The readings for this week emphasized how the movement to get rid of the pushcarts symbolized to push to Americanize and “clean-up” the poorer Lower East Side immigrant neighborhoods.  Are we still attempting to have working class, immigrant neighborhoods conform to American standards of living and culture, or are we more accepting now of differences in culture among the working class?

Another topic that was discussed was the sky rocketing food prices around World War I, and the protests that followed.  The protesters were mainly women and children.  Keeping in mind that women received the right to vote in 1920, and that these riots took place during the height of the Women’s Suffrage movement, do you think the riots were influenced or fueled by the underlying issue of women’s suffrage?  Conversely, did the riots help perpetuate the suffrage movement?

Many immigrants seem to have a romanticized view of the United States. Though many eventually do find some success in the US, they often do not realize the hardship that they will have to go through, and the cultural change that could come along with moving to the United States. Considering the alternative, where immigrants know about all the  economic, health, and cultural issues they might experience, do you think they would come to the US in the same proportions? Do you think less people would come to the US, or do you think they would assume the risks are still worth the benefits of living in the US? And if this “romantic myth” about life in the US is false, (which is also a point that can be debated) then what are the factors that perpetuate it?

Why does the United States promote such bad health, even though we have a very complex and extensive health care with high access to medical care? Why do people in the United States, compared to people in other developed countries in the world, have unhealthy diets and such inactive lifestyles?

In the NY Times article, the writer says that Hispanic immigrants are no longer eating what they grow, making their current diets unhealthy. However, there are many countries who grow their foods and live off what the land produces. Is there a way the U.S. can work to mimic those countries and live off more land-produced foods as well as make it highly accessible and affordable to Americans? If possible, how so?

1. In the Health Toll of Immigration it was interesting to read that size of food served in the U.S. was considerably larger than what immigrants were accustomed to. This week I also came across a research article that showed how low – fat content labeled foods could also lead to obesity because people were consuming large amounts. I think one major factor that could be over looked is serving size when it comes to food and how we educate the public especially immigrants who may not have access to healthy foods or face language barriers. Some foods even have more than one serving size packaged in a bag which may make it seem as if it is to be consumed entirely. What reforms can be taken to limit issues on overconsumption? How can these reforms be targeted towards immigrant groups who are more at risk?
2. In this week’s reading I also found it interesting how assimilation is related to obesity and how it is higher in women. One reason I believe this is prevelant is because second generation children are not responsible for cooking in households as they were in native lands. They lose the traditions and prefer to eat fast foods. What are ways in which second generation immigrants can learn to preserve their culture to increase a healthier living?

3. In what ways can we implement Ayurveda standards of healthy eating in urban areas were it may be hard to balance physical activity, work, and healthy eating?

In The Health Toll of Immigration, the primary reason for obesity was because of the availability of cheap food that taste good at a low price. The passage makes connection to those recently immigrated with low incomes, but as someone who is the child of two working parents, I know that the reason isn’t always because of low income, it could be because of the workaholic standard in America leads to less time devoted to nutritious, healthy home-cooked meals.

Will this ever stop? It seems like a huge crisis, because there’s a TON of influx of immigrants, who end up with blue-collar jobs, as well as many people in the middle class who just can’t devote the time to healthy eating. Is it possible to solve this problem? Or will deaths due to diabetes and obesity be on an exponential rise from here on?

Throughout the readings, the issue of obesity is attributed to the lack of physical activity, lack of education, and poor nutritional habits. However, another important factor to consider in the issue of obesity is how people respond to images. The self image conveyed by western media that “thin is beautiful” contrasts with other cultures where beauty is associated with weight gain. How can medical science look beyond physical factors to determine the actual health and well-being of individuals in a more direct way?

How can western medical science benefit from some of the Eastern Ayurvedic practices and wholistic approaches to overall wellness and treatment of human disease?