Ethical Issues Essay #2

America's Favorite Killer

What is food, really? Is it even edible or has it transformed to being just the nutrients and preserved they are advertised to be? Maybe food will lead our world to inevitable obesity. Finally, maybe food is the way to spiritual fulfillment? Okay, now that I've got you thinking, I should probably elaborate on the subject.

What do we know about how food is produced? Food produced in local farms is healthiest for people. Simply, food isn't shipped very far to get to supermarkets and the food has just been sprouted. If an individual were to go to their local farmer's market, they would not only be finding a relatively healthier food source, they would be providing their community with more support. By purchasing from these markets, these farm owners are able to maintain business, even purchase more equipment and land to cultivate. That means more healthy food to you and at a lower cost. These farm owners are entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs create competition which in turn create business as we know it. Lower prices are the results and who wouldn't love to pay less for something they are going to buy anyway?

There was this commercial to buy some juice, I think. There was a family on a road trip, passing all these signs that read something like "high in preservatives," "high in trans fat," "color dye red 45," etc. At the end was their product, say, cranberry juice, and they went on to describe its "natural goodness." So is our food even food or is it just some form of nutrients that we need to live long, healthy lives? (Pollan). Are pies healthy because they are made organically? What about all those sugars? Though natural, I don't see this to be true. Food needs to nurture your body. A hundred years ago, there wasn't "low-cholestrol" cereal. There was cereal. The body needs whole foods such as apples, eggs, rice, and carrots, not nutri-grain bars, south beach diet muffins, pills, enriched rice, or other processed foods.

Obesity is at its highest ever. Just about one-third of all American adults are considered obese. Unfortunately the problem doesn't stop there. More youngsters and teens are obese now than ever before. This obesity is known to be a factor in developing heart disease, America's number one killer; hypertension, shorter life spans, and diabetes. (Mader). Obesity is a problem but is it food that is doing this to people? I don't necessarily believe that to be the case. We need food to live...when we make it a hobby is when it becomes a problem. Our sugar-high diets are what give us the tummy aches, the headaches, and the unforgiving cravings. People need to break the addiction these sweets and extra helpings are just as harmful, if not more, as smoking and drinking. Food is meant to feed life. Life doesn't need much to go on, and if a person wasn't spending all their time eating, they would probably be more productive. They could also save a lot of money! So, is food the enemy or is our real enemy ourselves?

In the Middle East, pork is never to be eaten, as a spiritual choice. Fasting is also another popular trend in religious faiths. There's are people who avoid food groups due to religious values but there are also groups of people who eat food to grow spiritually. They find pleasure and extreme happiness while they eat. In response to my question as to why he eats so much junk food, my dad stated, "why take away the happiness food gives? It's the taste that counts and you only live once, so live it in happiness." This is one that I can not fully debate because I believe it'd be cruel to take away someone's happiness. People live individual lives and day by day it's their choice to do what they want.

I know I've asked a lot of questions but that is because no one has that one absolute answer. Food is all about opinion...at least at the moment. It is something that people can control and decide how to use it. Some may find it beneficial when coping, while others find it spiritually soothing or pleasurable. Food is not meant to be eaten as if it were the nutrient, rather it should be eaten if it is healthy. Food, also should not constantly be abused as if it were a 3 meal buffet.

Works-Cited
Mader, Sylvia S. Human Biology. Boston: McGrawHill Companies, Inc. 2008.
Pollan, Michael. "Unhappy Meals." New York Times 28 Jan 2007 25 Jun 2007 .