I have great respect for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, but I’m getting tired of having them tell me, in great irrefutable detail, why I need to stop eating.
(Via The Skeptical Hypochrondiac.)
I have great respect for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, but I’m getting tired of having them tell me, in great irrefutable detail, why I need to stop eating.
(Via The Skeptical Hypochrondiac.)
Richard Rhiew at 3:04am June 8
Unfortunately, as a health professional, I agree with CSPI. If we are going to have Universal Healthcare we’ll have to ban fast food, smoking, and alcohol. We’ll also have to change the legal system so that everyone who files a suit has to make large payments to help cover the financial losses from the above bans…But seriously, I do believe our country has gotten out of control with our weights. I see it every day and I’ve noticed it has gotten worse over time.
Stuart Markus at 9:14am June 8
Well, alcohol (in due moderation) has proven health benefits and is already regulated. But I’d be in favor of regulating fast food for nutritional content, and taxing it to cover the cost of the health care in necessitates. And banning tobacco, except for ritual purposes. Jeff, have you considered snacking on vegetables?
Seeing as how I’m reading your comments while having my nic fix, you can guess my opinions about an outright ban on smoking. I’m in favor of universal health care in a big way, but not because it gives us the excuse to set up a nanny state which forbids all that which is bad for us. Doubly so if you’ll ban it for health reasons, but carve out bullshit “ritual purposes” which allows religious expression to trump health issues — but not admit that people smoke because it damn well feels good.
The better solution is that we’ve allowed corporatism and the profit motive to justify creating a society awash in Big Macs, supersize sugar waters, and carcinogenic addiction sticks. We have the science to create safe alternatives to all of the above — genetically modified tobacco is one hell of a drug delivery system, and I suspect you’ll be playing a different tune in 2019 when it’s possible to smoke an aspirin.
I don’t smoke. I drink in extreme moderation. And I snack on vegetables. My lifestyle choices would normally be a paragon of health.
But goddamn anyone who tells me I’m not ALLOWED to have a freaking cheeseburger and fries washed down with a beer now and then!