Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

Just Hold Back!

Before you start salivating at this image, read on...

Our local NPR station hosts "The Academic Minute," a segment that features professors from around the world, delving into  a variety of topics and  keeping us abreast of what's new and exciting in the Academe. The subject on December 19, 2011 was timely.

"Meetings, Snacking, and Obesity," presented Carly Pacanowski, addresses how the groaning board served at almost every meeting or social gathering we attend can have unintended health consequences.  Her academic minute is valuable and lucid.

Ms. Pacanowski is a Cornell Ph.D. candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences and is interested in obesity, body weight regulation, and quality of life.

Endocannabinoids, Comfort Foods and Obesity

We've all heard of, and many of us have experienced, the "mairjuana munchies."  In her recent article in the the NY Times, When Fatty Feasts are Driven by Automatic Pilot,  Tara Parker-Pope discusses recent research that shows fatty foods can induce the release of natural marijuanalike chemicals (endocannabinoids)  in the gut that induce cravings for more... 

Something to think about at this weekend's picnic.

Beating Obesity in a Fat Nation

As you sit down tonight at Sunday Dinner, reflect for a moment on the stats from the U.S.

The lead article in May 2010’s The Atlantic is called “FAT NATION:  It’s worse than you think.  How to beat obesity.“  This is a long, dense, well-written and important essay.  Here’s the intro: 

“BEATING OBESITY: After years of dieting, the author finally resorted to bariatric surgery. It worked—but he realized that it’s too expensive to stem our obesity epidemic. So what to do? Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity plan, he argues, is a major first step. Developed largely in secret, and with startling comprehensiveness, it has thrilled advocates— and made the food industry anxious to cooperate.”

The article actually covers much more.  You can read it here: FAT NATION, THE ATLANTIC. .

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