#aessa27

[aessa27]

By promoting the FDA's proposed ban on trans fats, I am also promoting healthy living and the avoidance of unhealthy foods. With my blog, I truly hope to raise awareness about the importance of eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. By eating healthy foods and exercising, one's risk of developing heart disease and other diseases decreases enormously.

This popular advertisement to "Keep Calm And Eat A Cupcake" totally goes against the point that I am trying to get across about living a healthy lifestyle! (Kinda) I don't think that I would ever suggest to anyone to eat a cupcake if they were feeling stressed. Okay, if one of my friends was having a bad day, I would probably suggest that they treat themselves to a nice "sweet treat." In order to be 100% healthy, we must have a healthy relationship with unhealthy foods! This means that, every now and then, we must allow ourselves to eat a piece of cake or a big bowl of ice cream. If all we ever do is restrict, then we will jeopardize our mental health as well as our relationship with good foods. However, I would never suggest trans-fat-containing treats to my friends! I would only ever suggest trans-fat-free foods to my friends!

CLICK HERE FOR SOME ALL-NATURAL RECIPE IDEAS AND SOME DELICIOUS SWEET TREATS! (some are vegan!)

My personal opinion and hypothesis is that adopting a wholesome and nutrient-dense diet will promote the overall health and well-being of the body. By promoting the overall wellness of the body, a wholesome diet will, in turn, reduce stress on the body. A wholesome diet will also reduce anxiety and one's susceptibility to certain diseases.

Please, don't eat a cupcake--eat an apple instead!

[aessa27]

SLOTH IN A BUCKET! Yes, I understand that this post has absolutely nothing to do with my blog topic.

I decided to share this image with you because I absolutely love sloths. Actually, sloths are kinda terrifying and creepy-looking. So, I suppose I really only love baby sloths. And why do I love baby sloths? Well, because they're ADORABLE, that's why!

Did you know that there are actually many different species of sloths? (I bet you didn't!) Just in case you were wondering, there are actually six different species of sloths! That means that there are SIX DIFFERENT TYPES OF SLOTH CUTENESS! Sloths are also very closely related to Anteaters! This freaks me out a little bit, because Anteaters aren't necessarily the cutest type of exotic animal. Furthermore, sloths are a tree-dwelling species, and hold residence in the jungles of South and Central America. Extinct sloth species include many ground sloth species, some of which attained the size of elephants. (X)

Can you imagine an elephant-sized SLOTH?

Anyways, baby sloths are my favorite. I hope that you enjoyed this adorable picture of a sloth in a bucket as much as I did.

[aessa27]

How Stress is Affecting Your Heart

"How Stress is Affecting Your Heart," a Tumblr blog by ntrikoz, interests me in a number of ways. Firstly, this blog interests me because it relates to my own topic. My own topic is "Banning Trans Fats." My topic is based on the premise that there is a direct correlation between trans-fat consumption and heart disease. Thus, I am very interested in human health, as well as heart health! Since I am so interested in heart health, the blog "How Stress is Affecting Your Heart" especially tickles my fancy! 

1. According to "How Stress is Affecting Your Heart," red fruits and vegetables are good for your heart! These fruits and vegetables contain certain vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote heart health and proper functioning! Cool! This fact is not only interesting, but also relates to my own topic! 

2. From the blog "How Stress is Affecting Your Heart," I also learned that anger weakens the liver, grief weakens the lungs, worry weakens the stomach, stress weakens the heart and brain, and fear weakens the kidneys. I found this post to be extremely interesting.

For some reason, this post also really makes me want to do some Yoga...Maybe some yoga would help release all of that bad energy flowing through my body that stems from stress from schoolwork. Hmph...food for thought....

3. One of my FAVORITE posts from this blog was one that taught me that: eating oatmeal can fight the negative effects of anxiety, avocado can reduce stress, walnuts can reduce stress, spinach and broccoli can improve your response to stress, blueberries can reduce stress, chocolate can reduce stress, drinking more water can reduce stress, drinking one glass of wine a day can reduce stress, and that the high amounts of vitamin C in oranges and parsley can also reduce stress! I think that this is so cool. Food is definitely a form of medicine. I sure know what's on my shopping list for the next time I go to the grocery store!

This topic relates to my life today because I am so incredibly inundated by stress every. single. day. College is probably one of the most stressful things that I have ever experienced. I wake up (tired), I take a shower as fast as I can, I get breakfast as fast as I can, I drink as much coffee as I can, I pay as best attention as I can during class, I meet for a group project, I do work in the lab, I go to more classes, I try to find time to eat some form of food, I meet for another group project, I attempt to accomplish ANY form of homework, and then (maybe) I'll go to bed at a reasonable time (like 2:00 am).

Basically, my life is like a gigantic ocean of stress. My body is a gigantic ball of stress. My heart is going to turn into a gigantic ball of MUSH if I don't do something all of this stress. This blog by ntrikoz really inspires me to reduce the amount of stress in my life.

Moreover, this blog relates to my life because my own father suffered from a heart attack at a very young age. According to my father's doctor, his heart attack was caused by high cholesterol, and from an incredible amount of stress that he was under at the time (work stress). This always reminds me that I need to attempt to reduce the amount of stress that I am under each and every day. I do not want to suffer from a heart attack the same way that my father did.

[aessa27]

Here is some commentary in response to a New York Times article discussing the FDA's proposed ban on trans fats. These are two perspectives that I have not necessarily addressed thus far. One reader of the New York Times believes that alcohol and cigarettes are to blame for heart disease in the United States. Another reader believes that salt may be the culprit that is contributing to high blood pressure in the United States. This reader also believes that, even if the FDA does ban trans fats, people will never change their unhealthy eating habits and will continue to consume unhealthy foods.

The first comment shown above, from "holly" from the Berkshires, argues that "there is no proof that Trans fats cause heart disease," and that, "Alcohol and smoking are massively more dangerous to the heart than fats." Holly comments on how the government is not trying to reduce alcohol consumption in the United States, despite the negative effects of alcohol on human health. Essentially, holly is wondering why the government has the right to ban trans fats from our food products if there are other (worse) things that are not being banned.

I must start off by saying that I do not agree with "holly" when she says that "there is no proof that Trans fats cause heart disease." I do not agree with this statement because a number of studies have accumulated within the past decade or so that prove the link between trans-fat consumption and heart disease. Admittedly, however, holly makes a very good point that excessive alcohol consumption is related to heart disease. Holly also notes that the government is not doing anything to address this issue. Holly also seems to imply that, since the government is not banning alcohol, then they should not be banning trans fats either. Yet, I beg to differ. Holly, have you ever heard of "Prohibition"? If you ever heard of Prohibition...you would know that Prohibition did not work. In fact, Prohibition made matters a lot worse in the United States. Prohibition raised crime rates, increased the number of gangs...etc...etc. Regardless of a failed attempt to ban alcohol in the past, there is currently a TAX on alcohol in many places in the United States! A tax is a form of government regulation, if I am not mistaken. Finally, there is a HUGE difference between banning trans fats and banning alcohol. Banning alcohol would eliminate all alcohol-containing products from the market in the US. HOWEVER, a ban on trans fats WOULD NOT eliminate all trans-fat containing foods from the market in the United States. Instead, this ban would simply force companies to replace the trans fats in their food products with healthier fats (such as canola oil, for example).

Another reader of the New York Times, "Mary Kay Klassen" believes that a ban on trans fats would not really do anything in the United States--because people will continue to eat the foods that they prefer regardless of the ingredients that are used in them. Mary Kay Klassen makes a perfectly understandable point that people are inclined to eat the types of foods (healthy or not) that they grew up eating. Mary Klay Klassen also notes how salt is a major offender in the issue of high blood pressure in the United States, which is another very good point. To a certain extent, salt increases blood pressure by dehydrating the body. All of these comments made by Mary Kay Klassen are perfectly reasonable, and also pretty accurate. 

However, as previously stated, the idea with a ban on trans fats is not that all trans-fat containing foods would be banned from the consumer market. Instead, all of the foods that currently contain trans fats would be reformulated by companies to be made with other ingredients, such as canola oil. Therefore, (although they should), people would not have to drastically change their eating habits. This would make the ban on trans fats very successful--because people would be avoiding trans fats without even trying!

[aessa27]

Paula Dean should probably avoid those hamburgers and french fries if she wants to lower her cholesterol levels and decrease her blood pressure.

Eating unhealthy trans-fat containing foods increases bad cholesterol levels in the body, and decreases good cholesterol levels. This combined effect of trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other illnesses.

(X)

[aessa27]

A nationwide survey finds 44% in favor of prohibiting restaurants from using trans fats in foods, while 52% oppose the idea.

This article discusses how people in the United States have different opinions on whether or not trans fats should be banned from food products in the United States. More specifically, according to a survey conducted between October 30 and November 6, 2013, 44% of adults in the United States were in favor of prohibiting trans fats from foods served by restaurants, while 52% were opposed to the idea.

This reveals that that many adults in the United States are opposed to a ban on trans fats. Despite public opposition, the FDA still proposed to take steps toward banning trans fats from food products in the United States (on November 7, 2013).

The lack of support for a ban on trans fats most likely stems from peoples' food preferences in the United States. However, others might oppose this ban simply because they do not want the government controlling what they can and cannot eat--which is perfectly understandable.

The 52% of American adults that are in favor of this ban are probably aware of the various health issues associated with trans fat consumption. (Which, in my opinion, is strong reasoning).

[aessa27]

Could you please put that into context? Or can I at least get a REMIX?

Hello world of Tumblr!

I think that once you've learned a little bit more about my personal context...it will make a little bit more sense as to why I am so adament about supporting the FDA's proposed ban on trans fats from food products in the United States.

I'm a white female studying pre-health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I have two parents who are still happily married, and an older sister who is 22 and who also attends UMass as a graduate student. I'm straight, I'm an ethnic mut, and my favorite food is definitely lobster. With that, I should probably mention that I come from an upper-middle class family that is extremely supportive of all of my endeavors in life.

I've spent my entire life growing up in the beautiful Pioneer Valley--sometimes referred to as "The Happy Valley." A large portion of people from the Pioneer Valley are passionate about eating locally-sourced, organically-grown, and super-healthy foods. I, too, am passionate about eating healthy and locally grown. My other favorite foods are carrots and green omelets (omelets with kale, spinach, broccoli, onions, and pesto...mmm!) However, my passion and adamancy about healthy-eating stems from roots deeper than those of the Oak trees growing near my small-town home.

When I was just six years old, my father suffered from a serious heart attack. What contributed to his heart attack were two main factors: high cholesterol, and high stress. Thankfully, my father was able to survive and recover from his heart attack; however, this traumatic event left a permanent scar on my family.

Of course, treatment for my father's high cholesterol levels ensued immediately. With help from his cardiologist, my father began to learn about eating right and eating healthy. My father learned about high-fiber diets, complex carbs, nutrient-dense seeds, nuts, and vegetables, and all about lean meats as well.

Most importantly, however, my father learned about trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils. My family quickly learned to avoid these fats at all costs.

Within time, nutrition became a sort of hobby for my father. And, in time, this hobby was passed onto me. At the humble age of 6, I was strictly trained to read the nutritional labels on literally everything that I ate. I still remember reading the labels of cereal boxes at one of my friends houses when I was in 4th or 5th grade, and telling myself that I could not eat that cereal because it contained "partially-hydrogenated soybean oil." By the age of 8, I was probably one of the most educated kids in terms of what types of foods should and shouldn't go into my body.

I carried this knowledge with me throughout high school, and now that I am at college I plan to pursue and explore nutrition even further.

I am passionate about eating healthy, and hopefully my passion for avoiding trans fats will be contagious and will be passed on to the followers of my blog. :)

If you would like to see a list of some foods/food products that contain large amounts of unhealthy trans fats, please click HERE!

[aessa27]

Debating FDA's potential trans fat ban

Chef Mike Isabella and Business Insider politics editor Josh Barro debate the pros and cons of a trans fat ban.

This Youtube video, sponsored by CNN, discusses whether the FDA should ban trans fats from food products in the United States or if they should put the focus on educating Americans about the risks associated with trans fats, and then let the people decide what to eat. I believe that the FDA should ban trans fats from food products in the United States. By banning trans fats, the FDA is not eliminating all food products from the market that contain trans fats. Instead, the FDA is forcing companies to replace those unhealthy artificial trans fats in their food products with healthier alternatives, such as pure butter, for example.

In this video, the CNN TV-show host interviews two different people. The TV-show host interviews a restaurant owner/chef who supports the FDA's proposed ban on trans fats, and a different man who does not support the FDA's proposed ban on trans fats.

This video is interesting because it provides two very different (but both well-informed) perspectives on the trans fat issue.

It is always beneficial to take a look at an argument from two different sides.

Despite the valid statements made by the man in this video who does not support the FDA's ban on trans fats, I still believe that the FDA should ban trans fats from food products in the United States. Banning trans fats would help keep the American people safe and at a lower risk of developing heart disease and diseases associated with trans-fat consumption.

I searched for this video multiple times in the Tumblr "Search Bar" and could not find it anywhere on Tumblr. For this reason, I do not believe that this piece of media has been talked about yet on Tumblr. I must be the first person to post and discuss this video on Tumblr...cool!