Jump to content

5 nutrition myths


C.O.
 Share

Recommended Posts

Yeah, the whole dairy thing may be the biggest nutritional fraud ever propagated on the american public by the government(USDA). It started back in the depression when dairy farmers refused to sell their milk at very low prices and instead choose to pour it out on the ground. The government thought we can't have this while people are starving, so the government started buying the milk which eventually lead to dairy subsidies basically putting the government into the dairy business. So of course, then they had to start promoting the supposed benefits of it to move their product.

 

People often think about things other cultures around the world consume which seem gross to us, but yet they think consuming something that comes from the utter of a cow normal just because that is what they grew up doing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are a few quick links I found about the great depression pouring of milk. I will try to get more info. on the government involvement when I have time.

 

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7150986_government-regulate-buying-price-milk_.html

http://www.kgbanswers.com/during-the-great-depression-why-did-dairy-farmers-dump-their-milk/10233665

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3468301232.html

Under Foreclosure and Dispossession section

'Wisconsin farmers hijacked milk trucks and spilled their contents in an effort to raise milk prices and protect their farms."

 

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/money_11.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Concerning the USDA subsides:

 

http://farm.ewg.org/progdetail.php?fips=00000&progcode=dairy If you click on top recipients you can see exactly what various farms are receiving.

 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/dairy/policy.aspx USDA website explaining how they support the price of milk.

 

http://www.fas.usda.gov/excredits/deip/deip-new.asp USDA even supports the exporting of milk.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/17/us-agriculture-dairy-idUSTRE5BG4HM20091217 Apparently anytime prices drop too low the USDA comes in and gives special payments to the dairy farmers.

 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/ProgramHistory_11.htm USDA pushes milk in the schools.

 

http://www.freakonomics.com/2008/07/24/the-illogic-of-farm-subsidies-and-other-agricultural-truths/

Talks about farm subsidies in general.

 

My point here is not to knock the farmers themselves. I realize farming is hard work and we certainly need them to live. But this is what happens when a government agency that is responsible for educating the public on what is supposedly healthy food gets involved in the subsidizing of food, it is only natural that they then will begin to promote these foods. The USDA recommendations on food intake have been terrible for years for many reasons, not just with the dairy intake recommendations. They have changed the food pyramid many times over the years but haven't really improved it very much as far as healthy recommendations except for increasing the recommendated intake of fruits/vegs slightly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this is what happens when a government agency that is responsible for educating the public on what is supposedly healthy food gets involved in the subsidizing of food, it is only natural that they then will begin to promote these foods. The USDA recommendations on food intake have been terrible for years for many reasons, not just with the dairy intake recommendations. They have changed the food pyramid many times over the years but haven't really improved it very much as far as healthy recommendations except for increasing the recommendated intake of fruits/vegs slightly.

 

Oh, man, so true. But the thing that frightens me most is how quickly and without chewing most people gulp down whatever medical/health facts-du-jour the government and other "reputable agencies" shovel at them. It ain't about health, it's economics, pure and simple. If it were really about health, every tobacco farm south of the Mason-Dixon Line would have been converted to hemp and organic veggie farms loooong ago. (Okay, there probably are a few hemp "farms" down there right now but I'll bet you money that they aren't the type people report on their income tax.)

 

Lewis Black has some enlightened stand up comedy about the subject of health and gov involvement but brace yourself for a slew of profanity if you ain't from effin' New York. (C.O. will explain it to you.) Go to 2 minutes in for the beginning of his health bit that starts with some hilarious observations about milk, 6 minutes in for his bit on bottled water....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBxwWPSQjsE

 

Continued....at 2 minutes in, he makes an enlightened point.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGE6gF07axw

 

Baby Herc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...