Monday, January 29, 2018

Fast food makes the immune system hyperactive?


While researching articles on fast foods, I came across an interesting piece that addresses the impact of such “food” on our immune system. In her article entitled “Fast Food Triggers the Immune System making it Hyperactive,” Dr. Mandal cites a study that looks at the effects of the Western Diet. The study points out that when fast food is ingested, the body reacts similar to how it would when dealing with bacterial infections. When eating such food, over time, the defenses become even more aggressive. This reaction remains even after the person switches to a healthier diet. “This stimulation of the immune system and inflammatory reactions has been linked to several diseases such as arteriosclerosis and diabetes.”

How much more evidence do we need to heed the innumerable warnings about fast food? Hordes of people continue to line up at fast food joints! And why? In addition to the adverse physiological effects, it appears that fast food also has a grip on our brain and our mental faculties, causing us to become a little feeble. That must be why we don't heed such warnings!

So where does this leave us? Essentially, we're naively trying to nourish ourselves with food that's actually out to destroy us. I am sorry, but I can only repeat myself for the umpteenth time and say that we must blame it on fast foods!


- B. J. T. Pepin



Tuesday, January 09, 2018

Justin Trudeau Breaks Multiple Ethical Rules


When I read Amanda Connolly’s article entitled, “Justin Trudeau’s Bahamas vacation broke multiple ethics rules: commissioner,” I couldn’t help but say to myself, “Here we go again!”  The article outlines how “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau broke multiple federal ethics rules when he accepted a ride on the Aga Khan’s private helicopter and stayed on his private island over the holidays in 2016, the ethics commissioner has ruled.”  Furthermore, the piece points out that Justin Trudeau failed to recuse himself in May 2016 during official discussions of a $15-million endowment by the Canadian government to an institution directly related to the Aga Khan and his foundation.  The commissioner concluded that Trudeau “did not arrange his private affairs in a way that avoided a conflict of interest."

Most of us would acknowledge that the world of politics is teeming with people who have a lot to say but rarely follow through on their words.  More specifically, politicians are renowned for making hollow promises and are often caught in outright lies.  The following lyric of a song seems to say it all: “I’m a liar, believe me.”  What's worse is that those same politicians break laws and are able to get away with it.  As we see in this particular case, the sanctions imposed against him amount to a slap (I would say more of a tap) on the wrist!

I don’t know about you, but when Trudeau apologized, said that it was a mistake, and said he would not do it again, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.  Yeah, sure!  Although he got caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, nothing substantial is going to come out of this and his life goes on.  So, we've learned that as the Prime Minister, it isn't a big deal if you break the rules.  What's next for our rock star Prime Minister?  Whatever it turns out being, you can bet that he'll get away with it!  He can't help but get his fix!  And who feeds our need to get what we want whenever we want it?  That's right: Blame it on fast foods!



- B. J. T. Pepin