When recovering from a workout or sports activity what do you like to drink? What do you think is the best for your body? Water, energy drinks, protein shakes, sports drinks such as Gatorade, or chocolate milk? Personally I’ve always leaned towards Gatorade but always heard that chocolate milk was just as good. But I’ve never really thought about which is better for me or how they have been marketed towards me. After watching what seemed to be millions of Gatorade and chocolate milk commercials, it was clear that the Gatorade commercials and ads focused on professional athletes and professional sports. (Fun fact: Gatorade started as a university coach of the Florida Gators wanting to find out why his players would fade away as their games went on, find out more at http://www.gatorade.com/company/heritage.) As well, I’ve noticed that the commercials you see on TV are primarily Gatorade. The majority of these commercials feature well-known athletes in efforts to inspire you to be at your best through consuming their product. And if a health conscious professional athlete is endorsing these products then they must taste good and be good for you, right? These commercials also plays on people’s emotions and dreams of wanting to be a successful professional athlete and makes it seem easy and effortless. Chocolate milk commercials on the other hand were more factual and weren’t focused on the professional athlete promoting the drink. So, if you’re unlike me and the nutritional value is more than the taste, than you will find the “compare it” section of the Recharge with Milk website (http://www.rechargewithmilk.ca/#compare) useful and interesting. Chocolate milk is a source of vitamin A & D, calcium, and carbohydrates. But what makes chocolate milk the ideal recovery drink is that it replaces carbohydrates which is a major nutrient that is lost during exercise. Like chocolate milk, Gatorade does supply the body with carbohydrates and lost fluids but however it does not supply the body with protein which can assist in recovery. But if you think about it who were these studies on? Somewhat-regularly active people or athletes that train for hours every day? Personally I work out or play sports to maintain a healthy lifestyle and my weight – I am by far not a professional athlete. So I guess the question is, do our average bodies really need these drinks to recover? I would now say, after reading article upon article, that no I don’t need these drinks. Looking at the calorie intake of both drinks, all my hard work would have been for nothing as I would have just replaced the calories I had just burnt. So, do you think that your recovery drink is helping your body in the way you need it too? References: http://www.gatorade.com/company/heritage rechargewithmilk.ca http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/fitness/chocolate-milk-post-workout-nutritious-choice-or-big-glass-of-hype/article4381413/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chocolate-milk-the-new-sports-drink/
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Genetically Modified Organisms, wonderful to some and a nightmare to others. No matter your position there is one common need, labels. With the dramatic and constant rise of GMO use, people have become very opinionated around this topic, and if I told you to eat them or not to eat them you would more than likely ignore this, so I won’t. I will however raise a very pertinent issue around them that is more for personal safety than anything else. In some countries such as the U.S and Canada, grocery stores do not require labeled GMO products. Some people shrug saying that they eat them anyway so labeled or not they are unaffected, but there are two things everyone should know about them. One, allergic reactions. Imagine you are allergic to nuts and you eat an apple, suddenly your off to the hospital with no idea as to why. The reason for this is that someone decided that there was something about peanuts they liked, and so they put it into an apple. Even though you are not allergic to apples the small peanut gene in it could still cause your body to react as if it were a peanut. This situation could have been easily prevented by a simple label saying that ‘this apple contains peanut genes and could kill you if you are allergic to peanuts’. You would probably want to reword it but this is the point that needs to be reached and told to people. Secondly GMOs will often be changed to increase nutritional value, which is a great thing and will help everyone get a proper diet, but because we can overindulge in nutrients with severe consequences, people must be made aware of the fact that it has been altered. Although seemingly simple, improper labeling and use of GMOs can lead to illness and quite possible death. For the two reasons previously stated: persistence of allergic reactions, and extra nutrition. I believe that GMOs must always be labeled, and yes I like the idea of GMOs and will support them in the future, but only if people are made aware of the possible dangers through easy to read and easy to see labels. If you are still curious about this topic I suggest watching the video on this site and looking over the article. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/consumer-reports-gmo-food-label-study-on-american-products/ And if you are in for a longer read try this site. http://www.iflscience.com/environment/myths-and-controversies-gmos-0 Also if you are wondering about countries laws around labeling check out the map on this site. http://www.iflscience.com/environment/myths-and-controversies-gmos-0 Finally if you or someone you know has allergies I would recommend taking a peak at this site https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/ge/allergies111603.php Food trucks. Are you really getting what you want? Are your foods really allergy-free? Are all the foods fresh and are they good quality? Is the food really clean and are the workers hands really washed? The answer to the questions are always unknown but for some reason people still love to eat from food trucks. The first known food truck was an army wagon which contained dried beans, coffee, cornmeal, bacon, salt pork, beef, and other easily-preserved foods. It was invented to feed cattlemen and people traveling. After this, the US Army mobile canteens were commonly used to feed the U.S. troops. This is one of the many reasons food trucks are so popular, because it was so easy to feed people when they were busy doing other things. I think the reason it is so popular in today’s time is because it is a very convenient way of buying food that is close to easily accessible places. The real question I have is, are we really getting the food that we are asking for? For example, the photo in the top right of this page was a food truck that sold tacos. There was a twist however, although the tacos were delicious people were getting a bad vibe because something was not right. After a bit of investigating, the food truck was shut down for selling tacos with a side of meth. Hundreds or even thousands of people could’ve eaten these tacos without even known that they were getting high, even children. Even though this certain food truck is not like every single food truck, you can not be guaranteed food that is safe for you if you have dietary restrictions. If you do not tell the people that are serving your food that you are vegan/vegetarian or have allergies they will never know and your food can be contaminated. The last problem I am going to talk about is sanitation. How do we know if the workers are constantly cleaning the surrounding around the foods or how often they are washing their hands. We also do not know if our food has been dropped on the floor because they can cover it up really easily. I have learned this from personal experience. I was working on a food truck at an outside concert. The co-worker I was working with dropped an ice cream cone. It didn’t break or look dirty and she was concerned with how many cones we had left so she used it. We both don’t know the last time someone washed the floor. My Question: If you heard all the stories from workers about how they actually prepared your food and the steps they take towards sanitation, would you eat the food? Links to history, videos and horror stories about food trucks: http://mobile-cuisine.com/business/history-of-american-food-trucks/ http://globalnews.ca/news/1578597/food-truck-busted-for-selling-tacos-with-a-side-of-meth/ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/travel/how-america-became-a-food-truck-nation-99979799/ At a family barbeque last summer, as I sat with my family under the sun and drooled for the burgers being prepped inside, I found myself stumped by a conversational topic about the trend, the myth, the legend: the almighty Gluten-free diet. My uncle, curious about the latest trend in the fitness world being someone who leads an active lifestyle, posed the simple yet puzzling question; “Okay, but what actually is gluten?” At the time, all I was aware of was that it had something to do with bread and I was a firm believer of bread, a carb aficionado if you will, so this sudden widespread intolerance towards the concept was troubling as I scarfed down another handful of tortilla chips. My cousin, a young chef in the local culinary scene, has known his fair share of diners claiming to be allergic to anything in order to avoid having it on their plate whether or not this aversion is genuine. For example, a party once insisted they were allergic to celery until the chef explained it was a vital component to their desired dish and they had to admit they weren’t actually intolerant, they just hated the vegetable. However, nothing had spread so quickly and become so popular than the necessity for everything to be gluten-free. Although Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease which prevents the absorption of some nutrients in the small intestine, is estimated to affect 1 in 133 Canadians (Canadian Celiac Association) and is a genuine medical condition along with less extreme Gluten Sensitivity, the adoption of a Gluten-free lifestyle as simply a fad or method to lose weight is highly controversial. Now with more knowledge on what gluten actually is – a combination of proteins found in barley, rye, and some grains which effects things like the elasticity and chewiness of food – I find it interesting that some people have jumped onto the latest bandwagon because they assume gluten is bad without any further information to back up their assumptions; prejudice fueled by marketing campaigns, various celebrity endorsements, and ideals that avoiding gluten will help you lose weight. In reality, for people with genuine Gluten intolerance, this sought after diet trend is a necessary lifestyle for their medical wellbeing, making it irritating that some are buying into the lifestyle as an advertised simple solution for good health. Since gluten-free diets are often highly restrictive and cut out high calorie foods, they may have some slimming effects that leave celebrities like Miley Cyrus advocating that gluten should be avoided. However, for people who do not suffer from Celiac disease or sincere gluten sensitivity, cutting out gluten may result in a lack of nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium.
What is your take on this controversial dietary trend? Do you think the gluten-free diet is a practical weight loss method or will it be eventually left in the diet trend dust along with other experimental fads of the past?
Sources http://www.celiac.ca/?page_id=882 http://www.livescience.com/53265-what-is-gluten.html http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/unraveling_the_gluten_free_trend My whole life, I have been a first hand witness to my fathers discriminatory actions against egg yolks. Believing that egg whites were the only healthy part of the egg, I've watched as he dropped egg yolk after egg yolk down the drain. I've asked him multiple times why he discards the yolks only to get the same two answers:
Eggs Can Kill?Honestly, I have no idea where my dad got the information that egg yolks are bad for you. Perhaps it was from one of his workout buddy at the gym or one of those headlines that state “Eggs Can Kill” or “Eggs Are Worse Than Smoking”. Whatever the case, he ended up with the conclusion that egg yolks were little time bombs waiting to skyrocket his cholesterol, clog his arteries and stop his heart. And while it is true that egg yolks contain cholesterol and fat, it's part of our essential nutrients – meaning that the cholesterol and fat contained in the yolks are considered the "good stuff" and not the “bad stuff”. Egg Yolk Benefits:
So why do Fitness Pros and Health Fanatics Tell Me to Throw the Yolk Out?Every now I'll hear fitness pros (or my dad) telling me to throw out the egg yolk. Why? Because the egg yolk contains 99% of the fat. The word “fat” is the boogeyman of the nutritional world. Back when low fat diets were all the rage, everyone was deathly afraid of fats believing that it was a direct link to heart disease. However, the reality is that fats aren’t bad; in fact actually we need them in order to survive– the good fats at least. It’s a good thing that egg yolks contain the good type. But What About Cholesterol? As I mentioned above, egg yolks are chalked full of nutrients, but what about their cholesterol? First of all, there is the issue of cholesterol and its connection to heart disease. It’s a complex issue that originated in studies in both animals and humans more than half a century ago. However, more recent (and higher quality evidence doesn’t support it). If you’re interested in learning the science of it all here is a website you should definitely check out: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-straight-dope-on-cholesterol-10-things-you-need-to-know-part-1/#axzz49izECF7V Otherwise here are the basics you need to know:
To Toss or Not to Toss – That is the QuestionHere’s a fun and short little video that summarizes and goes further into detail of everything I discussed above: Although I firmly stand behind my belief that egg yolks are beneficial to our health, it is still only my opinion. There are others out there who will disagree with my outlook and argue that eggs are tiny cholesterol bombs. The question is what do you believe? The choice is yours. Will you choose to eat the yolk or toss it? Sources: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/whats-the-big-deal-with-egg-yolks-anyway.html http://dailyburn.com/life/health/egg-whites-vs-eggs-healthy-choice/ http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/tips-plans/ask-diet-doctor-egg-whites-vs-whole-eggs http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/10/11/the-nurtional-value-of-egg-whites-versus-egg-yolks-what-do-you-use/ http://www.prevention.com/content/which-healthier-eggs-vs-egg-whites What are Hong Kong must-try foods/restaurants? ---> (http://www.tommyooi.com/must-eat-food-in-hong-kong/) As much as dim sum has become widely popular, and can be found in many countries outside of Asia; for example, United States and Canada, eating dim sum in Hong Kong provides a very unique, different experience. While dim sum is ordered off a menu in many places, in Hong Kong, waiters roll around trolleys of an assortment of dim sum –pan fried, deep-fried, baked, and steamed—for customers to choose from. https://www.internations.org/hong-kong-expats/guide/15908-culture-shopping-recreation/food-in-hong-kong-a-culinary-capital-15915 Dim sum plays an integral role to Hong Kong people, as it is served as early as 7 A.M. to the elderly, and I can recall my grandpa who always woke up at the crack of dawn to consume his favourite hot and fresh barbeque pork buns. Moreover, Hong Kong people have also developed specific dim sum etiquettes; for example, one shows respect and manner by always pouring tea for others before themselves, and rather than saying thank you, rituals that date back to Qing Dynasty are used by tapping the table with your pointer and middle finger to express gratitude. ((http://www.orientalfood.com/culture/etiquette/thankyoumylord.shtml) What are the Do’s and Don’ts when eating dim sum? (http://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/lunarnewyear/dim-sum) Another characteristic that adds to the list of Hong Kong food culture is that Hong Kong people can be extremely picky. (http://www.jinwong.com/2011/06/20/food-culture-hong-kong/) With temperature reaching above thirty degrees during the summer, one’s thirst can be quenched with a refreshing glass of iced lemon tea that never fails to cool you down from the hot and humid weather. However, when it comes to drinking this beverage, there can be many different requirements requested by customers; for example, one may ask for more or less ice while another may want more or less sugar. Want to discover more about the characteristics of food culture in Hong Kong? Visit: http://www.jinwong.com/2011/06/20/food-culture-hong-kong/ As much as food in Hong Kong is presented in the most creative and unexpected ways, one of the most controversial issues in regards to food culture in Hong Kong is whether shark fin soup should be banned. Believed to be a symbolism of prosperity by Hong Kong people, shark fin soup is served in 98 percent of 375 surveyed restaurants.http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1905257/shark-fin-soup-still-served-98-cent-hong-kong Though having eaten shark fin soup at large family dinners and weddings when I was younger, this dish has never come across as controversial until I was old enough to learn what it actually was that I was eating. Despite Hong Kong people claim it to provide many health benefits, and businesses heavily rely on selling shark fin soup to make large profits, the extinction of sharks due to the over-consumption of their fins poses a strong argument as to why this Chinese tradition should be ceased. Not only does this create a devastating decline in the species of sharks, but also negatively impacts the marine ecosystem as sharks play a critical role in the ocean by keeping food webs in balance and prey populations healthy. (http://www.sharksavers.org/en/home/) Furthermore, this also affects sea creatures at the bottom of the food chain through bycatch, killing more marine animals in our ocean. Because our human activities of using unsustainable fishing methods, emitting carbon dioxide through burning fossil fuels, and allowing waste to enter water systems is already damaging our ocean, the practice of catching and killing sharks to solely satisfy our cravings and allow us to follow traditions when shark fin soup is not critical to our health, is strongly unfavourable. Though this tradition has been maintained for a long period of time, this does not mean it cannot be altered. Hence, we should not always blindly follow and accept what tradition has to offer when it challenges our morals. To discover more about Hong Kong food culture, go to …
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/ca/dine-drink/what-to-eat/must-eat/index.jsp Question: With food industries prospering in the early 20th century, why do you think roadside food stall businesses have evolved to a limited extent size-wise, but are recognized as Hong Kong’s most iconic food present day? |
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