Freaky Eaters

There's a new-ish show on TLC called "Freaky Eaters". Apparently you're a freaky eater if you are addicted to a certain type of food or ingredient and exclusively, and/or obsessively-compulsively eat it for an extended amount of time. For example, a woman eats only french fries since she was 4 years old and she now is nearly 30, still only eating fries. There are 2 interventionists who work together with the addicted on each episode. One, a highly specialized and recognized nutritionist, as well as a psychologist who specializes in Eating Disorders. The people featured on these documentaries really do have serious problems and it's not like it's a joke, and it really doesn't seem too scripted either. I have pocketed a few lessons learned from this show.

I like the show because it's interesting, I learn about medical mysteries, genetic tests I didn't know were available, and even therapies that I wasn't really aware of. I don't know that I would even acknowledge that these kinds of addictions exist if it wasn't for the "show" bringing awareness. So it seems that usually it's a family member who seeks help for the person who is being helped in these cases, but in a couple, they actually sought help for themselves- ie. The Lady addicted to the fries.

The one that got me thinking the most lately was the girl who drinks 30 cans of cola per day. They said what's in the cola (sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and something else) and I know for me, I LOVE diet coke so sugar wouldn't be the problem. Caffeine might be an issue for me if I consumed large amounts. And perhaps the aspartame. But if sugar or caffeine weren't a problem... is soda still ok on it's own? So I'm currently doing a little research project on Phosphoric Acid. I didn't realize how chemistry was involved in an explanation of Phosphoric Acid. Chemistry is NOT my strong suit so its going to take me awhile to look at it from different angles to see if I think it's harmful for me to be consuming it. I really just want to know for myself- is pop really so bad?

So phosphoric acid... that's what I'm looking at at the moment. That's how I got on the topic, and I'll let you know what I decide.