1/31/2005

You can't cheat on health

In an aritical from USA today reported a new study of frying foods in phytosterol, and additive that reduces LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol. I find it fascinating that technology has enabled humankind to make donuts that will reduce your cholesterol. I think even Homer Simpson might be impressed by this new discovery. However, though the overall wellbeing of human kind has improved, and the resources available to generate long prosperous lives are more attainable, I find that, especially in America, the human populous has been trying to cheat themselves of true good health. In addition, I think that foods processed with cholesterol reducing additives may have high selling rates at first, but eventually decline in the market. A few years ago companies made all kinds of chips fried in Olean. Olean made chips fat-free without too much loss in flavor. The rave was huge, until people started having symptoms of stomach craps and diariah. Consumers were confused with the idea that bad food is bad, even if it is fat-free. Bob Goldin stated, “Consumers will have a big problem linking fried foods or snacks with ‘better for you.’ I think there’s so much skepticism” I disagree, America is increasingly becoming obese for a reason, and that isn’t because people who eat high cholesterol foods are worried about how much cholesterol it has. Foods with cholesterol reducing additives give additional value to eat more of that product, which I feel, will create a high short-term demand. I think the idea will be, this food was in my diet before, and now it is “healthier for me and will reduce my cholesterol,” I should eat more of it. The idea of finding a way to cut corners to better health overtime will decline in the overall value it intended.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this economics?

Dr. Tufte said...

-1 for spelling mistakes in Marie's post and comment (waived)

What gets me about this (and I can describe what's happening economically, but I can't explain it) is that the demand for foods with health connotations is so volatile. For example, the demand for beef has been stable or slowly declining for decades, and then a fad diet comes along and sends it through the roof. This implies a very high elasticity with respect to diet and health news. It just seems very strange to me. I can see this happening for something intrinsically useless like beanie babies, but I have a hard time accepting this for more conventional products.