Eating Beef: Cattle, Methane and Food Production.

Eating beef: cattle, methane and food production.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2013; 22(1): 16-24
Wahlquist AK

A number of prominent people have advocated eating less meat or becoming a vegetarian to reduce global warming, because cattle produce the greenhouse gas methane. This raises a number of questions including: what will happen to the grasslands that much of the world’s cattle currently graze; how will alternate protein be produced, and what will the greenhouse consequences of that production be? It comes down to production systems. About 70 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is grassland, and the only way to produce food from grasslands is to graze ruminants on it. If domesticated animals do not graze the grasslands, native or feral ruminants, which also produce methane, tend to move in. Feeding high quality grain to cattle is much less defensible. Replacing animal protein with plant proteins like soybeans necessitates more cropping land, water, fuel and chemicals being used. A more rational food system would raise cattle on grasslands but not feed them high quality grains. Instead more of the currently grown crop could be devoted to human consumption.
HubMed – eating

 

Thailand nutrition in transition: situation and challenges of maternal and child nutrition.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2013; 22(1): 6-15
Winichagoon P

Double burden of malnutrition (DBMN), the coexistence of under- and overnutrition in the same population, is an emerging public health concern in developing countries, including Thailand. This paper aims to review the maternal and child nutrition situation and trends as the country moved from a low-income to a middle-income country, using data from large scale national surveys. Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies predominantly affected mothers and children prior to the 1980s. The situation greatly improved during the 1980s- 1990s, with the implementation of multi-sectoral policies and programs focusing on poverty alleviation and primary health care. Economic development, improved access to health services and effective community-based nutrition programs contributed to these positive trends. However, the prevalence of low birth weight remained at 8- 10%, while stunting and underweight declined to about 10% by the 1990s, with small change thereafter. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women and children decreased by half and vitamin A deficiency is no longer a public health problem. Iodine deficiency, especially during pregnancy is still a major concern. As the country progressed in terms of economic and social development, overnutrition among women and children affected all socio-economic levels. Changes in lifestyles, food access and eating patterns are observed both in urban and rural areas. Although efforts have been made to address these challenges, harmonized policy and strategic programs that address DBMN in the complex social and economic environment are urgently needed. Early life undernutrition should be considered along with measures to address obesity and chronic diseases in children.
HubMed – eating

 

Daytime Sleepiness Affects Prefrontal Regulation of Food Intake.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Neuroimage. 2013 Jan 23;
Killgore WD, Schwab ZJ, Weber M, Kipman M, Deldonno SR, Weiner MR, Rauch SL

The recent epidemic of obesity corresponds closely with the decline in the average number of hours of sleep obtained nightly. While growing research suggests that sleep loss may affect hormonal and other physiological systems related to food intake, no studies have yet explored the role that sleepiness may play in reducing prefrontal inhibitory control over food intake. Because evidence suggests that women may be more prone to obesity and eating disorders, as well as more likely to suffer from sleep problems, we examined the relation between general daytime sleepiness, brain responses to food stimuli, and self-reported overeating separately for men and women. Thirty-eight healthy adults (16 women; 22 men) aged 18 to 45 underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing pictures of high- and low-calorie foods. Subjects completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and provided a rating to the query “how often do you eat more than you intend to.” Contrast images comparing brain activation derived from the high- versus low-calorie conditions were correlated voxel-wise with scores from the ESS in a second-level regression model, the output of which was used to predict self-reported overeating. As hypothesized, daytime sleepiness correlated with reduced activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex during perception of high- versus low-calorie food images. Moreover, activation within this cluster predicted overeating, but only for women. Findings suggest that normal fluctuations in sleepiness may be sufficient to affect brain regions important for regulating food intake, but that these effects may differ between men and women.
HubMed – eating

 


 

(Self Harm Song) Please Don’t Cut (Official Lyrics Video) Original song By MikelWJ – A song written about the topic of Self Harm. iTunes download link: itunes.apple.com Contact me on my facebook: www.facebook.com #PleaseDontCut After many requests, and a personal realization, I have decided that it would be very appropriate for me to create a song about self harm and cutting. I hope that you enjoy the song, and that it is able to help you in some way. Remember there are better ways of coping out there, such as writing, playing a sport, or talking to someone. Self harm should be your last option, or never be an option in the first place. Thank you all for listening, and stay strong. — Mikel Wilson Jones MikelWJ Links: Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Tumblr: www.mikelwj.tumblr.com Soundcloud www.soundcloud.com ISV: www.facebook.com If you want to email me about any questions, booking or collaboration requests, email me at: [email protected]

 

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