Is the environment and technology causing health issues?
By dloveli
@dloveli (4366)
United States
August 24, 2009 6:49am CST
I have noticed lately that alot of my friends, no matter what their age, have been coming down with stomach problems such as heartburn or digestive issues. Almost everyone I know is on some type of stomach pill. I am so used of going out to eat and having someone say they have got to take their stomach medicine. I think that we have all new ways to preserve foods and different ways to prepare things like microwaves, portable ovens etc,. These new techniques dont seem to be agreeing with people. Plus all the pollution and other airborn stuff makes it difficult to breath in healthy air. These new ways to avoid sugar like splenda, sweet n low, and equal are a big worry to me. I dont think they are in our best interest health wise. THere have been links to cancer among other health issues. You never heard anyone in the earlier part of the century having all these stomach issues, weight issues, cancers etc. They used the natural ingredients. Natural sugars, preservatives. Now that we think we are so much more intelligent we have created all these different ways to keep ourselves healthy or so we think. Even the water is now treated to make it more healthy. The way we prepare our foods is another big deal. Since the creations of the microwave, people have ran with it. Cooking with any kind of nuclear energy is kind of a worry to me. Is it really helping? Or is technology and the environment making it worse?
4 people like this
14 responses
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
24 Aug 09
Hi dloveli, I think you could have a point as everything I do is in total contrast to the things you describe and I've never had a weight issue or stomach problems.
I live in a rural area by the sea and the food I eat is local and fresh, I don't buy any processed food, use very little sugar just in baking, breathe clean unpolluted air, don't own a microwave and also have natural spring water from local taps. All the fruit and vegetables are local, much of it straight off the tree or from gardens, and the fish is straight from the sea. And of course I use plenty of extra virgin olive oil from my own trees.
@GardenGerty (169450)
• United States
25 Aug 09
The olive oil is wonderful, I am sure. Another healthful food is vinegar. I think a slower life all the way around would improve our health.
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
3 Sep 09
You know what kills me is that they have been warning everyone about the dangers of the ozone layer. They have also told us what we can do to stop it or at least slow it down. Now because the seasons are beginning to become one and the air isnt all it should be, now its like HELP! I am sure you know what I mean. Now You and I are going to suffer because of the complacency of others. All we can do is try to do things to help it. I am hoping people will see us and follow in our footsteps. Happy MyLotting. SAY NO TO AEROSOL CANS! dl
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
24 Aug 09
I think is some ways you are right! I grew up on a farm...many years ago. We ate food that we grew and even the meat we had was what we raised.....I remember my mother making chicken noodle soup......she would leave it on the stove and reheat for supper.....now no one ever got sick. Now they say you have to refridgerate everything or you'll find some nasty disease growing on it.....so I think alot has to do with the chemicals and preservatives we use.....the soup is just one example!
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
24 Aug 09
yeah i do think between technology and environment its slowly screwing us.. i was saying the other day i wonder if there is so much mental problems now because maybe all the chemicals we eat and absorb or whatever our electronics might be exposing us to is slowly like causing our dna or whatever to like deteriorate or something
1 person likes this
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
24 Aug 09
What a good discussion as you have made a very good point.All the modern ways are killing us slowly.All the sweetners are artificial and not natural at all they can give you a runny tummy did you know that.It is better to reduce your sugar then put these sweetners in your drinks and foods.Honey is a better sweetner as that is natural.I try to avoid processed foods if at all possible.Fresh veg and fresh meat is so good for you.Cook cheap cuts of meat slowly and they will taste delicious and not be tough.Every one seems in such a hurry these days although we do have all these things to make life easier.I don't actually think microwave food is a dangerous way of cooking it is the state of the food we put in our microwaves,how long we cook it for has a lot to do with it.Besides if my stomach was upset I would stay in and eat light food till it got better.We expect so much of our bodies these days.larger portions,so called healthy processed foods.It is no wonder we are ill.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
25 Aug 09
I think technology[b][/b]might be responsible for people's health problems. I use sweet'n'low all the time and I never have had any problems with it. I remember years ago, there was a scare out saying that artificial sweeteners cause cancer. They then decided that it wasn't true. They also said Maraschino Cherries caused cancer but then they decided they didn't. I think just about anyhthng you eat is going to kill you, anyway. I do't know about microwaves but there are so many things that contain asbestos (not sure if that's spelled right)and that causes cancer. The only time I take anything for heartburn is before I go to eat Mexican food. Kathy.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169450)
• United States
25 Aug 09
With the availability of so many rich and fatty foods we are having the stomach issues more and more. I would not take a proton pump inhibitor ( stomach medicine) because it only masks the symptoms and actually makes the problem worse. We need more acids to digest the garbage we eat. In the olden days, they did not have all these chemicqally engineered foods, but simpler fare with less sugar, no transfat and a lot more fiber. Personally, if I think I am having stomach trouble, I try to find some pineapple and eat it. It works every time. Places with salad bars etc. I usually go for the pineapple first, and if I do I never get an upset stomach.
@ShirleyBillingsley (1544)
• United States
24 Aug 09
I think you are on the right track in this discussion. There are lots of health related problems that come from things that we do, such as using the microwave. You have heard that a pregnant woman should not stand in front of a microwave when its on? The microwave gives out more than just hot, cooked food.
Eating and drinking different things, can also net us with a hoard of different problems. There are chemicals in the bottled water, saccharin, and other things, that can actually make a person ill.
Home cooked and preserved food is always best, and you know exactly what you are eating.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
25 Aug 09
i'm sure that plays a hand in it.
but i think modern jobs and irregular hours and stress is a higher contributing factor.one of my jobs stressed me out so bad i had an ulcer while working there.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
24 Aug 09
Stress is a great cause of digestive problems, your gut reacts to many outside influences, if you are worried about this best to try a raw diet as much as possible and to make sure you take time to eat in a peaceful environment and state of mind. All the poisons we feed ourselves, plus the hurry,hurry way we live our lives make our bodies have to compensate as much as possible. Best to listen to your body and give it the respect it needs to work naturally. After all it has to last you all of your life, why not treat it well.
1 person likes this
@bewitched13 (792)
• India
25 Aug 09
I personally feel we are cause for the environmental pollution and the misuse of the technology. We do not maintain good hygiene around the house and the use of plastic bags which creates menace and boom in the environmental pollution. There are also many factors which makes our environment bad. Similarly we use more and more of frozen and canned food than fresh ones. People spoil their immune system with improper food habits and life style. Everyone is under stress and strain due to the fast moving pace of life. Even a kid prefers bottled or aerated drinks and not fresh juices. Science and technology came in as an assistance to us but today it is used as a main criteria. So why blame them for our fault. Just a century back people were not obsessed with so many gadgets in their life so had easy and healthy living. Once we change our lifestlye to good we can see that we are less prone to these health problems.
@picjim (3002)
• India
24 Aug 09
While you have dealt with at length the harmful effect of environment and technology on human health,i would like to add that pesticides are leaving a residue which cannot be easily washed away leading it to be deposited in our body.Natural products
and preservatives will mitigate the harmful effects on our health.Initially technology helped mass production of food and was useful in reducing time spent on cooking,but now i feel it is aggravating health issues than reducing them.
1 person likes this
@midnightbliss (541)
• Philippines
27 Aug 09
technology might be a reason for some of the illness and diseases we have. It makes our lifestyle a lot more easier but it has its consequences. certain diseases may also rise due to our lifestyle.
