TV: not just mindless drivel
Lauren KawamIssue date: 5/8/08 Section: Blogs
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I was watching an episode on Friday that got me thinking. Jackie has to go up to her parents cabin and clean it out, because the bank is foreclosing on it. Her father is in jail and her mother is in Barbados, making the situation that much worse, because she has to handle this all on her own. So, like any other episode, the Foreman family bails her out. They drive to the cabin to help her, acting like the family she's never had. Eric and Donna take a separate car, in preparation for all the shit they have to haul back.
On the car ride there, Eric gets hungry and asks Donna if she would be so kind as to search for the Twinkie he's packed for a snack. Having just previously had a fight, she finds the Twinkie, but instead of giving it to Eric, she stuffs it into her mouth and enjoys it herself.
Later on, she remarks how it didn't taste that good, and Eric claims that his mom buys the off brand "Twonkies." Regardless of whether or not the official brand is better than the off brand, that got my gears grinding, and I thought about what is inside a Twinkie:
After an hour or so of research, this is what I've come up with: Of the 28 or so ingredients, only one sounds appetizing by itself and that is sugar.
What is polysorbate 60? It is an emulsifier derived from animal fatty acids and is used as synthetic flavorings, surfactants, de-foaming agents and dough conditioners. Ingesting this may increase the absorption of fat-soluble substances in the body. So, basically eating this makes you fatter.
What is tartrazine? This additive is also known as yellow coloring. It is banned in Norway and Austria and is known to provoke asthma attacks - even though the FDA does not recognize this - as well as rashes, tumors and hyperactivity. Go figure.
What is dextrin? A man-made chemically-altered form of sugar that the human stomach cannot break down, leading to clogged areas that you don't necessarily want to be clogged. Fun times.
What is calcium caseinate? This protein neutralizes capsaicin, which is the ingredient that makes jalapeños, habaneros and other chili peppers hot and spicy. It is also used as a dietary supplement by bodybuilders and other athletes, who ingest it before bed, with breakfast or as post-work out meal, as the stomach breaks it down slower, keeping you full longer. Just what I want.
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