There is much to be understood about what and why we eat the way we do. Do we eat what we crave? Do we eat what was taught to us as good food? Do we eat what is SOLD to us? The Psychology of our food consumption is as divergent and complex as piecing together our Ancestry.com lineage.
In a study published yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, doubts are being cast about the USDA and World Health Organizations findings about sugar consumption. The standards for sugar consumption were reconsidered in recent years as the growing epidemic of obesity keeps pushing higher and higher. While it seems common knowledge that sugar is empty calories and to curb disease we must cut back on it, there is a GIANT industry of sugar sweetened beverage producers that is not going to let that happen without a fight.
The study does not discount the fact that sugar consumption should be lowered but what it does is throw a psychological wrench in our thinking. Let me explain.
The human mind is a stubborn thing to break and change. Since the guidelines that the WHO and USDA brought about have us re-defining our overall eating patterns, we can classify this as new and disrupting information. These two organizations and the information must fight a truly uphill battle in order to sink into our consciousness. The new study that I am referring to is spinning the guidelines as "negative" and 'undefined'. Our psychology is naturally quick to jump on the negative band wagon as it allows us to sneak out the back door and keep on the same path we are already going down. Simply, its an easier path than changing things up!
For every 100 positive pieces of science in defense of lowering sugar intake, all there needs to be is 1 or 2 pieces of negative science to derail the entire process. It is psychology and it is being to used against you each day.
Correlations between this subject, the Climate Change discussion and even the Big Tobacco fight are easily observed. The fight over, "my science is better than yours" keeps positive change from happening. Slowing down how imperative you think the problem is, allows companies to keep making money and the population getting sicker and sicker.
I am proposing a COMPLETE BAN on Sugar Sweetened Beverages and empty calories in your diet. Our history on this earth has shown that we will survive without it. The fact that science is being used to manipulate the public's thinking makes me shake my head in disgust. The tactic is not new and will inevitably be used again and again as we approach controversial topics. Keeping your eyes open and reading between the lines takes time and effort but we all must be critical of all the information to presented to us.
And if you don't have time to do it all.. keep reading each day... right here... Because that is all I do!
WOD:
"Opens Test"
20 Minute AMRAP
50 Wall Ball
50 DOuble Unders
40 Box Jump
40 Toes To bar
30 Burpee
30 Chest To bar
20 Clean 145/100
20 Jerk
10 Snatch
10 Muscle Ups
