In Defense of Food

[Brodirt]

by Michael Pollan. I just finished reading it and it has changed my outlook on life. In my family we understand and adopt a reasonable percentage of the author's perspective, but having devoured this book, pardon the pun, I am even more than ever convinced that the Gov't can be trusted with nothing. That whatever health and health care issues we have in this country are derivative of our vision of food as created by the FDA and industry.

Oh, and that for those of you who have complained elsewhere about the food police. Read this book and you will change your mind. The food police might actually be the only good guys on this issue. If you think that the freedom to consume whatever high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, or oxified cholesterols (that poison added to foods that have had the fat removed to make you think that the fat hasent been removed, so much so that when added to food products they have to add anti-oxidants as well to try and counter-act the oxifying effects of the added cholesterol. On the label it is usually listed as some sort of "milk solid") is a freedom, well...ask yourself how those chemicals came about being in your "food" in the first place. Yep, thank the FDA!

Seriously scary read...now onto his other work, Omnivores Dilemma.

 

[Gruder]

Great book. I'm actually teaching it this term, though I do not interpret the book's message as wholly "don't trust the government". I actually find the text to be rather balanced, or I wouldn't use it as a teaching tool. There's plenty of blame to go around in what Pollan calls "the rise of nutritionism," science and industry included.

All that said, it is certainly an eye-opening read, and a book I highly recommend for folks interested in learning more about the origins of our food and how those origins came to be.

Omnivore's Dilemma isn't bad, either, particularly in its discussion of the "organic" food movement. Interested in more on the origins of our food habits globally? Check out "Good to Eat" by anthropologist Marvin Harris.

 

[Dennis]

Very good book. Check out his other works too - Botany of Desire was quite good. For the bookend, read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.

 

[castlecraver]

I just finished reading this book. Honestly and respectfully though, if you saw it as an anti-FDA book, I really think you missed the point.

I think he makes a lot of sound arguments, and I appreciate his intellectual honesty in admitting to making reductionist arguments in support of, well, his attack on reductionist nutritionism. I do think science takes a bit of an unfair cheap shot in places though. But that's probably my own bias.

I found it interesting how much of his advice really is common sense, and how pervasively convenience and marketing has trumped that same common sense. I think most folks who read the book will come to a similar conclusion when looking at their own diet in light of what he presents.

Definitely a recommended read. Omnivore's Dilemma is next on my list.

 

[Brodirt]

I just finished reading this book. Honestly and respectfully though, if you saw it as an anti-FDA book, I really think you missed the point.

I think he makes a lot of sound arguments, and I appreciate his intellectual honesty in admitting to making reductionist arguments in support of, well, his attack on reductionist nutritionism. I do think science takes a bit of an unfair cheap shot in places though. But that's probably my own bias.

I found it interesting how much of his advice really is common sense, and how pervasively convenience and marketing has trumped that same common sense. I think most folks who read the book will come to a similar conclusion when looking at their own diet in light of what he presents.

Definitely a recommended read. Omnivore's Dilemma is next on my list.

I prefaced my interpretation with the statement that I already ascribe to a large percentage of his food premise. We eat food in my house, not nutrients. While it is hard not to have some "food products" as part of one's life these days my refrigerator and pantry are shockingly different than most of my peers. I thank, as Pollan suggests, my mother and mother in law for it too. My mother for ignoring all of it and having died young of heat disease, and my mother in law, from the same generation, being the opposite, a contemporary of, and admirer of, Julia Child. She taught her family to eat food, eat good food and enjoy it. Butter and wine are everyday parts of her and my father in laws diet at their very healthy 78 and 81 respectively.

So with that proviso, I was looking for analysis in the book as to how we wound up where we are. I came to my humble opinion, that its the governments fault (along with industry and the staff scientists required to convince the Govt), and I feel as though if Pollan tackled the current health care debate as an update to this book he would conclude that it is just another additive, the "socialization" of cheap, high-quality health care, to our food system. He already concluded in the book that it is easier for science to adapt to the diseases of the Western diet than it is for society to change its diet. So I don't think I am taking a big leap here.

 

[Emmett]

Very good book. Check out his other works too - Botany of Desire was quite good.

Thanks for reminding me to pick that up.

 

[superbleu]

The End of Food by Paul Roberts is another eye opening book to consider reading.

http://www.theendoffood.com/id8.html

 

[FreezerBurns]

I've yet to read this book so some may conclude I have no reason to respond to this post. However, there are probably more folks who have yet to read the book of topic with my very view. What I have read regarding food is, "The Jungle." No other food book could possibly scare me into re-considering my food consumption.

Anyhoo, I typically avoid pre-packaged, manufactured food while purchasing raw meats/vegetables to cook for my family. But, on occasion, we'll go get a, "Chicken McCruelty" (as obscured by our compadres at PETA)

 

[Sisonpyh]

I had to read In Defense of Food for health science class and it changed the way I think about food completely. Its scary to think what is really in our food, and how that came about is really eye opening. Pollan gives excellent supportive evidence of his claims I believe. Highly recommended to anyone looking to change the way they eat, or at least know what you are eating.

 

[Kratos]

He already concluded in the book that it is easier for science to adapt to the diseases of the Western diet than it is for society to change its diet. So I don't think I am taking a big leap here.

I concur with that conclusion. It is very simple, what people need to do to be healthier. It's just not easy, and isn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever. It's easier to complain about it and use whatever "Get Thin Quick" scheme that comes out. Some of the diet commercial pills make me ill, as do some folks' attitude towards exercise.

 

[mr_economy]

It was a fantastic read and reinforced the general philosophy I already held towards food. I'm on the reserve list at the local public library for "The End of Overeating" by David Kessler. Seems to be along the same lines as In Defense of Food and should be a rather illuminating read.