How to Fight Childhood Obesity and Have a Blast Doing It

By Brenda Fleck, OCI Culinary Management student

Most parents are always looking for ways to improve the health of their children, whether it is the child’s physical or mental health. One of the greatest problems with our children in this country is childhood obesity. There is one easy and fun way that you can help this problem and greatly improve your child's success in life. It will greatly increase their self confidence, self esteem, manners, grades, nutrition, self respect, time management, and communication skills. Taking one hour a day with your children cooking a meal and eating it as a family can greatly reduce the threat of obesity and Type II diabetes, blood pressure, stroke and depression.

It comes down to getting back to spending time as a family, which has been cast aside in our busy lives and replaced with fast and processed food and the computer, phone and video games. As a parent of several teenagers, both my life and my children’s lives are very busy and chaotic, but having dinner as a family has greatly improved our family as a whole. We have decided to face this chaos together and have benefited from it. Now we would like to pass on some information to other families who may be facing some of the issues we did.

Obesity is a huge epidemic in America. The rate of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States has nearly tripled between the early 1980’s and 2000. In 2008 the rate of overweight or obese children in the US was 32%.

One out of three children and teens are overweight or obese it is the #1 health concern among parents in the United State topping drug abuse and smoking. As a parent that really concerns me we seem to be fighting a food monster. This monster is attacking our homes and we seem to be losing the battle, but we don’t have to there is way to help at home. (Ogden,)

Those extra pounds aren't just baby weight or something they grow out of, but can put children at serious risk for developing health problems including Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels and asthma. That is just the physical risks; it can also take an emotional toll. Overweight and obese children often have trouble with playing sports and activities, other children may tease and exclude them leading to low self esteem, negative body image and very often depression. Depression can often cause fatigue, isolation, lower grades, and more severe cases, suicide. ( hekpguide.org)

Health Benefits of Cooking and Eating As a Family

There is a fantastic and easy way you can directly help your children with this problem. Through healthy habits that start at home, like cooking at home and eating as a family, you can get your family on the right track.

Cooking at home with your children promotes better eating habits. Children involved in the kitchen tend to be more receptive to trying new foods. Children are more apt to eat more fruits and vegetables, consuming more whole grains, and choosing leaner types of meat, like fish. You can involve your children in meal planning, shopping and food preparation. That way you can offer healthier, lower calorie foods and they are more receptive to the idea. (hekpguide.org)

Children are also more apt to try healthier foods when they help prepare them. The basic knowledge of where food comes from can promote more healthy eating choices even as they become adults. Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They usually contain more fruits, vegetables, dairy along with other nutrients like fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C. People tend to eat less fried and salty foods at home. They have also found that soda and sweetened beverage consumption are usually lower at the dinner table. (Hand)

Teens that rarely have family dinner are three and a half times more likely to abuse prescription drugs or an illegal drug other than marijuana. They have also found that girls who have five or more meals a week with their families are one-third less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits, which can range from skipping to meals to more serious diseases like anorexia, bulimia, and abusing diet pills.

As parents, we all know about coming home and everyone is plugged in to a computer, video game, iPod, whatever, usually eating some type of junk food in the process. When we have children in the kitchen, they are up and active, using their brains and bodies, increasing their creativity and imagination, and they are generally not eating junk food, but whole fresh food. (WebMD Magee)

Encouraging your children to cook can create healthy eating habits while also promoting parent and child bonding; it has both short and long term benefits.

Basic Life Skills

These benefits can really apply to their basic everyday life, such as learning about hygiene. The idea of washing their hands and washing their food when necessary will help them see the importance of hygiene. Also, washing hands and face before sitting at the table is a great way showing kids good hygiene and leading by example, and requiring everyone to have the same rules, gives them a sense of awareness and respect for the table.

Children are more likely to sit down with the family if they help prepare the meal. This really gives them a sense of accomplishment, while boosting their self-confidence and self- respect, not to mention their self-esteem. Children can also learn about a sense of service by cooking for the family. They learn to care about the food they are serving—how it looks and tastes really become important when they have a hand in making it. This also promotes the plain enjoyment of eating a good meal, and the understanding how much work actually goes into preparing that meal.

There are some great long-term benefits of cooking with your children. Learning to cook is a life skill. Learning to plan menus and how to shop for food is a very important skill that carries many benefits, such as budgeting. Even if you are on a tight budget, being able to shop and still get good, whole food, like fresh produce from a garden instead of Spagettio’s and Top Ramen, can provide a healthy meal for a entire family for under $20, maybe less if that gardens your own (which is also a another great skill that will last a lifetime).

It can benefit them with time-management especially for busy families with many events going on in the evening, being able to cook something quick and healthy is a true life saver. Some experts have determined that cooking with your kids promotes better communication and coping skills that lessen the likelihood of substance abuse. (WebMD, Magee)

Social Benefits

The bottom line is bringing children into the kitchen is a great way to get to know your children. If you take a relaxed approach they will respond to you in many ways. They may start by asking about just the task at hand, but those questions can grow into more serious topics as they get more comfortable. As your relationship grows, children tend to be more open to let you help with problems at school, friends, ect.. You will find dynamics of your relationship change in a positive way.

It is six o’clock in the evening and do you know where you family is?

You might be surprised how many families are find themselves separated running their own lives and not really coming together to regroup and catch up on each others’ lives. Children and parents alike need that time to remind them of the family dynamics that brings wholeness to this chaotic world. Children need structure and a safe place where they can be themselves without the pressure of having to behave a certain way like they do around their peers.

The idea of sitting together as a family might sound a little June Cleave-ish and antiquated but it can really boost your family’s relationship as a whole. Eating dinner every night keeps the doors of communication open and lets them know that they are a priority in your life. Sitting across the table is where and when you can find out more about your children’s likes, dislikes, and daily life. Regular family meals is a great way for a parent to share ideas and to be involved, discuss rules, monitor activities, friends and most important be a good role model.

Coming together at the table can be a opportunity for parents to teach and display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills. Make sure try not criticize, keep the mood light, relaxed and most of all loving just lead them by example.

What to talk About?

Having trouble knowing what to talk about? Here are a few ideas you can try at your family table. Ask everyone what was their favorite and worst parts of their day. Exchange memories from your favorite family past times a funny story about Uncle Norton could really boost the mood at the table. (Especially with teenagers that are surly in nature, laughter is a great medicine for crankiness). You can talk to your children about a book they are reading or a movie they have seen--you might even be able to motivate them in wanting to have a move night. Discuss a family outing or activity you can do together and be sure to put it on the calendar.

Of course, you can ask your children about their classes, assignments, and teachers, and find out if they need any help in or want to brainstorm on an upcoming assignment. There always is planning the next day’s menu and preparation--you can discuss who will help with what keeping your next meal more organized and easier for everyone all round. (family.samhsa.gov)

Explore Different Foods and Countries

Children love to explore new worlds. Encourage your children to try new foods without forcing or bribing them. Introduce new food with an old standby favorite so they do not feel threatened. Be patient. It can take up to 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted. Make sure you get your children involved let them pick the country or a new vegetable from the farmer’s market. Then have them look it up online or from a cookbook, newspapers, magazine and find a recipe. This is another great way to bond with your children while opening them up to new ideas in food and cultures. (Hand) Have a whole night dedicated to a new country every month decorate with the theme and explore this country together through food. Don’t tell your children they won’t like certain things--let them try everything be adventurous together.

Educational Benefits

Children do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who eat with their family four or more times a week with their families have higher academic performance compared to those who did not. Children who feel that their parents are asking about their assignments are more likely to want to please and get better grades. Coming home and announcing a good grade on a test, assignment or a whole class gives them a sense of accomplishment and acknowledgement from the whole family. Children all need praise by coming together at the table gives them a chance to celebrate their success with people who love them.(Hand)

Your kitchen can also be a classroom in disguise.

Recipes can improve a child’s math skills. Following a recipe requires knowledge of measurements which most often includes fractions. Younger children can practice counting when measuring multiple cups or spoons of ingredients. If you have six cups of flour in a cake, let them count them out loud. When doubling a recipe, have your children figure out the right amount. This is a great way to practice their fractions.

Reading from recipes and following directions in order can improve their problem solving. If you are missing an ingredient you can teach them to improvise, when possible. For example, if you do not have buttermilk you can use one cup milk to three tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar and create sour milk which will work in its place.

There are also some really fun scientific concepts are in cooking such as freezing solids, and how yeast works with gluten to bread rise. Try and experiment with your children: freeze vinegar in one container and water in another, and discuss why the vinegar won’t freeze. Look online together why water freezes at 32 degrees, what causes this? ect... This is a fun way to get your children interested in science.

The physical side of cooking can improve motor skills. The activity of mixing ingredients, kneading dough, rolling cookies, and peeling carrots exercises the muscles in their hands, improving their dexterity. Children really like to get in there and get their hands dirty playing with your food is not always a bad thing! In fact, it can be quite educational and fun for all.

Financial Benefits

Family dinners save money. Right now the restaurant industry share of total food dollar is more than 46%. The cause of this mostly is busy schedules, commitments and activities such as sports, music lessons, scouts, but whatever it may be, families eat out several times a week. You can change that by eating later in the evening. Planning quick, nutritious meals that take 30 minutes or less there are many cookbooks and shows that are geared to help in that area. It saves a lot of money and time by shopping once a week rather than daily, and you can process all fruits and vegetables for the week getting set for success. Plus, you can get together and plan a menu that is fun and engaging for all of the family, and with the money you save you can plan a treat for the family to all enjoy together.

No More Excuses

Let’s face it: this is a crazy world we live in. It seems that we are all going and going without stopping to realize what is important to us. Your family is a blessing that must not be taken for granted. Children are learning not to smell the roses, so to speak, and they are suffering. We love our children and want what is best for them. Giving our children the tools to be able to pass on this great tradition of cooking and eating as a family is a godsend. Our children hopefully will be able to give their children these tools and create healthy habits for their children. Just taking the time to impart these skills and habits to our children could greatly affect our future grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on! Why not? There are no more excuses. We can do this! Parents should unite and make cooking and eating as a family a normal occurrence, instead of a once-in-a-while thing or just on the holidays.

There is no one right answer to the epidemic of obesity, but if we are going to help our children become healthy adults, we must take stock in what we can do for them as parents. There are ways to cook and eat as a family if there is a little effort on our part. It might take some extra planning and ingenuity, but it is possible. Some examples are: if your children have sports, music, ballet, etc.: eat later. Instead of eating at six o’clock, eat at seven thirty. The use of a crock pot (slow cooker) can be a life saver for the busy family--it cooks while you are gone, giving you the chance to go about your day. There are tons of cookbooks out there that concentrate on cooking good, whole foods fast that you can use to plan ahead for the next day. There are also TV Shows like 30 Minute Meals from Rachael Ray that can show you great, healthy recipes that are quick and easy. There are even cookbooks on 15 Minute Meals by Rachael Ray if you are even more pressed for time. The resources are out there, you just have to have the desire to go get them. The internet is a fantastic source for all types of quick, easy meals and oftentimes, has the nutritional information for those meals are easy to find as well.

Organization is the key to success. Planning menus ahead of time can greatly increase your success in accomplishing this goal. Parents have busy schedules, true, with work, trying to keep the house running (laundry, cleaning, cooking, feeding the dog, etc.) and, of course, dealing with children and their lives. It can be tough, but it is possible to do if you make cooking and eating with your children a real priority in your family’s life. We as parents are responsible for our children’s well being, and it is up to us to fight against all things that threaten our children. If obesity was a child molester, we would fight them to the death to protect our children, but why are we not willing to take an hour a day to help our children fight against this terrible epidemic that is scarring our children for a lifetime? We must fight with all of our being to make this epidemic of childhood obesity no longer the number one concern of parents in this country. We as parents should stand together for our children and bring back the family dynamic that is created in the kitchen and at the family table.

Coffee - Panacea or Poison?

by OCI Culinary Management student Robert Lindner


First consumed as a beverage in Ethiopia in the 9th century, coffee has become one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. The social impact of coffee over the centuries has been two-fold: on the one hand, coffee has been used as part of religious ceremonies and a sign of high esteem; on the other hand, it was banned in many societies due to its association with rebellious political activities. Historical and societal impacts aside, I will focus on the ongoing arguments surrounding the consumption of coffee and its positive or negative impacts on a healthy lifestyle.

It’s hard to dispute the popularity of coffee. Over 70 countries in the world, all along the equator, grow coffee, and more than 400 billion cups of coffee are drunk each year worldwide. Coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth, second to oil. With such an impact on us humans, various scientific studies have focused on what impact, if any; coffee consumption has had on human physiology. As with anything we consume, moderation is the key. I firmly believe that coffee’s contribution has had a positive influence on all that enjoy the beverage. I will show both sides of the argument and will support my belief by referencing scientific studies, magazine and newspaper articles.

The History of Coffee

Although the story of the of the goat herder, noticing that his goats were more lively after eating berries from a certain bush, is very popular, there is no hard evidence to show when the discovery of coffee actually happened. The coffee tree probably originated in what today is known as Ethiopia (www.cosic.com). Before it was discovered to have a stimulating effect as a beverage, the fruit of the coffee tree, or cherry, was consumed as a food. Around 1,000 years ago, some evidence has shown that cultivation of the coffee tree began in monastery gardens and commercial cultivation followed some time later in the 15th century.

Although the history of the coffee as a beverage is murky, sometime in the 9th Century Arabs began boiling the beans for make a stimulating drink called ‘qahwa’, which literally translates to “that which prevents sleep” (www.firstscience.com). This drink, offered at these early coffee houses, became known as Arabian Wine. The Muslim religion forbids the consumption of alcoholic drinks, so coffee became a very popular, stimulating alternative. It wasn’t until the 13th century that it was discovered that roasting the beans provided a much better taste and flavor, and thus the modern coffee drink was born.

In 1554, the first coffee houses opened in Istanbul, Turkey. (www.ico.org). These coffee houses were a far cry from the genteel, pleasant environments found in modern day coffee houses. The coffee houses of the Ottoman Empire were apparently dens of iniquity and offered much more than coffee to its patrons. Along with the newly popularized coffee beverage, one could also partake in gambling, drug use, prostitution, as well as watch plays and dance performances. Needless to say, these early coffee houses were controversial, especially since the orthodox Islamists considered these activities sinful. Despite the opposition from the religious conservatives, the coffee houses flourished, and by the 16th and 17th centuries, Ottomans from various social ranks converged to discuss, socialize, and enjoy coffee. It is believed that the growing coffee house culture contributed to the development to the early capitalist system and that growing consumerism was changing the face of the Ottoman Empire (feeds.bignewsnetwork.com).

Soon, the popularity of coffee eventually grew to those outside of the Muslim religion. Through various traders traveling to Europe, it wasn’t too long before coffee gained a foothold in England. By 1675, there were over 3,000 coffee houses in England, and shortly thereafter its popularity spread to the Americas. The Dutch were instrumental in the proliferation of the coffee in the western world. Although the Arabs attempted to prevent the cultivation of coffee elsewhere, the Dutch were able to smuggle a few plants in the early 1600’s to the Netherlands and successfully grow them in greenhouses. By the late 1600’s the Dutch were growing coffee in India and Indonesia, and with these plantations, Dutch traders became the main suppliers of coffee to Europe and the Americas.

Coffee Today

Today, coffee retail sales are estimated to be about $70 billion worldwide. Approximately $6 billion goes to the producing countries and $64 billion garnered by retailers. The coffee industry is unusual in that 70% of the world crop is grown on farms that are less than 25 acres large and are family-run, and provides a living for over 20 million people worldwide (www.firstscience.com). It is interesting to note the disparate conditions in profit between the growers and retailers. Coffee prices to consumers have continued to rise, however the small farmer producers are seeing very little of this growing market. More often than not, the small farmer is left in the dust while the large corporations continue to have record profits. To counter this, the Fair Trade movement was created to ensure the vast majority of the small growers receive a fair price for their harvests. Generally, the small farmers create collectives that, in turn, give them some guarantees at minimum price per pound regardless of market, credit, and establish long term relationships with retailers. These fair payments provide economic stability, health care, education, and independence for these cooperative farmers. Today, there are over 100 companies, such as Starbucks, Peet’s, and Tully’s that have developed relationships with Fair Trade Cooperatives (globalexchange.org).

Coffee is made in a number of ways and can be of varying degrees of concentration. But before one can make coffee though, the beans first need to be processed. The smell and flavor that you get from the coffee that you purchase is obtained through the roasting of the bean. Coffee beans, which are green when picked, are heated between 180 and 240 degrees Celsius for up to 15 minutes, depending on the intensity of the roast required. During the heating process, water evaporates from the beans and a chemical process called pyrolysis. This is where the starches in the bean are converted to sugar and the proteins are broken down, changing the chemical structure of the coffee bean. It is important to monitor the beans during the roasting process: too much heat and the beans will burn and the caffeol, the substance that makes coffee smell so good, will be diminished. If the bean is not roasted enough, then not enough of the caffeol is released, and the aromas are not as ideal as they can be. Roasting is an art, and usually done in small batches in order to control the process and create a consistent product (www.ico.org).

Brewing coffee can be done in a myriad of ways, and is usually dictated by personal preference. The most popular method today is probably the filter method in which finely-ground coffee is placed in a paper lined, cone shaped container with a hole in the bottom. Hot water is poured over the coffee enough to cover all the grounds and fill the cone. The water then passes through and the coffee flavor is extracted as the water empties into the receptacle. This process can be done either manually or automatically via electric coffee machines.

One of the best ways to extract flavor from coffee is through the Plunger or French Press method. Thought to have been invented in the 1930’s, the method is simple: coarsely ground coffee is placed into a pot, and hot water is added to the pot. After stirring the grounds in the water, it is allowed to steep for up five minutes, at which time a plunger with a finely meshed metal filter is pushed down through the liquid. This process separates the grounds from the freshly brewed coffee, leaving you with perfected brewed, intensely flavored coffee.

One of the fast growing popular methods of coffee making is the espresso method. A specially designed machine forces hot water through finely ground coffee into small glass cups. A very high level of pressure is required to make this type of coffee, and thus the equipment tends to be very expensive. The important thing to keep in mind when making espresso is to not over-extract the coffee. A perfect crema, the golden-brown liquid from a perfectly brewed espresso is what each barista or coffee jockey strives for.

One of the popular alternatives to brewed coffee is instant coffee. Instant coffee was developed by Satori Kato in Chicago in 1901 and marketed by Nescafe in 1938. Although flavor and aroma are sacrificed in its making, convenience is the main advantage that instant has over brewed coffee. Instant coffee is made from roasted, ground coffee beans which are then concentrated through water removal either by heating or freezing. The resulting products are tiny granules - the instant coffee (www.ico.org).

Coffee and Religion

Coffee and religion have had a tumultuous relationship. Although initially accepted by the Muslim religion, it ran afoul with the orthodox imams in Mecca in 1511 for its stimulating effect. Interestingly, although conservative Muslims condemned coffee, it was extremely popular with the general population and became an integral part of both their religious and secular lives (www.nationalgeographic.com). As coffee’s popularity spread throughout Europe, devout Catholics damned it as “the drink of infidels” (www.nationalgeographic.com) and, as a result, sinful. A movement by monks to ban the drink in the 1500’s was foiled by Pope Clement. Seeing that coffee enabled the monks to stay awake during Mass, instead of banning the drink, he blessed it.

Today, coffee is enjoyed by many people from diverse religious and socio-economic demographics. People from many different countries around the world drink coffee. Starbucks, the largest coffee chain house—16,000 outlets worldwide as of 2008—is at the forefront of the coffee culture throughout the world(www.msnbc.msn.com) The US, with the largest single market for coffee products in the world has a bottomless need for the dark brew. Germany comes in at number two, but with regards to the most coffee consumed per person, that honor belongs to Finland where the coffee drinkers there average about four cups of coffee per day (www.enotes.com). In the US, coffee drinking has become a very social event; a chance to meet with friends and catch up or to just sitting quietly while enjoy a cup. However, there is one country today that practices a very elaborate coffee ceremony. Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, takes drinking coffee very seriously. As described by Emily Doyle from Epicurious.com (www.brewed-coffee.com):

The ceremony is usually conducted by one young woman, dressed in the traditional Ethiopian costume of a white dress with coloured woven borders. The long involved process starts with the ceremonial apparatus being arranged upon a bed of long scented grasses. The roasting of the coffee beans is done in a flat pan over a tiny charcoal stove, the pungent smell mingling with the heady scent of incense that is always burned during the ceremony. The lady who is conducting the ceremony gently washes a handful of coffee beans on the heated pan, then stirs and shakes the husks away.


When the coffee beans have turned black and shining and the aromatic oil is coaxed out of them, they are ground by a pestle and a long handled mortar. The ground coffee is slowly stirred into the black clay coffee pot locally known as ‘jebena’, which is round at the bottom with a straw lid. Due to the archaic method used by Ethiopians, the ground result can be called anything but even, so the coffee is strained through a fine sieve several times.

The youngest child is then sent out to announce when it is to be served and stands ready to bring a cup of coffee first to the eldest in the room and then to the others, connecting all the generations. The lady finally serves the coffee in tiny china cups to her family, friends and neighbours who have waited and watched the procedure for the past half-hour.

Coffee and Health

The ritual and social observance of drinking coffee by the Ethiopian culture is as elaborate as any of those for tea, and is an integral part of the Ethiopian societal structure.

With its popularity, the benefits and hazards of coffee has come under greater scrutiny. From the beginning, coffee has been consumed due to its stimulating effects from caffeine; a chemical found in coffee that has shown to affect stamina, mental acuity, mood, and the digestive system. Caffeine, scientifically known as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, and about 80% of the world’s population consumes it on a daily basis (www.medicinenet.com). Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soda, cocoa, and chocolate.

Unfortunately, like all drugs, there are side effects. Caffeine increases blood pressure and heart rate and can cause palpitations, diarrhea, tremors, and insomnia. Compounding these maladies, coffee withdrawal can also lead to headaches, depression, and drowsiness. Too much caffeine may lead to sleep deprivation and may lead one to ignore the signs that the body needs rest. Two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol (www.health.harvard.edu), have led scientists to believe that the consumption of unfiltered coffee, as in made from a French Press or through an Espresso method, may lead to an increase in bad LDL cholesterol (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com). Scientific study has also looked into the connection between caffeine, heart disease, and osteoporosis, but has come to no definitive result.

Fortunately, there is compelling evidence that coffee’s positive effects greatly outweigh the negative. Studies have shown that although caffeine may be addictive, most that drink coffee do so out of the pleasure of its aroma and flavor (www.medicinenet.com). A Harvard Women’s Health Watch study (www.health.harvard.edu) has revealed that moderate drinking may offer some health benefits. Research has shown that moderate consumption may also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes than those who do not drink coffee. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes found today. Although millions have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, many more are not aware that they have the disease. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin it produces. Insulin is important because it helps break down glucose, which is made from the sugars and starches we consume, and provide energy for the cells. When the glucose is not utilized by the body and continues to build up due to Type 2 diabetes, it can cause severe health issues. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar as well as increase your resting metabolism rate, which may forestall the development of diabetes. Furthermore, coffee may also reduce the potential for gall stones, help prevent colon cancer, reduce the risk for liver and Parkinson’s disease (www.physorg.com).

One of the most interesting discoveries of coffee’s benefits is that it may be a buffer for the liver against alcohol. In a report first published in 1992 in the Archives of Internal Medicine (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com), from 125,500 Kaiser Permanente health plan members, heavy alcohol drinkers cut their chance for cirrhosis of the liver by 20% per cup of coffee. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and malfunctions due to chronic injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, partially blocking the flow of blood through the liver. A healthy liver is able to regenerate most of its own cells when they become damaged. With end-stage cirrhosis, the liver can no longer effectively replace damaged cells. A healthy liver is necessary for survival. (www.medicinenet.com). The researchers surmise that when the liver metabolizes coffee, a side effect is the inhibition of inflammation of the liver when alcohol is present. Studies in the Harvard Health Letter further suggest that coffee may be able to fight liver cancer. In a recent study, coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to develop liver cancer than non drinkers (www.health.harvard.edu).

Caffeine has also shown to increase the production of dopamine in the brain; dopamine is a chemical integral to pleasure and stimulation. What is dopamine? Dopamine, as described by Phillip Newton, PhD, “ is a neurotransmitter, one of those chemicals that are responsible for transmitting signals in between the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain.” (www.psychologytoday.com) Very few neurons actually make dopamine. Some, in a part of the brain called the substantial nigra, are the cells that die during Parkinson’s disease. This is important because it’s been shown that coffee can help prevent Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. It starts gradually with a barely noticeable tremor, but can include the slowing or freezing of movement. Speech becomes jumbled or slurred and eventually all these symptoms become worse with time as the disease progresses. There is no cure for this disease. The cells that produce dopamine are also the same ones that cause Parkinson’s, and if the cells are busy making dopamine, they are not working on the disease. It is important to note that this benefit against Parkinson’s is evident only in males. One theory suggests that the hormone estrogen in women prevents this beneficial effect of coffee (www.health.harvard.edu).

Coffee is also rich in antioxidants - vitamins, minerals, and enzymes long known to fight against ageing and disease. In a study conducted at University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, it was discovered that, of 100 popular food items generally consumed by people in the US on a daily basis, coffee offered the most antioxidants at 1,299 milligrams daily; the second highest was tea at 294 (www.psychologytoday.com). Generally, antioxidants are found most in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. However, because few people eat the necessary amounts of fruits in vegetables, but drink large amounts of coffee, which has become the dominant source of antioxidants in the American diet.

So the question remains: Is coffee a poison or a panacea? It’s hard to refute the impact that coffee has had on the world’s history. It has spurred religious fervor in both the Muslim and Catholic Church, not without controversy mind you. Coffee fueled the growth of economies and exploration during its early expansion. The Dutch traders not only were instrumental in the hooking the Western World onto the coffee craze, but they also helped develop and expand the reach of the western world into the undiscovered new world. From the planting, growing, distribution, and sale, coffee today holds pride of place as one of the top commodities traded in the world. This impact has, in some way, changed in the way people treat with their fellow man. The Fair Trade act, which began with the coffee trade but now, includes many other industries that affect third world countries, has allowed the profits from this economic juggernaut to be spread more evenly to the farmers who provide this vital bean to the world. Grassroots movements led by the coffee consumer have brought the recognition that, if we do not help small grower succeed, then the coffee industry will fail. With regards to the medical impact of coffee, it’s hard to refute the benefits that coffee potentially has on humans. The studies have shown that coffee can have a positive impact on some of the most prevalent diseases that afflict mankind today. Studies continue to discover further the value that coffee could bring and it all looks good. The important thing to remember, as with anything, is that moderation is the key. When one takes in too much of anything, regardless of whether it is considered “good for you”, it will have detrimental consequences. Instead, I suggest that you take pleasure in your cup, or cups, of coffee. Enjoy the aroma and the flavor and remember that coffee is your friend.

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, GMOs Have Got To Go!

by OCI Culinary Management Student James Bonanno

Author James Bonanno

What is genetic engineering? Is it the science of creating mutant super-heroes? Killer tomatoes? The walking dead? These questions are posed to us, the consumer, because it is a very scary science. It may not re-animate the dead or create super-heroes, but the science of genetic engineering is a somewhat new and unknown technology, and can be just as scary as that fore-mentioned. Genetic engineering is a technology that alters genetic make-up of a said organism to produce the desired effects for the manufacturer. This technology has been pushed upon the civilians of this planet without full understanding of the consequences it may have on earth’s inhabitants. In my opinion, GMO’s have not been tested nor studied for the long term and should not be used for human consumption.

Genetically Modified Organics have many agricultural applications such as pest/drought/frost resistant plants, novelty foods, livestock medications, crop yields, and pesticides. With minimal long-term studies being done on Genetically Modified Organics there is no doubt in my mind that we should be questioning the prevalent use of this little-understood technology in our environment.

Genetically Modified Organic is a somewhat self-explanatory term, which simply means the insertion of a new gene or enzyme into the DNA structure of a plant, animal, or bacteria to achieve a desired result such as larger fruit, pest-resistant plants, animals that create cancer-fighting enzymes and higher crop yields.
The catalyst for many researchers and geneticists today was Darwin’s book The Origin of Species, published in 1859, describing how evolution results from natural selection. Today scientists subvert this natural selection by altering plant and animal DNA, in essence acting as a laboratory god to create animals and plants with a higher tolerance to common ailments and environmental factors.

The idea of genetic engineering has been around for thousands of years. Many early civilizations used selective breeding in livestock to produce larger, healthier animals. Early civilizations also used cross-pollination to produce a larger variety of edible vegetables and fruits. With early practices of hybridization and cross-pollination, there were no environmental, nor physical damage done to the animal, human, or plant. Within the last forty years the scientific community has taken leaps and bounds with mapping out the genetic make-up of many plants and animals we use in our everyday life.

The first successful genetic engineered experiment came in 1973, when a gene from an African clawed toad was inserted into bacterial DNA, heralding the era of Recombinant DNA technology. (Recombinant DNA [rDNA] is a form of artificial DNA that is created by combining two or more sequences that would not normally occur together.). Scientists are cloning mammals resistant to disease, plants resistant to pests, and pets that are exact replicas of the animal their DNA was originally taken from. With this technology there have been many follies and risks to the animals’ and plants’ health. For example, in 1988 the USDA inserted human growth hormones into a pig’s genes, resulting in a hairy, lethargic animal so arthritic it can barely stand. Today, we as consumers come in contact with GMO’s on a daily basis.

Our food sources have been saturated with plant and animal material that has been directly or indirectly affected by Genetically Modified Organics. The development of techniques in genetic modification which include recombinant DNA technology and cellular techniques of introducing DNA into an organism have resulted in tremendous advances in agriculture, human health and the processing industry.

The emergence of genetically modified plants, animals and microorganisms with superior genetic traits and their subsequent release into the environment have currently raised concern among the public at large and highlighted issues regarding safety.

One directly affected food product that we consume is BT corn, which is a corn that has been genetically combined with BT, a naturally occurring pesticide in our soil. Although BT is naturally occurring in soil, it is still unsafe for human consumption. Today 45% of all corn grown in the US is genetically modified, and has been deened safe by the USDA for human consumption. Another crop that is directly affected is soy. Ninety-one percent of soy crop in the US is genetically modified with a Monsanto Round-Up Ready herbicide. Recent tests have shown that GM soy has adverse affects on lab rats. When the test rats were rationed genetic soy some of the rats became sterile, infertile, and otherwise suffered detrimental effects on their reproductive organs. It is estimated that 85 % of processed foods in the US today contain Genetically Modified Organics.

In 1996 there was a UCS-authored report titled The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops. In this report they described six kinds of potential risks genetically modified crops pose in our environment.

• Genetically engineered crops could become weeds. By definition, a weed is categorized as any plant that causes undesirable effects.
• Cross-pollination of genetically engineered crops with wild plants, which in turn will cause genetic pollution in an environment that is not controlled.
• Crops that are engineered to harvest viruses for human health research in the plant cells can facilitate the creation of new viruses that are more virulent and easier contracted by the masses.
• Crops that are engineered to express potentially toxic substances may pose risk to other organisms like birds, deer and humans.
• Crops that have been genetically engineered can possibly agitate the natural order of the eco-system and cause ripple effects through our environment.
• Last, genetically engineering crops with terminator gene (which renders a plant’s seeds infertile) can cause undesirable effects through cross-pollination that might threaten plant and crop diversity. These potential risks described above will not be evident immediately, but with no long-term studies done on genetically engineered crops we can expect genetic pollution as a very real threat to our livelihood in the future.

Nor can we say that there have been no adverse effects on our environment because there may be subtle effects taking place with other plant species and animals that we have not yet noticed. The only monitoring systems that are in place right now for these genetically modified crops are insect and weed resistance. (http://www.ucsusa.org/)

Genetically Modified Foods should not be deemed safe for human consumption due to these four factors:
• There have been no long term studies done on human consumption of genetically engineered foods.
•  As many new genes are introduced into plants that do not normally carry allergenic genes the threat of higher allergic reactions looms. For instance, if a biotech company introduced peanut genes into a soy product, mortality rates could soar. Allergenicity, as a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic foods, is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic.
• Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic resistance genes, used in creating GMOs, were to be transferred.
• Another problem we face with genetically engineered crops is the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with those grown using GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. (WHO.int)

Well how did this all get started? In 1973, Cohen and Boyer perform the first successful recombinant DNA experiment, using bacterial genes. Essentially, these two scientists were the godfathers of genetic engineering.. It wasn’t until the mid 1980s that the first field tests of genetically engineered plants, specifically tobacco, were conducted. Within a year, Advanced Genetic Sciences’ Frostban, a genetically altered bacterium that inhibits frost formation, was field-tested on strawberry and potato plants in California. These were the first authorized outdoor tests of an engineered bacterium. After six years of field tests, the FDA declared GMO foods are “not inherently dangerous” and did not require special regulation.

In 1994, Calgene’s Flavr Savr tomato was introduced to the world. With this genetically modified tomato, Calgene hoped to slow the ripening process and prevent it from softening while maintaining it’s normal color and flavor. It was not long after that tomatoes introduction that the genetic boom started to take hold. Genetically Modified soy and corn were both planted in 1995. Only one short year later, these crops hit the supermarket shelves and were deemed safe without being tested. The following year, the GM soy crops jumped drastically to seven percent of the total soy grown in the United States and GM corn was nearly two percent of the total national corn grown.

While geneticists were working on genetically engineering plant matter in the US, something more sinister was brewing across the pond. In February 1997, the Roslin Institute and PPL Therapeutics plc announced the first production of Dolly, the cloned sheep who was the first mammal to be cloned from the somatic tissue of an adult. Dolly was of almost the same genetic composition as the sheep from whose cells she was developed, but she was not genetically engineered as such.

Five months later, on July 24th, PPL announced that Polly, a genetically engineered lamb, had been produced by the same method of nuclear transfer that had produced Dolly. In addition to her usual complement of sheep genes, she also contained a human gene which had been added to the cells while they were still a cell culture.

It was in 1999 that European nations became more aware of Genetically Modified Foods, and thus began to for a negative opinion of them. This helped bring GMOs into the world’s spotlight. Many Europeans believed that the use of bacteria, or human DNA in our food supply was ethically, morally, and socially unacceptable. The year 2000 brought the first known case of GMO corn polluting the human food supply. Starlink GMO corn that was approved solely for animal feed ended up in corn products for human consumption as well. In 2002, another biotech company named Prodigene became the center of attention. Prodigene violated the US Plant Protection Act by allowing experimental biopharmaceutical corn to mix with a commercial soy crop. Next, another biotech giant, Monsanto, developed a GM wheat. They did however, decide against selling the wheat due to negative public perception.

By the end of 2004, 85% of soy and 45% of corn crops grown in the US were genetically modified. Currently in the US we have 92% of the world’s genetically engineered crops, comprising 58% of our national crops. In the last few weeks, genetically engineered salmon has been approved by the USDA for human consumption. And, as I type, Monsanto is experimenting with genetically engineered pigs for human consumption. The Biotech companies are definitely not slowing down in their pursuit of patenting all living animals and plants! (http://www.ncbiotech.org/)

Here are is a study done by Steve Connor showing that there are no real economic benefits to farmers that grow GMOs.

It pays NOT to cultivate GM crops!

The first economic analysis of growing genetically modified crops on a wide scale has found that the biggest winners were the farmers who decided not to grow them.  The study, which looked at maize yields in the corn belt of the United States, found that farmers who continued to grow conventional crops actually earned more money over a 14-year period than those who cultivated GM varieties.

All farmers benefited from the significantly lower level of pests that came about after the introduction of GM maize to the US in 1996, but the conventional farmers who continued to cultivate non-GM varieties also benefited financially from not having to pay the extra costs of purchasing GM seeds. Previous studies into the economics of growing GM crops have concentrated on the farmers who have taken up the technology but, latest research looked at a wider area, including non-GM fields that may have benefited from being near fields planted with GM varieties.

Paul Mitchell, an agricultural economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where the work was carried out, said the main corn-growing states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska experienced a total economic benefit of $6.9bn (£4.6bn) over the period from 1996 to 2009 as a result of less maize being lost to the corn-borer pest.

But the non-GM corn areas accounted for 62 per cent of this total economic benefit because, in addition to preventing crop losses resulting from lower levels of pests, these farmers did not have to spend any extra money on the technology fees associated with the purchase of GM maize.

"Previous cost-benefit analyses focused directly on transgenic crop acres. This study is the first to include the value of area-wide pest suppression and the subsequent benefits to growers of non-transgenic crops," Dr Mitchell said.

"In this case, the value of the indirect yield benefits for non-Bt crops exceeded the net value of direct benefits to the BT corn acres.

"The study, published in the journal Science, found that Wisconsin farmers benefited to the tune of $325m as a result of the overall suppression of the corn borer pest between 1996 and 2009. About 75 per cent of this cumulative economic benefit went to the farmers who cultivated non-GM maize.

William Hutchinson of the University of Minnesota, the study's lead author, said an analysis showed that the European corn borer moth has declined in the fields neighbouring those of GM crops by between 28 and 73 per cent, depending on the initial level of infection. The scientists were able to make these estimates because of good records of pest populations going back 45 years.

Steve Connor, Science Editor
In Steve Connor’s research, I see without a reasonable doubt that we, as consumers and tax-payers, have no need for these GM products being sold in the United States. He has shown that farmers growing conventionally can make more money without GM crops. When the biotech companies claim that Growing GM crops is more cost efficient, (I say “the results speak for themselves.”) With conventionally grown crops, there is no need to buy seeds every year. You can save seeds and re-use them next season. With GM crops, the plants seeds carry a terminator gene, which causes that plant’s sterility.

With the terminator gene in place, you are obligated to buy seeds year after year from big biotech companies, which cause the farmer to spend more than a conventional grower that saves seeds.
As consumers, we need to be more aware of what we put into our bodies, especially those products that contain Genetically Modified Organics in which we do not yet understand the long term effects. Vandana Shiva, author of, Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability and peace, stated “In nature’s economy the currency is not money, it is life.” Let’s not jeopardize our lives or those of innocent plants and animals so that agribusiness corporations can gain an extra buck.

We need food reform in the United States as well as the rest of the world. We the people need to stop the use of genetically modified foods and return to conventional, growing methods. Sustainable agriculture is an approach to agriculture that is environmentally, economically, culturally and socially sustainable. Sustainable growing practices emphasizes crop diversity and rotation, conserves natural resources, and favors small and medium-sized farming rather than agribusinesses and large corporations. Moreover, it focuses on food security (ensuring there is enough food for people to eat) and thus prioritizes the production of staple crops (rather than cash crops for export). It is a key livelihood strategy for small organic farmers, who have recognized that their best hope for a sustainable future is to nurture and protect the environment. How can we promote sustainable farming? If we want to make a change from using GM food that we, as consumers, still don’t know that much about, we need to take steps to change the growing practices now in use in our country. First, we need to use aid to maximize the potential of sustainable agriculture to reduce poverty in struggling regions of our country. Next, we need to stop viewing agriculture as an export. We also need to change international trade rules so that they do not force developing countries to ‘liberalize’ their economies – instead, we ought to enable these countries to invest in sustainable agriculture and rural development. I believe the quickest and easiest way to change the climate of GMO’s in our food supply is to re-create victory gardens. During World War II food supplies were in high demand for our soldiers overseas, so American communities all across the US started Victory Gardens. These Victory Gardens were run by communities to feed the people within.

If Americans today were to start Victory Gardens once again as a form of protest we might be able to send a message to these large corporations and biotech firms. We don’t want to eat your pollution! Currently, there are many co-op farms, farmer’s markets, community gardens, and green grocers that we can support. By supporting these small businesses we will not only be eating food that is locally produced, and good for us,  we will also be giving money to farms and small companies that believe in farming practices that will not pollute our earth, nor our bodies.