The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially

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Article Title:

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The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially

Article Description:

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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a very outdated perception, this harm is not limited to those who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].

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1027 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: Fri May 20 03:08:49 EDT 2005

Written By: Protica Research

Copyright: 2005

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The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially

Copyright © 2005 Protica Research

http://www.protica.com/

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a very outdated perception, this harm is not limited to those who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.

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.

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[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

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./centers/weight_loss/30004

[iii] Source: “Weight Loss: What Really Works?”. WebMD.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/49/40236.htm

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Copyright - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

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About Protica

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 http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com