+Final Research Paper+ Diet industry: the lies and health issues behind the advertisement

Americans spend billions of dollars on diet programs and products but still America is the fattest nation in the world. People search for quick and easiest solutions for obesity but consumers tends to forget the purpose of diet and they are putting false beliefs in diet industry. Many people want to lose weight because of how they look rather than concerning their health. They try to find short cut but people often suffer the consequences after taking all the diet products, either gain back more weight or get other health problems. Diet industry knows customers want the easiest way so they attract people by exaggerating their advertisement and claiming that weight loss can be achieved without any exercise. The diet industry advertisements are creating a fallacy and deceiving the consumers by selling diet products that are causing health issues.

Millions of people are buying diet products or joining diet programs but few of the diets succeed. Many surveys find that between 90 and 95 percent of diets fail after people spent their money and efforts in to the diet industry, and the companies blame the customers for not following the instructions or not changing their habits (Irish Times 1). However, there is no way to blame the consumers if the companies are not giving the right information. A lot of the weight loss advertisement is false according to a report from Federal Trade Commission. Richard Cleland, a lawyer with the FTC and lead author of the report declares, “False and misleading claims in with-loss ads are widespread” (Goodstein 1). More than half of the claims in ads made by loss weight companies could not deliver the promise of the product or service. Moreover, people should understand the purpose of diet and not being fooled by the advertisement because most of the diet industry does not tell the truth. Diet industry often makes promises such as weight loss can be achieved without diet or exercise, claiming that the product is all natural and safe, but most of the claims are false and the promises are misleading the consumers (Blackburn ix). Tom Sanders, professor of nutrition at King's College, London University, said “Many products are quack remedies. They can even damage people's health” (Bunting 1). Diet food is dangerous because it is often misleading the consumers such as when the product states low fat often means high sugar (Cumming 3). Of course diet does not work because the companies are not giving right information. Diet industry does not care for people's health. Society today is overwhelmed by the problem of obesity and became inpatient at long process and time that is needed to spend on building up a healthy body.

Many diets cause other health issues such as unbalanced nutrition. Alice Mahon, Labour MP for Halifax, who is supporting No Diet Day says, “The diet industry is getting away with murder” (Bunting 1). People seek the fastest and easiest way to diet and pay a huge amount of money to an industry of diet books, diet foods and diet supplements but people tend to focus too much on weight loss instead of their health. Many diet foods are forming unbalanced diets. Cutting out specific nutrients such as low-carbohydrate diets, causes another side effect like constipation because it tends to be low in fiber. A fad diet may work for few weeks but in the long term, the diet causes unhealthy effects (Franklin 2). Another example of diet food causing health issues is aspartame. Diet industry serves aspartame in diet drinks and foods that make people crave carbohydrates and cause them to gain weight. Aspartame leads to other illness such as headaches, skin problems, poor vision, depression, panic attacks, irregular heart rhythms, behavioral problems, seizures and brain tumors (The Irish Times 1). Diet foods are only causing more problems.

People should not depend on diet industry because it is only a short time solution; consumers gain back more weight and also damage their health when the diet ends. People need to take care of their health to prevent chronic illness rather than joining weight loss program. Exercise more and eat small a potion. Try to balance the nutrition and eat more fruits and vegetables. Spend money to eat healthy food rather than joining loss-weight programs, and spend time to build up healthy body. Diet industry is only a business; they do not consider customers’ safety or health. People have to be aware of all the advertisement and not to be misled by their claims.

Extra Credit #2

The Cove

The Cove is a documentary movie about the captivity, slaughter and industry of dolphins. Ric O’Barry was a guy who helped to take a movie of dolphin call Flipper but latter he realized the problems of dolphin being captive after his loved dolphin Cathy suicide. He spent ten years building dolphin industry up but now he spent last thirty five years to try to tear it down. O’Barry found out that there are dolphin slaughters going on in Japan, Taiji and he begins to gather people to reveal the secret. Taiji is the largest supplier of dolphins to marine parks and swim with dolphin programs around the world. Dolphins not being selected are being slaughtered and sold for their meat and an estimated 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan each year.

I was surprised about this truth of dolphin meat and slaughter happening in Japan. I never know this news before and I didn’t know that dolphin meats are sold as whale meats without labeling it. I felt rage in government and the media who are trying to cover the news. Tiji also give away free dolphin meats to school lunch which is ridiculously dangerous because dolphin meats contaminated with high levels of mercury. Mercury is toxic and cause Minamata disease in 1985. The children were starting to be born deformed, loss of memory, hearing, and eyesight; they die slow. The government knew this and they still allow Taiji to sell dolphin meat and keep the secret. Most of Japanese didn’t even know this. I was shocked.

There is organization that protects all cetaceans in the wild call IWC (International Whaling Commission) but small cetaceans, dolphins and porpoises aren’t protected because it is benefit for people who are slaughtering and eating the dolphins. In the movie, Japanese member of the organization claims that they are doing “pest control” because whales and dolphins are eating too much of fishes but human is the culprit for the problem of fisheries decline in the world. I was impressed about all the reasons those people can make up in order to kill dolphins. It was sad to watch this ugly truth in my country. Also it was tearful especially when I watched the scene when the fishermen are stubbing the dolphins and the water goes bloody red. The sound of dolphins cry could not get out of my ears.

There are so many problems in our world, in the air, on the land, and under the water. I felt the importance of media, we need to know what is going on and be active of these problems. We should stop those ironies.

Extra Credit #1

The Future of Food

The Future of Food is a documentary movie about how our food and agriculture has been changed over time. After WWI, nitrogen based bomb lead to development of nitrogen based chemical fertilizers and DDT to kill the insect. Green revolution was at mid twenty century as the technology improved, the production increased and the monoculture begin. As the farm begin to use chemical fertilize, they have to use more. In 1990, Monsanto Roundup was produced and Green Revolution changed to Gene Revolution which means Monsanto changed the gene of the plant and the seeds. They also begin to gain the power to control their own genetic species by gaining their seed patent. Seed patent law was not voted by congress or by people. Monsanto grow very fast by buying plant company and suit other farms if they have the genetic modify plant at their farm, but the seed can be spread by the wind or animals and insect; many farmer get suit from Monsanto. Monsanto has send nine thousand letters to farmers for same reason. Genetic modify food is harmful but whether the food is GM, the food is not label.

I was surprised about all the information I saw in the movie. There are so many things I didn’t know before such as there are patent for the seed. When I saw the phrase in the movie states “whoever control the seed, control the food” gave me chill. I see how the industry gains power by controlling our stomach. People’s choice will be limited by the regulation of GM food and they do not even notice it is GM food because there is no label. The movie warned us there are few companies that are controlling huge part of the agriculture and we will have no choice but to buy whatever industry make.

I was disappointed about the government letting the industry to sell GM food. The movie quote from Monsanto Inhouse Newsletter states, “Agricultural biotechnology will find a supporter occupying the White House next year, Regardless of which candidate wins the election in November”. I was shocked by how people work for government also work for Monsanto. For example: a supreme court justice also work as a Monsanto’s lawyer for regulatory affairs, a Environmental Protection Agency work also as biotech researcher of Monsanto, a acting commissioner of FDAS also work as senior VP, GD Searle, a division of Monsanto.

There are so many problems that surprised me after watching this movie. I am amazed by those who are fighting for the food and also who try to spread the news to us. I also felt the importance of education. People need to know what is going on in our world.

what I learned this semester about research paper

I didn't know I could learn about food in English class. By doing research paper, I have learned deeper details about food and politics. Everything was interesting and eye opening. I was surprised there are many problems behind the food and I am glade I did research about it. Research paper helped me to gain more knowledge and draw my curiosity. I also learned how to find resources from school website, which was very helpful and convenient. Finding books on google website was something I didn’t know before and it was useful. Also I learned how to write bibliography for the first time. The enjoyable part was that when I am doing research, I could find a lot of information I never knew before. Research paper helped me to learn a lot about my topic.

Super Size Me

After watching Super Size Me, I was impressed by Morgan Spurlock. I am surprised he would use himself as an experiment to eat McDonald thirty days and put his health in danger. He made this movie 6 years ago; I wonder anything barely changed today. Obesity is still the problem. I did not know 43 percent of fast food restaurant in America is McDonald. Indeed McDonald is everywhere and what a mock to have McDonald in the hospital. Also I felt disappointed about the law; it is not protecting its citizens but the profit. I worry about our food system and people’s eating habit after watching this movie.

I see the failure of education when I saw the school was serving the fast food, and they claimed that they are educating students to make good choice. I guess the school itself need to be educated first. The school themselves should make a wise decision too. The problems became more serious when the obesity started in young population. Their future may be full of pain because of their health problem leading by obesity; America may suffer the consequences. This movie shows us what we need to change in society to protect children.

Advertisement has so much power to effect people’s life. Not only in the TV but there are many different ways to commercial products such as poster in the train or bus. People who do not have TV at home can even see the advertisement of fast food everywhere. I do not remember if I have seen any advertisement for vegetable. The companies tend to use sport player or children to show that eating fast food is not unhealthy. We all should be careful not to be brain wash by those commercial.

More people need to know the problems of eating unhealthy food. Knowledge is not enough. We need to act- eat healthy. This movie has showed me the problems of obesity and the danger in our food culture. People need to change their eating habit and exercise more.

Eng101 Research about Food

My topic is : Affection of Instant Noodles and its Association

I am interest about the affection of instant noodles on our health or our life and the work of world instant noodles association.

My questions are:
1) How instant noodle affect our health?
2) What is World Instant Noodles Association?
3) What does instant noodle association do?
4) What is the history of instant noodle?
5) How does the instant noodle affect our world?

Here is the official website of World Instant Noodles Association. It contains why and when they made the association and some informtion about the summit. Also there are som names of the member and articles about instant noodles.

Here is the news in magazine about the hitory of instant noodles, inventor of instant noodles and how it becomes cup noodle. Also tells many infromaion about instant noodles and it affection to the space (Space Ramen).


This is the radio about the inventor of instant ramen Momofuku Ando (50th anniversary Aug 25,2008)

if you can't hear than go to this website http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93954544

Here is the short article from CNN about Instant Noodle a health hazard: report. It is based from Australian Consumers' Association; their test on instant noodles shows that there are as much fat in a cup of French-fried potato chips, or a quarter of a medium-sized pizza.

Here is the article from MedicineNet.com about Noodle Secret. It tells MSG "flavor enhancer" in flavor packet is harmful to people who are on low sodium diet or who are allergic to the stuff, and people should be carful not to overdo MSG .

Here is the article from ResourcesForLife.com about Instant Noodles MSG and cancer. It shows the affective of instant noodle (MSG) on our health and the wax use on the noodles cause cancer.

and Here is the article from Snopes.com that argue against tarticle from ResourcesForLife.com above. It argue about that few amount of MSG is not harmful and the wax does not use on the noodles also the articles argue that the wax won't cause cancer.

Things I would like to write about "food, politics and you!"

1. Instant food
2. How Agricultural Chemical affect us
3. How much Fruite and Vegetable we need
4. America's inported and exported food
5. Candy Company

A letter about School food

Dear My lovely high school in Georgia:　

School food is very important for student’s health, but there is often unhealthy food serving at the school. People are building chronic illness from early age today such as diabetes, hypertension, or cancer. Many people used to think that only adults will get diabetes but the average age is getting younger; teenage can also get diabetes in recent years. I believe school’s meal can be effectible for children if there are healthy, balanced food with low calories, replace those junk food in the vending machine to some healthier food or drinks, will be so much better for student’s health; not only that but I think students should be educated about their food system and learn how to cook, so they will have better knowledge to improve their self-discipline.

Building up healthy food habit from early age is important for students. We usually eat meals three times a day so it will be twenty one meals per week. I saw, many students eat their breakfast and lunch at the school. If two times a day, five days a week, then students are eating ten meals at the school per week. Therefore, school’s food is affecting large part of student’s body condition. In the high school we have chicken biscuit, a fried chicken in two breads without any vegetable, and it was actually from the fast restaurant, or super sweet bread as a breakfast. It was very tasty but obviously not healthy with greasy food or bunch of sugar. For lunch, there are hamburgers, pizza, and are always too much carbohydrates or high cholesterol with few vitamin or dietary fiber from vegetable and fruits. I think there should be more vegetables and fruits in the school meal; meat should not be the main dish for people’s diet. In my country, my nutrition teacher told us that we only need our palm size of meat, as thin as hand, per day and it is unhealthy to eat more than that. If people value their health from the early age, then their body will reward them in the future. Therefore, I believe serving healthy food in the school will be benefit to children’s future.

Vending machine in the school is also providing unhealthy food for students such as chips or awfully sweet donuts. Even the drinks are too sweet and many people do not even know it is causing them to get diabetes. When I came to America, I was surprised by the sweetness of the snacks. I could not believe when I was hungry at the school, there was no other choice but to eat those chips or chocolate bars and many other candies. I see how people get fat and sick just from the school food. Eating chips not only make us fat, because of high calories, but also cause cancer since it is fried. I really suggest school to serve some bread or cookies contain lower sugar or crackers. A drink in the vending machine is not only too sweet but it is often using chemical colors which damage our cells and causing cancer too. We are actually drinking poison. If school replaces unhealthy juice to freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice will be so much healthier for children.

Many people do not understand what is unhealthy and how it is bad for our body because we are not well educated about the food we eat. If we understand how the food is produced, then we might rethink about our choice when we are shopping. School is a best place to teach how the food is produced and how to cook it. When I was in my country, my school taught us to plant crops in the school such as a cherry tomato, radish, rice, and etc. We even went to farm to dig sweet potato and it was so excited. Our teacher will teach us how to cook after we harvested the crops and it was so delicious. Some schools go to farm to experience how to squeeze milk from the cow. However, I have learned how the plants grow in nature and how the food is important to us. It was a great experience and I thought it was a really good lesson. If there are such classes in this high school, then I believe people will learn what is　healthy food and it might improve their decision. It is so important to learn our food system and I believe school should teach us more about how our food has been produced. May be it is good for students to visit those food companies if it is possible. Also it will be very helpful for students to know how to cook by themselves. Many people do not cook so they do not know too much about food and actually there are many good meals other than hamburgers.

Building our good eating habit can prevent many illnesses and it should be starting early in our life. If the school replace the junk food to healthier food and educate students, then it may help children’s future from getting different kind of sickness. No body can force others to eat healthy but at least during the school time, there is someway to help students to build up healthy body instead of encourage them to get diabetes. I hope school will concern children’s health more seriously and rethink about school’s food.

Sincerely, Sho

"Food, Inc"

After watching “Food, Inc.”, I was very surprised by the industrial food system. I didn’t know that the farmer is controlling by three or four companies and they redesign the livestock to produce the product faster and bigger. Change chickens to grow in 48 days freak me out; I never know chicken can grow so fast and fat. And now I know why people say America’s meats are cheaper. I have always wonder why there are so many products that look obviously poison to people, such as colorful juice ( it looks like the market is placing rainbow on the shelf), are still in the supermarket but now I know why.

One of the reasons is that we don’t know how the food is poison to us or why it is bad for our health so we don’t try to complain. Ignorance is killing us. It is our responsibility to know and understand what we are buying and also people have right to know how it is produced. Not many people say or try to know how the food has been produced. I was impressed that this movie shows the way our food has been grow and it brought the hidden truth out to the light but there are still many things we don’t know and it is under cover. It is so pathetic that companies are more protected than citizens. It seems so ridiculous to me that the company can still exist even after their food has caused death. I think it is because there are too few of us make any sound. We still choose the cheaper and faster food (we often value money and time more than our health). We always didn’t care until our family members get sick or die by food poisoning like in the movie, a mother fight for her son who was killed by E coli.

I really thought this video affects every individual of us because we all eat food. I hope I can show this video to my family and friends. There are so many things for us to learn about our society and I feel it is so important for us to know what is going on in our world.