BAN FOOD!!! (on trains and buses)

[marshbrewer]

It wasn't aimed at you @jceg316 , but the out going Chief Medical Officer, who is as authoritarian as they come!

But as I said, there isn't really evidence that people who live unhealthy lifestyles cost more than those who don't in the long term if you look at lifelong care (for instance, have a look at this study that looks purely at healthcare costs of smoking, that concludes ~ 'If people stopped smoking, there would be a savings in health care costs, but only in the short term. Eventually, smoking cessation would lead to increased health care costs.'). Also, if you don't mind me saying, there is something a little illiberal about saying one is only prepared to fund a universal healthcare system for people who don't do things that one considers irrationally or unreasonably dangerous ~ where would one draw the line? Fatties? Motorcyclists? Pesky home brewers () and other drinkers? Surely, a universal healthcare model should be precisely that - universal, not dependent on peoples lifestyle choices made of their own free will?

 

[Dexter101]

I once took my salad nicoise onto a train, it immediately turned into a milkshake and 3 burgers. By the time I came off the train I was 30kg heavier with a heart condition.

This is a weird suggestion. I definitely think people should be able to eat whatever, but food should be taxed accordingly to cover external costs. You want a burger? Have one, but pay the tax which will cover the NHS costs of obesity related diseases.

I get your point but burgers in themselves aren't unhealthy. If all you ate was salad nicoise, you would not be healthy and still would have a need for the NHS.

The problem really is that a burger is far cheaper to buy than a salad niciose so apart from if you have no need to worry about money, burgers will always be more attractive if you need a quick lunch.

 

[Dexter101]

I have written this whist eating my way through 6 bakewell tarts. No journeys on public transport were used in the making of this post.

 

[marshbrewer]

6 bakewell tarts

I hope they were exceedingly good.

 

[DavidDetroit]

Burgers get a bad reputation. It's the Coke and fries that should be skipped. There is a moderate amount of carbs/sugar from the bun. People get lethargic and possibly eventually overweight from the pop and fries.
It's like when turkey was being blamed for the sleepiness/lethargic factor at Thanksgiving. I can tell you, eating 6-8oz of turkey with a piece of Swiss cheese does not make you tired.
It's blaming, arguably, the most healthy item on the plate.
Tryptophan myth.

 

[Dexter101]

Burgers get a bad reputation. It's the Coke and fries that should be skipped. There is a moderate amount of carbs/sugar from the bun. People get lethargic and possibly eventually overweight from the pop and fries.
It's like when turkey was being blamed for the sleepiness/lethargic factor at Thanksgiving. I can tell you, eating 6-8oz of turkey with a piece of Swiss cheese does not make you tired.
It's blaming, arguably, the most healthy item on the plate.
Tryptophan myth.

Agree.

A friend of mine was showing me some research recently that shows (and I am simplifying this a lot!) that the number of insulin spikes are directly related to long term health. Having frequent spikes is a lot worse than having one huge spike.

High levels of protein can also spike insulin levels.

Food types interact with eachother. So having a glass of red wine with a bowl of pasta, actually prevented the insulin spike.

I may be wrong but I think that in the US, chips are a lot worse than they are in the UK. That dammed EU legislation making sure our chips are just fried potato...

 

[Clint]

"6 Bakewell tarts"...love it!!!

 

[Dexter101]

had to eat them all before anyone in the office asked if they could have one

 

[DavidDetroit]

our chips are just fried potato...

The US takes "Let the buyer beware" to a whole new level when it comes to what's in our food. The FDA does not have a real interest in protecting the population. At one point, many years ago, "Imitation" was removed from store labeling. It was a food industry push that has been detrimental to the US population ever since. The RDA (recommended daily allowance) is a joke. It's basically the minimum you must take in so you don't die. Thus you get a vitamin rating, for example, of 466% of the RDA.
I do follow my own advice and make burgers at home with some frequency but only make French fries/chips once in a great while as a treat. We don't eat out much.