In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Michael Pollan's latest book "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" does not disappoint. In fact, one of the things that I like most about it, is that he is pro-food, and pro-enjoyment of food. That is, as long as it's "real" food.

In the end, he boils down his argument to: Avoid food products containing ingredients that are:
1. Unfamiliar
2. Unpronounceable
3. That have more than five ingredients
4. That include high-fructose corn syrup.

Reasons to avoid food that isn't "real food"?

1. Chemical additives and corn and soy derivatives.
2. These additives lie to your body: artificial colors and flavors, synthetic sweeteners and novel fats confound the senses that we rely on to assess new foods and prepare our bodies to eat them.

The book also is an easy read of good nutrition advice. Sure you've heard that you're supposed to eat Omega fatty acids. But do you know the difference between Omega 3's (from fish and green plants) and Omega 6's (from seeds - processed foods, corn fed cattle). Omega 3's have been show to play an important role in mental function and a reduction in depression, suicide and homicide. They also tend to dampen the inflamation response while Omega 6's tend to exite it. Why is it important to know the difference? Too many Omega 6's will override the positive benefit of the Omega 3's. Therefore, merely adding Omega-3s by supplements (which I do), may not do much good unless we also reduce the high levels of Omega-6s.

And who knew that the butter vs. margarine debate involved the Omega fatty acids? Margarine, man's attempt to out-design nature, introduces trans fats to the diet and significantly increases Omega-6's at the cost of Omega 3's.

But mostly, Pollan just makes the simple argument for food that is local, organic, unprocessed and beef that is grass fed. If you take his advice, you will not only feel better but you will also find the food more enjoyable.

Food Inc.

"This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters

This land was made for you and me"

Erase all preconceptions of documentaries, this film is brilliant. A Participant Productions film, Food Inc. opened in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco on June 12th.

If you eat, you will want to watch this movie. Don't let the pictures of cattle knee deep in their own manure or the chickens that are bred to grow so large and quick that they can't even stand up, scare you, this film is written in a post Obama era where the mantra is "Yes we can!" No longer will we sit by while our children die, our loved ones develop diabetes and chronic health conditions soar. No longer will we tolerate animals to be treated inhumanly, the factory workers to be abused or the farmers to be unfairly sued by large corporations. The beauty of this film, is that as much as it educates, it also inspires. As consumers, we have power. We vote every time we make a purchase. I encourage you, no, I beseech you, to watch this movie, take action and tell someone else about it.