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The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially
by Protica Nutritional Research
Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary to a very
outdated perception, this harm is not limited to those who suffer from
obesity[1]. In reality, according to the Directors of Health Promotion and
Education, the majority of Americans exhibit unhealthy eating habits, with just
over one in four women and only one in five men claiming to eat the minimum
five daily servings of vegetables and fruits[i].
In response to this growing wave of American malnutrition, a number of
nutrition-based solutions have been proposed. This has been both a positive, an
ironically, a negative, development.
This has been positive in light of the simple fact that it has helped increase
basic “nutrition IQ”. The fact that most urban centers are home to dozens of
diet and weight loss centers, and that many malls now have at least one health
store has advanced awareness of America’s unhealthy eating problem.
So, too, have the numerous television shows and news reports that have covered
the popular diets that dominate current weight loss discussions, such as: the
Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Zone Diet, and more. The fact that a
vending machine may actually contain a piece of fruit these days is further
positive expressions of this growing nutritional awareness.
However, there is a downside as well. This increasing information has created a
dizzying health and nutrition marketplace within which some irresponsible
products are being offered. Among these products – and arguably the worst kind
-- are those that artificially suppress appetite.
There are two equally important reasons why appetite suppressants are dangerous
and irresponsible nutrition ideas.
The first reason is that they delude dieters into thinking that real weight is
being lost. For example, an unfortunately popular choice for some dieters is to
take diet pills. These pills are often diuretics that promote weight-loss
through water loss. As such, while a dieter will feel less hungry and lose
weight while taking the diet pills, both of these effects will cease when
taking the pills cease. Weight gain will return rapidly, as will appetite[ii].
This leads to the other reason why these appetite suppressant products are
irresponsible and harmful. The human body is home to a vastly intelligent
network of systems, cells, chemicals, and neurotransmitters. Regardless of
one’s personal view of evolution of how the human body came to be this way, it
is agreed by both creationists, evolutionists, and everyone else that the human
body is a remarkable example of comprehensive intelligence.
For example, the human body is able to synthetically produce – without any
conscious help from the owner of that body – 12 of the 20 amino acids that
comprise protein[2]. Or consider the blood, whose plasma carries platelets that
enable minor wound blot clotting. Both of these examples reflect a special kind
of intelligence that the human body humbly and quietly exhibits throughout
life.
When hunger is artificially suppressed it interferes with this intelligence. The
body and its intricate network of problem-solving mechanisms become confused.
Basically, the body is still hungry, but it does not feel hungry. The body is
still craving the basic nutrition it requires to survive: proteins, essential
fats, nutrients, vitamins, and calories. Yet because the hunger signal is not
being effectively transmitted from these systems to the brain – due to the
appetite suppressant – the individual dieter is not responding. In the
short-term, a dieter may lose some pounds[3]. In the long-term the dieter will
suffer from some form of malnutrition.
Clearly, appetite suppression “solutions” are not solutions at all. They are
irresponsible and potentially damaging – even fatal – biological short cuts
that undermine the innate intelligence of the human body. They also often
render the dieter weaker and in worse shape than before, particularly if the
inevitable post-pill weight gain leads to a bout of emotional eating and
subsequent additional weight gain.
What is required is a rather dated staple of healthy weight loss: a healthy
diet[iii][4]. This is, however, easier said than done particularly since, as
noted above, in America only about 25% of women and 20% eat enough fruit and
vegetable servings per day.
Within this rather complex scenario or problems and limitations, however, there
are some pioneering companies that are enjoying critical acclaim from both the
medical and the weight loss fields.
These companies – and admittedly there are extremely few of them -- offer
dieters a balanced meal supplement that can also be used as a meal replacement.
This is of particular value to dieting business executives, university
students, and other frenetically busy people who do not have the time to
prepare balanced, diet-conscious meals.
Of greater importance is that these advanced solutions do not suppress hunger at
all, nor recklessly deny the body the nutrients and vitamins required for
healthy survival. Instead, the body is given the fuel that it needs via vitamin
fortified, low-calorie, fat-free food that is well-balanced and nutritionally
sound.
It will remain unacceptable, offensive, and disturbing to see so-called “diet
solutions” that are little more than appetite suppressants that can -- and
often do -- create much more harm than superficial, temporary good. It is
expected that, eventually, such products will be exposed for the irresponsible
items that they are, and banned from the marketplace.
However, until that happens, it will be up to the responsible nutrition
companies in America to continue developing solutions that truly help dieters
help themselves in the long term.
[1] Obesity, which is caused mainly by unhealthy eating, is responsible for an
estimated 300,000 deaths per year and all of them preventable.
[2] The remaining 8 amino acids are called the “essential amino acids” and must
be obtained through diet.
[3] This kind of diuretic weight loss, however, will come at the expense of
muscle and not fat.
[4] In addition to diet, customized exercise plans are also proposed to aid and
maintain healthy long-term weight loss.
References
[i] Source: “Physical Activity and Unhealthy Eating”. The Directors of Health
Promotion and Education.
http://www.astdhpphe.org/pubs_facts_physicalfactsheet3.asp
[ii] Source: “Potentially Dangerous Diet Strategies”. PDR.Net.
http://health.yahoo.com/centers/weight_loss/30004
[iii] Source: “Weight Loss: What Really Works?”. WebMD.
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/49/40236.htm
About The Author
Copyright 2004 - Protica Research -
www.protica.com
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in
Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized
foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein
beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is
available at
www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at
www.profect.com.
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