Monday, February 17, 2014

Shannon Sundry Exploration 4

The major themes in this film is the way that our food is processed and what keeps them going. Many different people are interviewed such as industrial farmers, somewhat organic farmers and organic farmers. Throughout the film, there was a lot of comparing and contrasting. Starting with industrialization, it has changed our culture greatly. At the beginning of the film, the voice over says "America's greatest fear is inconvenience" our culture likes food for cheap and at our fingertips whenever we want. This is what supports industrial farming and keeps them alive. Industrial farming has taken all livestock off of farms and put them into factories. The animals are terribly mistreated and are  fed with harmful hormones and chemicals that they should not be eating. This sets up a big possibilities for the spread of disease from animal to animal or even spread into the food that we eat. Due to our need of cheap and convenient food, "Amounts of key nutrients in food today compared to the 50's has diminished by 40%" - according to the guy in the white coat.
   A concern that I have is where our culture's health may stand in years down the road if we keep eating this processed food. If key nutrients in food from the 50's to present day has decreased by 40%, what will food be like another 50 or so years from now? I think that people should start making slow changes to their eating habits by purchasing organic food. Although organic food is more expensive than other types of food, the movie said there's no such thing as cheap food. If you're not paying for it at the cash register, you're paying for it in other ways like your health or the environment. So although organic food costs more, it is also worth more. If our society starts to make these changes we would not only benefit our health but the environment and organic farming.

6 comments:

  1. "If key nutrients in food from the 50's to present day has decreased by 40%, what will food be like another 50 or so years from now?" This is a really good thought. It kind of disgusts me to think about what I have been putting in my body. Especially when I am in a rush and decide to just grab something. It's not healthy and it's gross.

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  2. "So although organic food costs more, it is also worth more." It is worth more because of all the benefits you're getting from that food. It's sad that people tend to eat industrialized food because it's cheaper and they have no clue what they're getting in return. That is why recently I made a transition to eat organic food because all of the health benefits that I'm gaining.

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  3. "So although organic food costs more, it is also worth more. If our society starts to make these changes we would not only benefit our health but the environment and organic farming."
    I agree totally with this statement. Even though it may seem like cheaper food is harmless people are paying for it in another way. Whether it be with having to buy more foods to get their key nutrients or in medical bills down the road.

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  4. "Although organic food is more expensive than other types of food, the movie said there's no such thing as cheap food." I agree cheap food comes at a price. The obvious price would be your health! If you are eating fast food everyday your safety becomes a concern. Sure if you spend some money on fresh food then you will have less money in the bank, but you can feel better knowing your healthy and can do things to make that extra cash back!

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  5. " A concern that I have is where our culture's health may stand in years down the road if we keep eating this processed food. " I never thought about the possibly detrimental outcomes that could arise from continuing to eat the way we do. I am sure that if it causes problems now it is for sure going to cause much more down the road for my children or even grandchildren. By starting your paragraph with that statement it truly caught my attention.

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  6. The idea that our greatest fear is inconvenience is so true. With the way our culture is set up, with fast food, drive thrus, jewelery stores in grocery stores, pharmacies in grocery stores, etc... shows that everything in our minds, must be close by, and in our ways as opposed to out of them, because at that point if it is out of someone's way, why would they go get it?

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