part of a balanced diet but I think there are also things a person who believes they have all the answers about diet and health can realize.
For example, why, in spite of my obesity, my vital signs are consistently WNL? My BP rarely is over 120/70. This is probably due in part to my kidneys being nonrenin reactive. I also don't have fallen arches, my hair is very thick and shiny, and I have good skin.
Being thin (and vegetarian) doesn't guarantee good health. Most people I know with major health problems are not overweight. And as a matter of fact I do know of some very overweight elderly who have only minor health conditions that are controlled with mild meds.
M.Mama - you're only 32! By the time you're 42, you might be needing a joint replacement or oral diabetic agent along with that Lipitor and anti-hypertensive. Hopefully, you won't have gained a lot of weight so that we can put you on a regular OR table and not have to do the case on a Hercules table (for those 600 pounds and over). I've been dieting since I was nine. I work really hard to stay slightly chubby and I'm glad I did because I see what limited lives the morbidly obese have. Their weight only adds to their unhappiness - unhappiness that they tried to soothe with food. Yeah, for a few minutes the food does make you feel better - but its only a temporary fix for a symptom and doesn't address the original causes of the obesity.
I personally think being happy is very important to overall health. Cow's milk makes me happy, soy milk makes me unhappy. I love yogurt, but tofu I could live without.
I definately agree that happy people are healthy people. Depressed, stress and unhappy people live with more aches, pains and illnesses.
There's a certain truth with being happy with our food choices.
However, the old "You gotta die of something, and I'd rather die fat and happy......." can kill us.
Maybe looking to food as a source of happiness is the wrong attitude. Maybe attaching any kind of emotion to food is not a good thing.
Looking to food for anything other than good nutrition probably is a better idea.
Pizza, ice cream, McDonalds food, fried chicken makes me happy. It doesn't mean I need to eat it. Brussel sprouts and broccoli don't make me happy but I eat them.
While I don't go to McD's, I do eat pizza and ice cream. Life is too short to define it by what I can and can not eat. But to limit myself to what makes me happy wouldn't be wise either.
Tofu makes me happy. Eat it once or twice a week. :)
Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
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Maybe looking to food as a source of happiness is the wrong attitude. Maybe attaching any kind of emotion to food is not a good thing.
Looking to food for anything other than good nutrition probably is a better idea.
Pizza, ice cream, McDonalds food, fried chicken makes me happy. It doesn't mean I need to eat it. Brussel sprouts and broccoli don't make me happy but I eat them.
.....
Bleeeeeeeeh. McDonald's.
I guess I've never had a problem with food making me happy. I think you're right that attaching emotion to food is not the best idea. I don't know how that happens though. I find it more of an annoyance that must be done (like brushing teeth) than something to get joy from.
Other cultures place significant importance on meal-times and the social interaction that occurs. In contrast, most American's make it a rush-rush thing (ie, fast food and so on).
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,301 Posts
Some cultures don't feel the need to substitute anything for mothers milk when weaned.
I don't drink milk and don't feel the need to drink soy milk as a substitute. I just don't drink milk. (I do eat yogurt and kiefer for the probiodics, so I'm not totally anti-dairy, and I eat cheese, especially when I eat out. So I'm not an anti-dairy pro-soy guru. I don't give into either extreme).
The Japanese eat a good amount of soy compared to Americans. They don't even have a word for "hot flashes", most don't know anyone with prostate cancer. Many of their low rates of diseases such as breast and prostate cancer can be traced to their consumption of soy, and low saturated fats.
People with a pre-existing thyroid problem could have it exacerbated if they eat soy.
Much debate is out there about soy and their "pseudoestrogens", including many myths and falsehoods. No need to get into them here.