Since Citizen Hunter began, mornings have now become my favorite part of the day because I get to read all of your e-mails about the great things you guys are doing in your community to make a difference. Your words and deeds inspire me more than you know.
I am particularly impressed with young Citizen Hunters like Nathan Dorfman who take action even during their summer vacations. He responded to the Fast Food issue in the action center, learned as much as he could about the topic, and took action. Thanks Nathan, I have learned a lot from our conversation, and know other Citizen Hunters will as well.
Don't forget to take action like Nathan did to help get fast food out of our public schools. In case any of you thought 15 year olds were just playing Playstation for the summer, I thought I would share his email:
America’s Trans-Fat Crisis
By Nathan Dorfman
Age 15
2006: More than 95% of Americans are either overweight or obese. The numbers of national heart disease and stroke victims are skyrocketing. Why is this happening? Yes, lack of exercise as well as poor family genes are two reasons. However, one underrated but important cause is trans-fat.
Trans-fat, also known as partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening, is produced by partially combining originally healthy oil with hydrogen. More than an innocent food ingredient, trans-fat contributes to about 30,000 heart-related deaths per year, according to Harvard Medical School experts. Trans-fat gradually damages human arteries, causes significant weight gain and increases risk for both cancer and diabetes. In addition, a University of South Carolina experiment, involving rats, proved that when eaten regularly, trans-fat decreases focus ability and intelligence. These negative effects are disturbing. Yet worse is how many Americans, especially children, eat trans-fat on a daily basis… unknowingly.
Found in countless processed baked snacks, most fried foods, margarine and candy; trans-fats have entered restaurants and supermarkets. Quite despicably, they are common in school cafeterias, too. It is appalling to know Americans are exposed and accustomed to trans-fats at such young ages. No wonder the national medical bill is climbing in cost.
Believe it or not, there are reasons why we consume trans-fats continuously. First, most individuals are not aware that trans-fats are harmful. Some may know nothing about trans-fats altogether. For instance, most schools serve trans-fatty meals, but fail to teach students nutrition. In television ads, viewers are told about a food’s great taste, not its high fat content or lack of nutrition.
Second, trans-fats are convenient. In schools, trans-fatty foods are reasonably priced and often the only meals served. Therefore, such foods are ultra-accessible to students. This may explain why more children are becoming overweight. There is psychological convenience as well. Plenty of harmful foods are advertised by children’s cartoon characters. Many nutritious foods are not. Children associate unhealthy food with the characters who advertise it.
Third, trans-fats are addictive. Foods with trans-fats have a pleasant, soft mouth-feel, which makes them somewhat habit-forming. This texture causes people to enjoy eating such foods regularly. Why must becoming obese be so easy for children today?
Some may wonder why food companies use trans-fats if they are unhealthy. For food was supposed to nourish us, not kill us, right? One reason is that snack foods with trans-fats have longer shelf-lives than those without. Another is that the use of trans-fats is cheaper for food companies than the use of nutritious oils, like canola. However, I believe human health must take priority, don’t you?
Disappointingly, because of corporate lobbyists and unaware citizens, trans-fats may remain in America for a while. Still, there are choices you can make to stay healthy. First, you can read nutrition and ingredient labels on food packages. If partially hydrogenated oil or shortening is listed, DO NOT EAT IT, since both are trans- fats. You can also exercise, or consume essential fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, which reduce risk of heart disease. DHA increases focus ability as well. Try taking artificial colors, sweeteners and flavors out of your diet, and avoid chemical preservatives (like sodium nitrite). When buying bread, consider brands that use 100% whole grain.
If you also want to keep America healthy, express your feelings to restaurants, food companies, and most importantly school districts. For school districts should eliminate trans-fats, just as many have done with soda. To create a larger impact, write to politicians, whether on the local, state, or national level. Some U.S. cities have already combated trans-fats with success. For example, thanks to Mayor Giuliani, trans-fat usage is discouraged in New York City restaurants. In Tiburon, California restaurants, trans-fats are eliminated completely.
Denmark legislature, in 2003, passed a bill which banned trans-fat from the entire nation. To me, this is very impressive, and even more inspiring. There is no reason why similar results can not occur in Philadelphia, or America, as a whole. I want to take action towards a healthier city and nation, and hope that you do as well. For as citizens, we will make a difference.
Thanks to Nathan. If you would like to write a guest blog about an issue Citizen Hunters should get involved with, send it in.
A few years ago, I had a discussion with one of my local school directors. I had a complaint about the junk they were feeding our children. I had a particular beef (no pun intended) with the "fluffernutter" sandwich. Apparently it was a popular item among the elementary school children. It consists of Marshmallow Fluff and Peanut Butter on White Bread. It is described on the Marshmallow Fluff web site as: "Long a staple of playgrounds, after-school snacks, college dorms, and the local diner, a Fluffernutter is a wonderful concoction of Marshmallow Fluff and peanut butter in a delightfully tasty sandwich!"
I was told by the school director that to oppose the fluffernutter would be political suicide. Needless to say, the fluffernutter still lives in my local schools.
Marshmallow Fluff is made from egg whites, corn syrup and sugar. It is almost all empty calories and has little, if any nutritional value. One serving of Fluff has 9 grams of sugar.
After a little web surfing, I see that I am not alone in my concerns.
One afternoon the son of Massachusetts State Senator Jarrett Barrios asked for Marshmallow Fluff after eating a Fluffermutter at elementary school.
This led Mr. Barrios to file an amendment to a school nutrition bill that would keep schools from serving the stuff, according to the Boston Globe.
In response to Mr. Barrios's common sense, two legislators from the town of Lynn, where Fluff has its headquarters, introduced legislation to make the Fluffernutter the state sandwich.
''We grew up on Fluff,'' said Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere, one of the legislators petitioning for the Fluffernutter.
Ms. Reinstein said the legislature had better things to do than to debate a sandwich spread. ''With all the stuff we're trying to do,'' she said, ''now you're attacking a local business, taking it out on Fluff.''
Mr. Barrios, unfortunately gave up his fight after a week of wrangling over it in the legislature, according to a follow-up Times story. But Ms. Reinstein is relieved that the government can get back to doing more important things than trying to teach kids good eating habits, slow down the alarming rise in childhood obesity, and prevent diabetes.
"If we can just go back to our lives pre-Fluffgate, we'll be fine," the Times quotes Ms. Reinstein as saying. "I've always said from the beginning that it's insane that we're doing this now."
Take a look at what has been done in my hometown of Taunton, Mass. I think it is a pretty good start/example of schools taking the lead in fighting obesity. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Students will find far different choices in snack machines, school stores, day care and enrichment programs and cafeterias.
* Only foods that meet a rigid set of guidelines will be sold. Say goodbye to potato chips and twin pops.
* Food will get no more than 10 percent of its calories from saturated and trans fats combined.
* By the 2008-09 school year, all foods and snacks sold will have zero percent trans fat.
* School meals and a la carte foods will contain no more than 600 mg of sodium for the total meal.
* A choice of at least two servings of fruits and/or vegetables will be offered at every school meal.
* At least half of served grains will be whole grains that include at least 2 grams of dietary fiber.
Also by next school year, beverages sold on school campuses will be restricted to water or seltzer water, without added caloric sweeteners; all fruit- and vegetable-based drinks will contain 100 percent juice and no additional caloric sweeteners; a variety of low-fat or fat-free milks; or nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages.
Soft drinks, sweetened iced teas, sports drinks, caffeinated drinks and whole milk will be banned.
Wow Nathan, wow. As I was reading your thoughtful and well researched words, I just had to smile. It warms my heart to know that when I finally have children, they will have "big brothers" like you protecting them. I hope and pray that they will learn from you and people like you to be good big brothers and sisters to the next generation as you are doing now. Many 15 year olds are looking at the next 3 years as a speedbump to getting out on their own, and that is good and natural, but not only are you looking ahead, but behind you at the children who are just starting out in school, making sure they are healthy and taken care of. Thank you and Semper Fi young man,
Joe
Joe, you beat me to the punch. Your comment is spot on. It is great to know that kids your age really care about the issues that affect you and your peers. Great to know that you are spending time on a great site trying to help all of us instead of surfing and spending time on MYSPACE. Don't think it is that important to note here since all the comments are so interesting and intelligent, but good to keep in mind that we got kids reading. Language people language.
Posted by: Julie at July 8, 2006 05:23 PMThank you so much for all this incredible information. I had no idea that Denmark had banned trans fat from the nation. What a great step to take in caring for it's people. At the present moment, I cannot imagine our congress making such a move. We are fighting to keep proper labeling alive so we can at least know what we consume is listed on the packaging. I commend you Nathan for your efforts in trying to bring this issue to the fore. I think your blog should go to every congressman and senator and the president. You have hit upon something that could bring about saving our over burdened health system lots of money, while saving many unnecessary premature deaths. I admire your thinking and your spunk. You are terrific! Cindy Asner
Posted by: cindy Asner at July 9, 2006 04:27 PMId like to thank nathan, its comforting to know that with youth like nathan, our future is secure. I think his ability to analyze a situation is wonderful.
Posted by: Steve at July 9, 2006 05:52 PMBravo Nathan! I am so proud of all the work you are doing and for taking the time to educate us. Ignorance is not bliss and we need to arm ourselves with the facts so that we can take action to protect ourselves and our kids.
A study out of North Carolina which will be realeased in a few days shows that only 15% of people that are obese think they are. Obesity rates keep rising in the U.S., up 32.2% in the last few years. If people do not think they are obese they certainly will pay less attention to all the health ramifications of being overweight, like diabetis and cancer.
We need to get honest with ourselves about our own weight and take action.
You can always click on Locker Room at the top of Citizen Hunter for new tips on diet and exercise!
Posted by: Flavia at July 10, 2006 06:39 PM--"He who conceals his disease cannot be cured."--
Ethiopian proverb.
Flavia response to Nathan is just right. I had heard or read somewhere that our problems facing us today are as much psychological as they are political. If we are in denial about some issues, we cannot fix them. Again, great job Nathan.
Posted by: joe at July 17, 2006 02:44 PM