Kat's Korner

Editorial

Katheranne Reese

Schools Abuse Student Rights to Life!

Students, above all others, must nourish their brains and bodies properly to perform proficiently. According to Psychology Today “…foods we eat affect the body. But they may have even more of an influence on how the brain works…  Mood, motivation and mental performance are powerfully influenced by diet.” These are all attributes which students must possess to fully take advantage of every learning opportunity school offers. However, the way schools are addressing student nourishment is shocking.

There is irrefutable cause for alarm concerning the health of future and current generations of students. As said by Derek Markham reporter for Eco Childs Play “increased rates of obesity could lead to the first generation of Americans with shorter life spans than their parents.” These are the children and teenagers that will be shaping the world, future scholars, servicemen, senators, and scientists. These minds need not go to waste as a result of improper nutrition, yet it seems like they are, and many administrations are overlooking these frightening consequences of uncalculated actions.

Obesity rates, especially in children and teens, have hit record highs in the last decade. Joseph Skelton M.D., lead author and director of FIT (Families in Training) says “Children are not only becoming obese, but becoming severely obese, which impacts overall health.” America is, or has, become fat. This fact cannot be denied, just look around you. According to Science Daily “…the prevalence of severe obesity tripled in the period from 1976-1980 to 1999-2004.” These facts are disturbing, it’s true, but all of this can, and must be stopped. America must take action against this scourge, like any drug or disease, obesity must be recognized and stopped. The movement must be started somewhere, why not with the future of this nation?

America is being recognized more and more as an obese nation. Like a trademark, it’s not longer “America the beautiful” it’s “America the fat.” Let’s observe what types of foods are served in school cafeterias, Pizza seems to be the main staple at our school. Pizza seems to be an okay food. It contains bread, tomatoes, cheese. Fits in the main food groups’ right? But the true contents of the pizzas are questionable. Grease drips from cheese to plate, what is left of the pizza is swimming in oily fat. This does not seem like what the Italians intended. School Pizzas can range from 300-500 calories with 11 grams of fat, rice at 135 for a half cup, milk with 116 calories, and a fruit crisp with 205 calories and 5 grams of fat. This lunch adds up to 1507 calories. That is an entire day’s worth of calories in one meal!

The nutritional value of school food is also questionable. A chemical called Monosodium Glutamate is a common “flavor enhancer” used in many packaged foods. This chemical can lurk unknown in foodstuffs, as it is a byproduct of other processes, and is often disguised under other callings. MSG is made by a fermenting process using starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses.According to  Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, author of Excitotoxins “MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) is an excitotoxin. An excitotoxin is a substance that overexcites neurons to the point of cell damage and, eventually, cell death. Humans lack a *blood-brain barrier in the *hypothalamus, which allows excitotoxins to enter the brain causing damage. According to animal studies, MSG creates a laceration in the hypothalamus that correlates with abnormal development, including obesity, short stature and sexual reproduction problems.” It is very likely a substance prowling inside school freezers, waiting for misinformed lunch personnel to awaken its frosty molecules to wreak havoc on the insides of innocent school children.

Is this truly how we want America to be seen? The future of the planet lies in the hands of students. To nourish their brains and bodies properly is an investment worth making. There is hope, but America must act swiftly. Adults, take responsibility. In the words of James Baldwin “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”