Monday, November 26, 2012

Think you can use the Twinkie Defense? Not so fast.

It's hard to be a citizen of the United States without hearing about the death of the Twinkie, that American icon of all things processed. It's endurance has been "tested" by the likes of popular food writers like Michael Pollan and the love that some possess for this little cake with a "cream-like" filling even made it into movie's like Zombieland with Woody Harrelson.  And then while catching up on post holiday work e-mails (I remembered  my laptop, just not the charger) I came across this little "mourning of the twinkie" article that even mentioned the "Twinkie Defense."  I knew I had my blog post for today.

The Twinkie Defense stems from the 1978 trial of Dan White for the murders of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk.  In brief, the "Twinkie Defense" states Dan White ate so much junk food in the time period leading up to the murders that the amount of sugar coursing through his blood caused a mental defect and he therefore could not be guilty of pre-meditated murder.  Many articles, such as the one linked above, imply that White's lawyers really did use this argument.  The problem is, the term "Twinkie Defense" was never used in court.

White's lawyers did argue that he was depressed, and his depression was exhibited by him not taking care of his personal appearance, not exercising, and not eating properly.  In other words, they never said that the Twinkies CAUSED his depression; rather they argued that his junk food consumption (normally he was described as being "fanatical" about his health) was a SYMPTOM of his depression.  See the difference there?  I suppose that "Twinkie defense" sounds much more newsworthy than "he was depressed," but those who bring up that terminology usually are perpetuating a myth.  (Link)

Are there other reasons to avoid stocking up on Twinkies for consumption before they are gone from our shelves?  Of course.  I did mention in a previous post that if you do have issues with depression there is some evidence that reducing your excess carbohydrate consumption might be beneficial. 
And who wants to spend their hard earned dollars on something with no nutritional value that takes up your entire carbohydrate meal budget in one cake?  Not that we don't all treat ourselves sometimes (although the gluten would make it a painful treat for yours truly), espeicially if we are being chased by zombies, but as an everyday food, I can think of many things that are better to eat.

Take home message--chances are the devil didn't make you do it and neither did the Twinkies.  Even the lawyers didn't try that one.

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