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March 20, 2008
Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.
That is the manifesto of Michael Pollan's latest book In Defense of Food. He tracks the rise of nutritionism in the United States and what it's done to our eating habits and our health. He claims that through government mandates, although well-intentioned, certain nutrients in foods have been vilified, such as fats or carbohydrates. And major food companies have been following closely behind with products that either excise the "bad" nutrient or insert "good" nutrients. Take beta carotene, as an example. Without taking into account the spectrum of other nutrients that may act as catalysts for the body's ability to absorb beta carotene, in say a carrot, food manufacturers have figured out a way to insert it into processed foods and make claims of health benefits as a result.
In Defense of Food tends to back up my belief that we derive most of our nutrients through our food, and preferably fresh, whole foods. Popping 150 supplements a day to get all the nutrients we need is wrong thinking, which is why I generally don't subscribed to "pushing" them on my clients. I will take a multivitamin supplement daily just as insurance to offset any deficiency I may not get in my food, as some proponents of supplements say that we don't get our nutrition through food anymore because of the depletion of nutrients from our soils. Pollan addresses this topic in his latest book and also in his previous book Omnivore's Dilemma. He says the body's quest to take in the nutrients we need, which are lacking in processed foods, is the reason why America is facing an obesity epidemic.
In review, over-riding principles of the book: Enjoy eating food again without guilt. Eat using portion control. Eat whole foods that are mostly plant-based (and preferably organic or home-grown). When shopping at the supermarket, shop the perimeter of the store and avoid the center aisles where most of the processed food is (and where most of corporate food companies want you to shop). Cook from scratch and don't eat fast food. You'll save money and lose weight. Bon appetit.
tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health
Posted by linda at March 20, 2008 6:54 AM
