Ian Taylor

What We Eat-Music

The article what What We Eat is about consumerism in America and our relationship with fast food. The article talks about how fast food has become almost an everyday thing in American society. In the article it talks about McDonald's and how one in eight US citizens have at one point worked at the fast food corporation. It also talks about how fast food comes in different types of forms but can be found wherever there is a customer.

Fast food is a service that too many Americans purchase and it is creating a health problem. America is becoming heavier and heavier and the related health issues with obesity are increasing to. Consumers buy this food to eat on the run or they bring it home and eat it in front of the TV as an easy meal to prepare. People are beginning to care less and less about their health and it is becoming one of America’s biggest issues. Consulting with my group we thought can music increase your digestion health?

Music is an art that comes in many different genres designed for thousands of different situations. As it turns out listening to music while eating can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the type of music; “Eating dinner while listening to Mozart helps to improve your metabolism and food digestion. When you eat while listening to the pop or rock music you automatically start eating faster. As a result you swallow bigger pieces making it harder for your stomach to digest the food.” (Music Can Help). This works on a biological level “How it helps: Music works on the autonomic nervous system - the part of the nervous system responsible for controlling our blood pressure, heartbeat and brain function - and also the limbic system - the part of the brain that controls feelings and emotions. According to one piece of research, both these systems react sensitively to music. When slow rhythms are played, our blood pressure and heartbeat slow down which helps us breathe more slowly, thus reducing muscle tension in our neck, shoulders, stomach and back. And experts say that apart from physical tension, music also reduces psychological tension in our mind.” (Coleman). By simply listening to classical music while we eat our body subconsciously eats slower, releases chemicals and improves our mental health status.

The research I did did not help me with the reading but it did bring me a new knowledge of the benefits of music. Our bodies react to music in different ways in different situations. When you listen to music when you work out it puts you in a mental and hormonal state that prepares your body for your workout. When you listen to classical music while studying it increases retention of information during studying. Listening to classical music can even increase digestion health by making you slow down and chew your food. So to answer my question can music have health benefits the answer is yes but if you listen to the right genre. Certain genres of music increase unhealthy habits and other genres increase healthy ones.

Coleman, Naomi. "Why Listening to Music Is the Key to Good Health." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.

"How Music Can Help You Burn More Fat." - Weight-Loss. Boxingscene.com, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.