The definition of health is
probably not going into the kitchen because I'm thirsty (water, anyone?), then coming out with a bowl of ice cream instead. Usually the one to blame any headache, infection or illness (mine or others') on
dehydration, I'm finding it difficult to actually maintain-- or even achieve at all-- the daily fluid intake recommended by health professionals (8 cups).
Fortunately, that volume can include juice, milk, and water-rich fruit and vegetables, according to the
Mayo Clinic. I find it hard to believe that wine, tea or coffee can count toward the total, since they often leave me feeling more dehydrated than when I started, but the Mayo website says they may help a bit. So maybe my ice cream wasn't such a bad choice after all-- there's the "ice," which must melt in my stomach, right? Cream, which comes from milk?
This is getting almost as bad as my post on
Ice Cream and Biotechnology, where I attempted to explain the fundamentals of my graduate field by musing over an afternoon snack. Lame, I know. But there is reason to think that ice cream may not avoid the GM (that is, genetically-modified foods) frenzy and all the discussion surrounding it. For example:
How did I go through 7 years of biology and applied science education and not learn that biotechnology-derived hormones in dairy products could give me cancer? Do biotech educators think we are just going to make those health and environment connections on our own (maybe while we are producing the chemicals in our day jobs)?
It is difficult to consume fluids these days without wondering what kinds of carcinogenic molecules lurk within them. Is the plastic from my grade-2 recyclable bottle leeching into my "pure" purchased spring water? What about the stuff that comes from my home faucet-- is my local water authority doing their due diligence to remove mercury and other harmful metals? What now, juice from my favorite manufacturer contains
arsenic! Canned
tomatoes and soups might introduce BPA into my bloodstream?!
Sometimes I wonder how I've survived this long in ignorance of what I consume, or whether I'd be better off in a non-industrialized society. Thank goodness for organizations like
Women For A Healthy Environment who care about the toxins that industries are excreting into our city air and water (and food!). Let's worry enough about the economy of our health before it's too late.
