"Westerners 'programmed for fatty foods and alcohol'"

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amy1985

New member
BBC News - Westerners 'programmed for fatty foods and alcohol'

"The switch controls the areas of the brain which allows us to select which foods we would like to eat and if it is turned on too strongly we are more likely to crave fatty foods and alcohol.

"The fact that the weaker switch is found more frequently in Asians compared to Europeans suggests they are less inclined to select such options.

"These results give us a glimpse into early European life where brewing and dairy produce were important sources of calories during the winter months.

"Thus, a preference for food with a higher fat and alcohol content would have been important for survival.

"The negative effects of fat and alcohol we see today would not have mattered so much then as life expectancies were between 30 to 40 years.
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I don't think we've been "programmed" to eat that kind of food, rather RAISED to eat that kind of food. Our parents are responsible to teach us how to eat. And, if you look at the trend, many Westerners rely on fast food restaurants and junk food to fill their kids' bellies. Instead of cooking a healthier meal for their children, a lot of Westerners take their kids to McDonald's two or three times a week...because they're "so busy with blah blah blah."

So, no...we're not necessarily programmed to eat like shit, but we're certainly being raised to do so.

Also, and I shouldn't laugh at this, but...funniest picture EVER in that article? HAHAHA, GOLDDIGGA?!?!?! It's too funny.
 
What a bunch of bull.

Programmed for fatty foods and alcohol?

I hate fatty foods, and I don't drink. At all. Ever.

Did somebody forget to program me??
 
Actually a lot of Chinese/Asian people are missing the enzyme to process alcohol (being half Chinese I am missing that enzyme so I can't drink).

Chinese also do not traditionally eat dairy products (no milk, cheese or cream). They derive their calcium from fish bones or meat stewed on the bone. And many are lactose intolerant simply beause they were either not raised on dairy or their ancestors weren't.

Some of the diet preferences are also related to the weather, warmer climates (with no airconditioning) mean people will often eat lighter foods. However, Northern Chinese have always been bigger than the Southerners as they eat heavier diets of dumplings, fatty meats, etc.

However, with the introduction of McDonalds and other Western foods Chinese are getting bigger. Not simply fatter but taller and bigger boned as even a bad diet feeds the body.

And they haven't flinched at all at eating high fat foods, in fact they have adapted so well that even China is starting to have a problem with obesity!

I think all humans enjoy high fatty and sweet foods no matter what their racial or genetic origin.

What a silly study! Did our taxes pay for that?
 
Well if you look over time we have begun to have a serious obesity problem. My grandparents use to cook all my parents meals all the time and they ate healthier then most people do today. Now though with today's society we have tons of options to choose from including fast foods which has made life easier. It is because less people are willing to cook that we have shifted from a good old fashion home cooked meal to a society that many prefer to eat fast food. We are not "programmed" we just are enjoying the "luxury" that many did not in the past.
 
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