In Defense of Food

althea

Has anyone read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan?  It's yet another testimony to the effects of powerful lobbyists in our governmental system.  Many years ago McGovern was in charge of a committee to issue findings on the typical American diet.  After some investigating, the conclusion was Americans should eat less meat. 

The meat industry caused such a clamor that McGovern was pressured into backpedalling.  That was the beginning of what is called "reductionist nutritionism".  This is the concept of nutrition that picks food apart nutrient by nutrient and analyzes what's good, what's bad, what we need to add, what we need to avoid.  Hence, the government can say we need to consume less saturated fat and from there the food manufacturers can cast the less desirable facets of their products under a veil of beguiling food facts. 

<>I personally have been feeling like food requires detective-like skill in my quest to improve what I eat.  I tried without success to find bread that did not have soybean oil in it.  It's in nearly everything now!  It took me a year to phase out beverages with high fructose corn syrup.  We are consuming food with less and less variety that contains lower and lower amounts of nutrients.  For the first time in history, we are a society that suffers from obesity and undernourishment at the same time.  High yields and prolonged shelf life are ranked supreme in today's marketplace.  And how are these goals accomplished?  By removing nutrients!  We have to eat more food to chase fewer nutrients. 

<>I'll have this book a few more days before taking it back the library.  I thought I'd start a thread here in case some of you might be interested in seeking out this book also.   The writing style is a bit sloggish, but I find the information very interesting.  

pod1257

Althea,

Thanks for telling us about the book by Michael Pollan. I SO agree with you that the typical American diet is completely devoid of nutrition. With the abundance of food we have access to, the typical American is actually starving. We are overfeed but so terribly undernourished!! Living on processed, convenience and "fast food", white flour, corn syrup, food dyes, additives, trans fats and the list goes on.

I know I sound like a "health nut" but it makes me sad that so many American's are being fooled regarding what is nourishing and health-promoting and what is not. And you ARE SO RIGHT that the meat and lets not forget, the diary industry, have powerful influence on our food supply.

I personally try to eat "lower on the food chain," and eat "whole foods" as often as possible. At the same time none of us can be "perfect eaters" and we all have our little vices now and then. - It's how we eat 90% of the time that counts, in my book. I generally donot eat meat or dairy and am trying to get the corn syrup out of my diet. - If I want something sweet, I am trying to bake at home using less sugar and more fiber in cake, cookies and muffins.

Let us know if you find any other books of interest. - I will check out the one you mentioned.

Julie