FOOD RULES!
I like Michael Pollan. I appreciate the work he has been putting in towards educating people on making better decisions on their food choices and how those choices impact our economy, environment and health. I have read his books: “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” (my favorite), “In Defense of Food,” and “Food Rules.”
LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT “FOOD RULES”!
VIDEO REVIEW
“FOOD RULES” LIKES:
- “Culture over Medicine”-When it comes to proper food intake, we should be learning from what is “tried and true”, not what some industry sponsored reductionist scientist is coming up with in a test tube.
- “Being seduced by the Fast Food Culture”-It is cheap and it is quick… and deadly!
- “Losing the Food Culture of our Ancestors”-Most people have no idea how to eat today, and even if they did, it is very very difficult to stay disciplined 24/7/365.
- “Instant Gratification”-Cheap and fast/convenience food is quite the temptress, obviously more seductive than slowly cooked local food, but the consequences are dire; it impacts our economy (subsidization), our environment (carbon footprint), and our health (disease/death).
“FOOD RULES” DISLIKES:
- “Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants”-Generally speaking, most people are going to benefit from this advice. But, individually speaking, a lot of cultures will not flourish on this type of eating (low protein and low fat intake). Do you have ancestors that were Inuit, Masai or Maori for example? If so, “mostly plants” is NOT going to get it done!
- “Losing the Food Culture”:-This may be minor, but important none the less. Native Americans and Hispanics have NOT even adapted to processed food, let alone fast/junk/convenience/manufactured food. Eating cheap food may slowly cause the majority of the population health concerns, but for these two cultures the impact is sudden and destructive.
“What is food to one man is bitter poison to others.”-Lucretius
Any comments on my “likes” and “dislikes” of “Food Rules”? Please let me know.
About Kevin McCauley
I like Michael Pollan also, but, I am a protein type. Practically eliminating quality proteins and healthy fats makes it very difficult to function. Not a great way to improve my health IMHO.
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Kevin Reply:
April 27th, 2011 at 5:07 AM
Jake, yes, I am a protein type as well. “The Healthy Omnivore” teaches that there is a WIDE spectrum of food combinations that “can” keep a person healthy. This macro nutrient make up depends primarily on one’s genetic make up as well as environmental changes. If you have the ancestry of a culture that consumed lots of meat daily, you will not be able to change that, so keep on being a protein type and improve the quality of the foods you are consuming. Thanks for the note.
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