Health Archives

Nutritionism and the Rise of Fake Food

What is nutritionism? How has the ideology of nutritionism changed the way we determine the health value of food products? Popularized by Michael Pollan in his book In Defense of Food, nutritionism refers to a paradigm which states that the value of food is determined solely by its constituent nutrients. Pollan argues that the ideology of nutritionism has distorted our understanding of healthy eating, such that even processed foods are believed to be healthy because they contain certain nutrients. Keep reading to learn about the rise of nutritionism.

The American Diet: Where Did We Go Wrong?

Why are so many Americans sick and obese given their obsession with healthy eating? What is it about the American diet that’s sent the health of the population into a tailspin? Studies show that albeit the concern for healthy eating, American rates of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer are going up. According to Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, the problem with the American diet is that it places too much focus on food’s nutritional content. Here is what’s wrong with the American diet, according to Michael Pollan.

Dispelling the Top 3 Healthy Eating Myths

What are the top healthy eating myths that most people believe? And how did we come to believe them, especially when information is so freely available? With so much healthy eating information floating around on the web, it can be hard to sift out the truth. According to Michael Pollan, the three most prominent healthy eating myths the public tends to believe are 1) nutrients are more important than food type, 2) nutrition is complex and requires scientific explanations, and 3) eating is simply a means to a healthy body. Here are top three healthy eating myths that the food

History of Fast Food: McDonald’s and More

What is the history of fast food? How did fast food become a part of our daily lives? The history of fast food shows how defining fast food is as a culture. From early beginnings in Southern California, fast food grew exponentially. Read more about the history of fast food below.

The Happy Meal Marketing Strategy: Kids as Customers

What is the happy meal marketing strategy? Why are kids so important to the marketing of fast food? The happy meal marketing strategy is just one way that fast food restaurants market to kids. Kids are their target audience, and fast food restaurants use the happy meal marketing strategy to get people to buy their products. Read more about the happy meal marketing strategy and how fast food restaurants market to kids.

How to Get Rid of Bad Habits One Tiny Step at a Time

Do you want to know how to get rid of bad habits? What have you been missing out on because you’ve been entangled in your bad habits? The Tiny Habits Method was created by behaviorist BJ Fogg and it helps you learn the best methods for developing positive habits. However, many of Fogg’s followers realized that the Tiny Habits Method could also be used to rid themselves of bad habits as well. Keep reading to learn how to use the Tiny Habits Method to rid yourself of bad habits.

The Science of Human Pregnancy and Childbirth

How is pregnancy a competition between mother and fetus? Why does a natural birth bond a mother and child? Why do babies cry? Evolutionary medicine says that pregnancy is a war between the mother and fetus. This is because the fetus manipulates the mother’s body to provide more nutrients, sometimes at the cost of the mother’s health. Even after birth, a baby will naturally alert its mother to its needs. Keep reading for more information on the evolution of human pregnancy.

Symptoms Are the Body’s Defenses Against Pathogens

Why do we get a fever when we get sick? Should we treat the symptoms of our illnesses? Are symptoms just defenses against illness by the body? The body has created natural defenses to combat infections. While symptoms may seem like they are part of the sickness, they are usually part of the solution. Sometimes treating a symptom can actually delay the body’s healing process. Keep reading to learn about the body’s defenses against sickness.

Evolutionary Hypotheses and the Adaptationist Program

How do scientists come up with evolutionary hypotheses? What is the adaptationist program? Proper evolutionary reasoning undertakes the adaptationist program, which is a method of investigation that essentially makes hypotheses testable. This method can be used to help make important medical discoveries. Keep reading for more on evolutionary hypotheses and the adaptationist program.

The Body’s Defense Against Pathogens and Bacteria

How does the human body defend against pathogens and bacteria? What strategies and counters do the body use? Some bodily defense mechanisms have dual purposes that benefit both the host and the pathogen. Similarly, some infectious diseases cause damage to the host which is costly to the pathogen as well. This is because both the host and the pathogen need to make compromises. Keep reading to learn about the body’s defense against pathogens and bacteria.