Obesogens

·       Utilizing the first article, discuss what is locally grown and what is currently in season in your area.

Local grown, refers to the food and another agriculture products that are grown or produced with in a certain area. Local grown includes local farm, farmer markets is locally grown close to our community.

Seasonal foods are local foods harvested in season and defined by region conditions vary with latitude, climate, topography and other related factors.

I live in Texas and most of our vegetables and fruits in the markets are coming from California. Through a research I found the list of our seasonal fruits and vegetables now in Texas:

-       Grapefruit, oranges and other citrus

-       Cauliflower, shallots, Spinach, winter squash, cabbage, carrots, and celery

·       Discuss your thoughts on seasonal/local foods and hospital menus. 

The seasonal local foods are based on fresh ingredients, good quality, have better nutritional and environmental benefits, less pollution, doesn’t travel as far, and it help support the socio-economic health of local economies.

Hospital menus should develop recopies that match the seasonal food in order to better taste and quality, more nutrition, because the hospital menue can have an good impact on the public health.

·       Find a Harvest Calendar for your state (or a state you are interested in) utilizing the link in the first article (found underneath the example Harvest Calendar for New York State). 

·       Seasonal Texas Fruits

·       Fruit-wise, Texas is best known for its juicy, ruby red grapefruit available every late winter and spring. Lots of other fruits, including plenty of other citrus fruits, plus tasty orchard fruits and berries, are available too.

·       Apples, July through November

·       Berries, May through July

·       Cherries, June and July

·       Figs, June and July, second crop in fall

·       Grapefruit, Oranges & Other Citrus, October through April

·       Grapes, August through October

·       Melons of all sorts!, (cantaloupes, watermelons, and more)!, May into winter

·       Peaches, Plums, Pluots & Nectarines, June through Sept

·       Pears, August through November

·       Pomegranates, October into December

·       Seasonal Texas Vegetables

·       The very long growing seasons in Texas allows for multiple plantings and thus multiple harvest seasons. Hence some vegetables remain in season for months upon months. In contrast to many other parts of the country, hot summers sometimes bring an end rather than a beginning to the growing season.

·       Beets, November through February

·       Broccoli, October through May 

·       Cauliflower, October through May

·       Chickpeas, June and July

·       Chiles, August and September

·       Corn, late May into August

·       Cucumbers, April through December

·       Fava Beans, April through June

·       New Potatoes, March and April

·       Okra, late summer and early fall

·       Onions, March through September

·       Peanuts, September and October

·       Pumpkins, October into spring

·       New Potatoes, May and June

·       Shallots, November through February

·       Spinach, January through May

·       Sweet Onions, spring

·       Tomatoes, April through October

·       Winter Squash, October into spring

·       Zucchini & Summer Squash, May through October

·       What are your thoughts on the second article? Have you heard of obesogens before?

obesogens”—dietary, pharmaceutical, and industrial compounds that may alter metabolic processes and predispose some people to gain weight. Obesogens may be functionally defined as chemicals that inappropriately alter lipid homeostasis and fat storage, change metabolic setpoints, disrupt energy balance or modify the regulation of appetite and satiety to promote fat accumulation and obesity.

Yes, I heard about the obesogens and the effect on gaining weight.

·       Pick one of the potential obesogens discussed in the article and using your resources from earlier modules (such as toxnet), do some research on this potential obesogen. Share what you found!

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical and organic compound that has been used in the production of plastics and resins for over a half-century. It is used in products such as toys, medical devices, plastic food and beverage containers, shower curtains, dental sealants and compounds, and register receipts. BPA has been shown to seep into food sources from containers or into the body just by handling products made from it. Certain researchers suggest that BPA actually decreases the fat cell count in the body, but at the same time increasing the size of the ones remaining; therefore, no difference in weight is shown, and an individual is even likely to gain more.