Utilizing the first article, discuss what is locally grown and what is currently in season in your area.
Typically, conventional food products that are grown in factory farms travel approximately 1500 miles to reach the supermarkets and could take up to 14 days. In order to survive these grueling ventures, conventional fruits and vegetables are typically genetically engineered to withstand harsh traveling factors. Locally grown foods travel significantly less and are typically seasonally grown food. These fruits and vegetables are harvested in season and are defined by regional growing conditions. A local farm nearby provides the community winter greens and free range chicken. Although more expensive than conventional products, these local organic products are sure to be free of antibiotics.
Discuss your thoughts on seasonal/local foods and hospital menus.
The idea to provide seasonal farm products in hospital menus would be ideal; however, it seems as though hospitals have to provide a number of specific foods to patients depending on their restrictions, in which some patients could be restricted to some seasonal products. Providing 100% seasonal foods would not be feasible, but a hospital menu that provides the majority of locally grown foods would be beneficial to the health of the patients, the local economy, and environment.
Find a Harvest Calendar for your state (or a state you are interested in) utilizing the link in the first article (found underneath the example Harvest Calendar for New York State).
According to http://www.pickyourown.org/CAharvestcalendar.htm#southerncal, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, fennel, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemon, lettuce, mandarins, oranges, radish, spinach, and strawberries are in season.
What are your thoughts on the second article? Have you heard of obesogens before?
I have heard of the idea of obesogens but have not learned about them. Obesogens are dietary, pharmaceuticals, and industrial compounds that may alter metabolic processes and predispose some individuals to gain weight. Obesogens such as BPA and other plasticizers are concerning when exposed at critical developmental periods because early life exposures are found to be irreversible. Although other factors contribute to weight gain, the evidence of obesogens leaves individuals exposed at an early age predisposed to metabolic processes related to weight gain. I believe the health impact of obesogens are real; but more research and significant data needs to be demonstrated in order to bring widespread attention and political intervention to address these potentially dangerous compounds.
I see several advantages if including local and seasonal foods in hospital menus such as to improve food choices for patients, increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, support local farmers and local economy, and it also promote practices that protect the environment. By the way, there is nothing better that locally grown food in Placerville and El Dorado county.
ReplyDeleteI did not know what obesogenes were until reading the article in this module. I agree with you that more research is needed to understand the effects of obesogenes. Once this research is conducted, policy makers will be more influence to adapt policy that protect individuals from chemicals classified as obesogenes.
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